Photo: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Bern Township is healthier than 31%
Bern Township differs from Pennsylvania on 2 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 19533, 19605, 19506, 19601. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Bern Township
Against towns with similar incomes, Bern Township’s lead shrinks
Bern Township is healthier than 65% of U.S. towns, but 31% of the 6,035 towns with similar household incomes ($88K–$147K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Bern Township is an older town
30% of residents are 65 or older, vs 20% across Pennsylvania. Conditions like heart disease and arthritis become more common with age, so keep that in mind when comparing Bern Township with the state. Conditions ↓
1 in 11 working-age adults in Bern Township has no health insurance
9.3% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 5.8% across Pennsylvania. Checkups ↓
Health varies a lot right around Bern Township
Grades next door run from Wyomissing (A) to Reading (D−). Bern Township is a B+. Around town ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Pennsylvania figure falls outside Bern Township’s likely range; Bern Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 19533, 19605, 19506, 19601, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A.
What’s behind Bern Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bern Township is healthier than 65% of U.S. towns, #396 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 75% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 39%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Bern Township’s median household income is $117,897; among the 6,035 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($88K–$147K), it’s healthier than 31%, less than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Bern Township adults…
Bern Township runs below PA on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Bern Township is an older town: 30% of residents are 65 or older, vs 20% across Pennsylvania. Many conditions rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Bern Township as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Bern Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Pennsylvania.
Bern Township and the towns around it
Bern Township’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 9 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bern Township | B+ | 33.6% | 11.1% | 15.9% | ZIP codes |
| Lower Heidelberg Township | A− | 32.8% | 10.7% | 14.1% | ZIP codes |
| Muhlenberg Township | B− | 35.5% | 11.9% | 16.3% | ZIP codes |
| Ontelaunee Township | B | 33.8% | 11.3% | 15.9% | ZIP codes |
| Spring Township | A− | 32.7% | 10.4% | 13.9% | ZIP codes |
| Greenfields | — | — | — | — | |
| Leesport | B− | 34.1% | 10% | 18.7% | CDC place |
| Reading | D− | 42.6% | 15.9% | 20.6% | CDC place |
Greenfields: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Care in and near Bern Township
1 hospital in Bern Township, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Bern Township; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with Pennsylvania
Share of adults, with the Pennsylvania figure marked.
56 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
How Bern Township adults are doing
About the same as Pennsylvania on each measure.
A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Bern Township adults live with a disability (Pennsylvania 31.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Bern Township
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Bern Township is better than Pennsylvania on 1 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Pennsylvania figure falls inside Bern Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Bern Township | PA | U.S. | vs PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.4%16.3–20.6 | 18.7% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13%11.4–14.6 | 13.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.5%13.9–17.2 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.6%27–40.9 | 33.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.1%9.5–12.8 | 11.6% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 33.7%29.7–38 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.7%29.4–38.1 | 33.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.6%27–34.5 | 30.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.4%9–11.7 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.5%8.5–10.5 | 8.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.5%6.7–8.3 | 7.4% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.5%6.7–8.4 | 7.7% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.6%3.3–3.9 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.2%9–13.7 | 14.5% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.9%13.8–18 | 15.8% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23.9%20.1–28.1 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.6%15.3–22.3 | 18.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.7%33.2–46.6 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.3%7.8–10.8 | 5.8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.2%75.4–82.6 | 78.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65.6%61.9–69.1 | 64.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.2%83.8–88.3 | 85.3% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.4%76.1–82.4 | 79.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.9%61.8–71.9 | 67.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.4%69.7–83.9 | 77.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22%18.6–25.7 | 23% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.9%27–35.1 | 31.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.9%12.2–15.6 | 14.2% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.8%12.3–15.5 | 14.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.9%7–8.9 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.2%4.7–5.7 | 5.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.9%7.1–8.7 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.5%3.3–3.8 | 3.7% | 3.8% | About the same |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Pennsylvania figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Bern Township
Is Bern Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bern Township is healthier than 65% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health, #396 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Bern Township?
CDC estimates 33.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 27% and 40.9%, against 33.8% across Pennsylvania and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Bern Township?
Penn State Health St. Joseph in Reading, 1.7 miles in a straight line from Bern Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Bern Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.8–10.8%), against 5.8% across Pennsylvania.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Bern Township more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Bern Township.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Pennsylvania figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.