Township · Pennsylvania

Upper Bern Township, Pennsylvania

Upper Bern Township, township, in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Upper Bern Township had 1,613 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.3% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,606 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,909 (±460). GEOID 4201178752.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

1,613

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,606 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,909 ±460

Median household income

$81,830

±$21,245 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $77,971

Median home value

$250,400

±$51,160 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $254,500

Median gross rent

$1,060

±$153 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $1,209

Where is Upper Bern Township and what county is it in?

Upper Bern Township is a township in Berks County, Pennsylvania. It covers 17.7 square miles of land, 91 residents per square mile in 2020.

One place lies inside Upper Bern Township: Shartlesville (CDP, 404 in 2020).

Upper Bern Township is in the Reading, PA metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

Upper Bern Township (marked with a dot) in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in Upper Bern Township, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 1,613 people lived in Upper Bern Township on July 1, 2025, up 2.3% since 2020, faster than Pennsylvania (+0.4%). The 2020 Census counted 1,606 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,909 (±460).

  • July 2020→2021 +5 (1,579)
  • 2021→2022 +5 (1,584)
  • 2022→2023 +11 (1,595)
  • 2023→2024 +12 (1,607)
  • 2024→2025 +6 (1,613)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
MeasureUpper Bern TownshipBerks CountyPennsylvaniaChange since 2015-2019
Total population1,909±460433,01513,018,639no clear change
Households823±169163,2365,274,853no clear change
Average household size2.32±0.302.572.39no clear change
Housing units863±174171,5805,806,452no clear change

Upper Bern Township's population since 2000

From 1,479 in 2000 to 1,613 in 2025: up 9.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Upper Bern Township as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

  • 2000 Census 1,479
  • 2005 (estimate) 1,605
  • 2010 Census 1,734
  • 2015 (estimate) 1,796
  • 2020 Census 1,606
  • 2025 (estimate) 1,613

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Upper Bern Township?

The median resident of Upper Bern Township is 51.6 years old; 11.1% are under 18 and 25.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 87.4%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 10.2%.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
MeasureUpper Bern TownshipBerks CountyPennsylvaniaChange since 2015-2019
Median age51.6±6.039.940.9no clear change
Under 18 years11.1%±4.6 pts22.0%20.4%–
65 years and over25.0%±8.5 pts18.0%19.5%–
Male45.8%±6.5 pts49.6%49.3%–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)10.2%±10.0 pts24.8%8.7%–
White alone, not Hispanic87.4%±9.4 pts66.6%73.0%no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic0.0%±1.7 pts4.0%10.3%–
Asian alone, not Hispanic0.0%±1.7 pts1.3%3.8%–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic0.0%±1.7 pts0.0%0.1%–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic0.0%±1.7 pts0.0%0.0%–
Two or more races, not Hispanic1.5%±1.7 pts2.8%3.6%–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic0.8%±1.0 pts0.5%0.5%–
Born outside the United States0.2%±0.3 pts9.7%7.7%–
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)2.2%±1.9 pts21.3%12.4%–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)3.6%±2.2 pts5.6%6.1%–
With a disability11.9%±5.0 pts13.5%14.4%–
No health insurance coverage5.8%±2.8 pts7.3%5.6%no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)93.8%±3.2 pts88.4%92.1%–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)16.4%±4.8 pts27.7%35.2%no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)4.2%±2.2 pts10.2%14.3%–
Lived in the same house a year earlier96.0%±2.7 pts89.7%89.3%–
Moved from another state in the past year0.4%±0.6 pts1.5%1.9%–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Upper Bern Township earn?

Half of Upper Bern Township's 823 households earn less than $81,830 a year (±$21,245), against $79,777 in Berks County and $77,971 in Pennsylvania. In 2015-2019 it was $84,374 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
MeasureUpper Bern TownshipBerks CountyPennsylvaniaChange since 2015-2019
Median household income$81,830±$21,245$79,777$77,971no clear change
Mean household income$124,014±$23,992$103,265$107,538–
Per capita income$53,237±$10,831$39,815$44,355no clear change
People below the poverty line7.5%±5.4 pts12.2%11.7%–
Children under 18 below the poverty line18.5%±16.3 pts18.0%15.6%–
Households receiving SNAP7.2%±4.4 pts13.9%14.4%–
Households with a computer89.4%±7.1 pts93.3%93.8%–
Households with a broadband subscription83.4%±7.9 pts89.6%89.7%–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Upper Bern Township?

Owners occupy 84.7% of Upper Bern Township's occupied homes and renters 15.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $250,400 by its owner (±$51,160). The median renter pays $1,060 a month including utilities.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
MeasureUpper Bern TownshipBerks CountyPennsylvaniaChange since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)$250,400±$51,160$257,300$254,500no clear change
Median gross rent$1,060±$153$1,181$1,209no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent8.3%±11.4 pts42.7%39.5%–
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage$1,708±$156$1,800$1,762–
Owner-occupied homes84.7%±7.6 pts71.3%69.3%no clear change
Renter-occupied homes15.3%±7.6 pts28.7%30.7%–
Housing units863±174171,5805,806,452no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate0.0%±4.6 pts0.6%0.8%–
Rental vacancy rate0.0%±22.5 pts4.0%4.9%–
Single-family detached homes71.5%±10.1 pts56.4%56.6%–
Mobile homes18.1%±8.6 pts2.8%3.5%–
Built 2020 or later0.3%±0.5 pts0.9%1.0%–
Built 2010 to 20196.7%±3.3 pts4.0%5.1%–
Built 1939 or earlier11.5%±5.9 pts27.5%25.0%–
Households with no vehicle1.7%±1.7 pts8.7%10.4%–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Upper Bern Township building?

Builders took permits for 1 new housing units in Upper Bern Township in 2025 (1 in single-family houses), 0.6 per 1,000 residents against 2.0 across Pennsylvania.

  • 2019 2 units
  • 2020 1 units
  • 2021 2 units
  • 2022 0 units
  • 2023 1 units
  • 2024 0 units
  • 2025 1 units

Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Upper Bern Township work and get to work?

85.0% of Upper Bern Township's workers drive alone and 5.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 26.5 minutes.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
MeasureUpper Bern TownshipBerks CountyPennsylvaniaChange since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)60.3%±8.4 pts64.3%62.7%–
Unemployment rate4.7%±4.4 pts5.4%5.3%–
Drove alone to work85.0%±5.6 pts73.5%68.2%–
Carpooled8.8%±4.7 pts9.0%7.5%–
Public transportation0.0%±3.3 pts1.0%3.6%–
Walked0.8%±1.2 pts2.5%3.3%–
Worked from home5.4%±3.2 pts11.9%15.6%no clear change
Mean travel time to work26.5 min±2.525.4 min26.3 minno clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What census tracts are in Upper Bern Township?

No census tract lies mostly in Upper Bern Township; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).

Census tracts in Upper Bern Township, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Upper Bern Township
Tract 102.02Berks County5,540 $80,591 $222,50035%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Upper Bern Township) · Census block assignment files

How does Upper Bern Township compare with other places in Pennsylvania?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Upper Bern Township is the 5,699th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 902nd-most populous of 1,542 in Pennsylvania.

Upper Bern Township ranks 901st of 2,136 places in Pennsylvania with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

Upper Bern Township's rank in Pennsylvania (1 = highest): by population among the state's towns and townships with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate902nd1,542
Growth 2020-2025 (PEP)362nd1,764
Residents per square mile1,727th2,159
Median household income901st2,136
Per capita income332nd2,157
Median home value831st2,146
Median gross rent957th1,963
Bachelor's degree or higher1,779th2,129
Median age266th2,157
Owner-occupied share827th2,149
Work from home1,634th1,710
Travel time to work946th2,156

Upper Bern Township's figures with every place in Pennsylvania (CSV)

Every place in Pennsylvania, sortable · Compare Upper Bern Township with other places

Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How reliable are the figures for Upper Bern Township?

20 of the 57 figures for Upper Bern Township on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.

The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Upper Bern Township are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.