Located 15 miles west of Reading in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, North Heidelberg is home to hundreds of acres of rural farmland. Grazing pastures full of cows take the place of bustling housing developments in this quiet township, where the tallest structure in sight is usually a corn silo. Matt Wolf, a Realtor with Re/Max of Reading, has sold houses in the area since 2002 and worked in the local Chapter of the Boy Scouts of America. Wolf: “This is an agricultural area with several active dairy and grain farms,” says Wolf. “The heritage of the Pennsylvania Dutch has left its mark on the town.”
As part of the Piedmont region of the Appalachian Mountains, the landscape of North Heidelberg features highly fertile soil and rolling hills. This rich farmland has earned the regional nickname of “the Pretzel Belt” for producing some of Pennsylvania’s favorite snacks, such as sourdough pretzels, birch beer, gingerbread and funnel cake. Homebuyers searching here will find houses with large, private lots and proximity to outdoor recreation hotspots like Blue Marsh Lake and Heidelberg Country Club.
Homes in North Heidelberg sit closer together as you go closer to Bernville.
Meetings are held at the North Heidelberg Township municipal building once a month.
Many of the larger yards in North Heidelberg have immaculate landscaping year round.
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Farmhouses and rolling green pastures
Homes dot the meandering back country roads between pastures and cornfields, with some tucked away on residential streets that provide a buffer from through traffic. Many sit behind long driveways, and properties are frequently divided by lines of mature conifers and oak trees. Ranch-style homes, farmhouses and custom-built homes are especially common, with lot sizes ranging between one-third acre and 10 full acres. Prices span $200,000 to $750,000, depending on acreage. Brick New Traditional homes in the Heidelberg Country Club development typically sell in the $400,000s and grant a more suburban feel while maintaining the larger lot sizes typical of the area.
A colonial style home in North Heidelberg soaking up the last sun of the day.
Homes in North Heidelberg often have lots of space between each other.
Farmers make up a large portion of the population of North Heidelberg.
Large scale farms can also be found in the rolling hills of North Heidelberg.
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Blue Marsh Lake and nearby hunting grounds
The northeastern edge of North Heidelberg is bordered by Blue Marsh Lake, an artificial lake maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers. Spanning over 1,100 acres of water abutted by beaches and boating ramps, the lake is the preferred destination for fishing and swimming. “People all over Berks County go to Blue Marsh Lake in the summer,” says Kristin Lightcap, a Realtor with Pagoda Realty who sells homes across the county, noting that the lake is a draw for the area. “It’s popular for the beach atmosphere, but there are hiking trails, too. And jet skiing, boating, tubing — you name it.” Surrounding the lake on both sides are 36 miles of dirt paths for hiking, biking and occasionally even horseback riding. Hunting is also a common sport out here, and Blue Marsh Lake is directly adjacent to Pennsylvania State Game Lands No. 280, where pheasant hunting takes place in fall through winter. Some residents are members of Heidelberg Country Club, a private 18-hole golf course set within the country landscape’s rolling hills. Neighborhood parks with the typical amenities such as playgrounds and sports fields are roughly 5 miles away in Bernville, Robesonia and Womelsdorf.
North Heidelberg is filled with public hunting lands for hunters to enjoy.
Rentschler Arboretum offers amazing views of the Blue Mountains just out of North Heidelberg.
Heidelberg Country Club in North Heidelberg has a beautiful golf course and facilities.
Nearby Blue Marsh Lake Park is a favorite for residents of North Heidelberg.
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Conrad Weiser High offers challenging technology education
While no schools exist in North Heidelberg, the township is zoned to the nearby Conrad Weiser Area School District in Robesonia and Womelsdorf. Conrad Weiser West Elementary and Conrad Weiser Middle both score C-pluses from Niche, while Conrad Weiser High earns a B-minus. The high school offers technology education classes in aviation and aerospace, visual communications, and manufacturing systems. Its robust athletics program has a football stadium, four baseball diamonds and two soccer fields — plus, the school even supports a varsity bowling team.
Penn-Bernville Elementary School is a great place for students to learn and make friends.
Older students attend Conrad Weiser High School in Robesonia.
Local students attend Conrad Weiser Middle School in Robesonia.
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Shop in nearby Womelsdorf, Robesonia and Bernville
There are few commercial businesses in North Heidelberg, meaning residents typically travel 1 to 5 miles to Womelsdorf or Bernville for grocery shopping at Boyer’s Food Market. There are also a handful of restaurants along U.S. Route 422 through Womelsdorf and Robesonia, including Johnny & Hons Smokehaus, a popular country bar known for its barbecue during the day and line dancing at night. In Bernville, Eagle Hotel is a well-known local outpost for American fare, draft beer and occasional live music or karaoke. Other attractions, such as wineries and farm stands, are scattered throughout the countryside. For over 75 years, folks have flocked to Koziar’s Christmas Village to tour the buildings covered in twinkling lights full of model trains and miniatures. In the fall, Duncan’s Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch is where residents go to pick out their jack-o-lanterns and have some family fun on the hayrides.
Nearby Robesonia offers all the amenities needed for residents of North Heidelberg.
Clover Hill Vineyard & Winery in North Heidelberg is one of Pennsylvania's largest wineries.
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Access to Reading 15 miles east
North Heidelberg is a car-dependent, rural area without public transportation or any major numbered roads. However, U.S. Route 422 is directly south of the township, passing through Womelsdorf and Robesonia, while Pennsylvania Route 183 travels through Bernville to the north. The closest major city is Reading, which is roughly 15 miles southeast, or about a 20-minute drive. Many of the nearby rural towns lack a full range of amenities, and residents have to drive into Reading to access the closest hospital, airport and major shopping centers. Philadelphia is approximately 75 miles east, or a one-and-a-half-hour drive.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood?
Reach out to
Samantha Miller,
an experienced agent in this area.
Parks in this Area
Blue Marsh Lake Park
Penn Township Park
Jefferson Park
Umbenhaur Park
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
North Heidelberg
US
Homicide
1
4
Sexual Assault
1
4
Assault with Weapon
1
4
Robbery
1
4
Burglary
1
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
1
4
Larceny
1
4
Crime Score
1
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in North Heidelberg, Reading sell after 12 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in North Heidelberg, Reading over the last 12 months is $407,847, down 4% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood?
Reach out to
Samantha Miller,
an experienced agent in this area.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
1,204
Median Age
54
Population Density
1 person/acre
Population under 18
16.9%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
31.1%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$94,470
Above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$106,695
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
89.4%
College Graduates
24.9%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
6%
Below the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
59.4%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
44''
Average Winter Low Temperature
23°F
Average Summer High Temperature
86°F
Annual Snowfall
18''
Area Factors
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
0/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
