What stands out worked out from the figures below

Spring has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).

Bern has the oldest population (median age 54.5).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Spring	Bern
People
Population	28,601Highest	6,705Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Highest PA: +2.4%	-1.3%Lowest PA: +2.4%
Median age	42.2±2.3Lowest 3% above PA	54.5±5.4Highest 33% above PA
Kids under 18	19.8%±2Highest PA: 20.4%	12.9%±3.3Lowest PA: 20.4%
Age 65+	19.4%±1.8Lowest PA: 19.5%	30.4%±6.5Highest PA: 19.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.5%Highest PA: 35.2%	30.5%Lowest PA: 35.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.8%±1.1Highest PA: 6.1%	2.5%±1.5Lowest PA: 6.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,837±$10kLowest 22% above PA	$117,897±$18kHighest 51% above PA
	Bern and Spring are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$286,900±$11kLowest 13% above PA	$339,500±$18kHighest 33% above PA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,416±$95Lowest 17% above PA	$1,620±$698Highest 34% above PA
	Bern and Spring are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,603Lowest 39% above PA	$5,265Highest 59% above PA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.3%±13Highest PA: 48.2%	47.5%±28.8Lowest PA: 48.2%
	Spring and Bern are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.1%Highest PA: 11.7%	4.1%Lowest PA: 11.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.3%Lowest PA: 69.3%	86%Highest PA: 69.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 10 yrs newer than PA	1970Lowest 5 yrs newer than PA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 10% below PA	24 minLowest 11% below PA
Work from home	14.9%±2.2Highest PA: 15.6%	12.3%±6.1Lowest PA: 15.6%
	Spring and Bern are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#365 of 764 in PA	—
School district	Wilson SD	Berks Career and Technology Center
High school in town	Wilson HS	Berks Career and Technology Center-West Campus
Students per teacherat that high school	16.1Highest	0.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

PA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.