The Town FilesMertztown, Pennsylvania
Community in Berks County · population 600 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $175,000
- Household income
- $65,227
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 51.9
Mertztown is a community of 600 people in Berks County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $175,000, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for families than 83% of Pennsylvania towns, easier by car than 80% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Mertztown ranks
Percentile among Pennsylvania towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Mertztown is worth $175,000, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $65,227, which is more affordable than 59% of Pennsylvania towns. 88.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mertztown | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $175,000 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | — | $996 |
| Median household income | $65,227 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 88.7% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Mertztown
| People | Mertztown | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.9 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.1% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 12.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.4% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.4% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 14.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.6% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 18.7 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.3% | 89.0% |
Weather in Mertztown
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 19.9°F. About 48.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.2 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 131 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mertztown since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 31, 1998 about 3.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 29, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 14, 2010.
Severe weather in Berks County since 1996
Berks County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4267: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 12, 2011 | Flood | DR-4030: Tropical Storm Lee |
Jobs and pay in Berks County
Berks County had 173,692 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $63,608 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Mertztown itself the ACS puts it at 6.2%.
Public schools in Mertztown
1 public school with 417 students, about 10.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brandywine Heights HS | 9-12 | 417 | 10.4 |
Towns near Mertztown
- Longswamp, PA0.7 mi · 5,567 people · home $253,500
- Topton, PA2.0 mi · 2,041 people · home $216,400
- Breinigsville, PA3.0 mi · 7,495 people · home $388,100
- Alburtis, PA3.4 mi · 2,596 people · home $267,700
- Maxatawny, PA4.6 mi · 7,181 people · home $290,000
- District, PA4.7 mi · 1,378 people · home $357,200
- Ancient Oaks, PA4.8 mi · 6,995 people · home $432,800
- Upper Macungie, PA5.1 mi · 26,377 people · home $418,800
Mertztown questions
Is Mertztown, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mertztown scores better for retirees than 28% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 65%. 29.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.9).
How much does a house cost in Mertztown?
The median owner-occupied home in Mertztown is valued at $175,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,227, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Mertztown?
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 19.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.7 inches of precipitation a year and 4.2 inches of snow.
Does Mertztown get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mertztown since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 31, 1998. The typical Pennsylvania town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)