Is Pennside Safe, Pros and cons of living in Pennside
Pennside, a borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, offers a blend of suburban living with convenient access to urban amenities. It is a community that has seen demographic shifts and continues to evolve. Understanding the various facets of life in Pennside, from safety and cost of living to employment and education, is crucial for anyone considering a move to this area.
This analysis delves into the current conditions in Pennside, providing a comprehensive overview for potential residents. By examining key indicators such as crime rates, housing market trends, economic factors, and the local climate, this article aims to offer practical insights into what it’s like to live in Pennside.
Is it Safe to Live in Pennside?
Pennside presents a mixed picture regarding safety, with overall crime rates comparable to the average U.S. city. The crime rate stands at 25.23 per 1,000 residents in a typical year (CrimeGrade.org). While some neighborhoods are considered safer, particularly in the southwest, residents generally find the community to be reasonably safe. Your likelihood of being a victim of crime can vary by neighborhood, with chances ranging from 1 in 30 in northern areas to 1 in 53 in southwestern parts (CrimeGrade.org).
Violent crime rates in Pennside are slightly lower than the national average, earning the area a ‘B’ grade for violent crime safety (CrimeGrade.org). This suggests that Pennside is safer than 68% of cities in the United States regarding violent offenses (CrimeGrade.org). The total projected cost of crime per resident is approximately $193 annually, which is less than the national average (CrimeGrade.org).
Housing Costs and Real Estate
The real estate market in Pennside shows a median property value of $207,600 as of 2024 (Data USA). This figure is lower than the national average, making homeownership more accessible. The homeownership rate in Pennside is notably high at 77.9%, indicating a strong preference for owning homes within the community (Data USA).
Currently, the median listing price for homes in Pennside is around $249,900 (Point2Homes). This suggests a competitive market, as Pennside is considered a seller’s market in March 2026, with more buyers than available homes (Point2Homes). The median rent for an apartment in Pennside is approximately $1,468 per month as of January 2026, showing a slight year-over-year decrease (Point2Homes).
Home Prices
Pennside’s median real estate price is $262,635, which is higher than a significant portion of neighborhoods in Pennsylvania and the U.S. (NeighborhoodScout). However, this figure can vary, with some sources indicating a median property value of $207,600 (Data USA). Homes for sale in Pennside are listed with a median price of $239,000, according to Realtor.com®.
The market shows some fluctuation, with a year-over-year change of -4.62% in the median sale price (Point2Homes). Despite this, the demand for real estate in Pennside is considered above average for the U.S., potentially signaling future price increases or new construction (NeighborhoodScout).
Rental Market
For those considering renting, the average apartment rent in Pennside was $1,468 per month as of January 2026, experiencing a slight decrease of 0.2% from the previous year (Point2Homes). The majority of rental properties fall within the $1,000 to $1,500 range (Point2Homes). Renters make up about 21% of Pennside’s housing units (Point2Homes).
The average rental price in Pennside is $2,072 per month, which is higher than many other neighborhoods in Pennsylvania (NeighborhoodScout). This average is based on NeighborhoodScout’s analysis and may reflect a range of rental property types and sizes available in the area.
Job Market and Economy
The economic landscape of Pennside is influenced by broader trends in Pennsylvania. The state’s unemployment rate was 4.2% in March 2026, remaining unchanged from the previous month and lower than the U.S. overall rate (USAFacts). This indicates a stable job market within the state.
Pennside itself has a population of approximately 5,407 residents as of 2024 (Data USA). The median household income in Pennside declined slightly to $77,192 in 2024 from the previous year’s value (Data USA). The largest share of households in Pennside have an income in the $75,000 to $100,000 range (Data USA).
Major Employers
While specific major employers within Pennside are not detailed, broader employment in Pennsylvania includes large companies such as Walmart Associates Inc., Trustees of the University of PA, and Amazon.com Services Inc. (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania). Other significant employers across the state include various government entities, educational institutions like the University of Pittsburgh, and healthcare systems like UPMC (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania).
Industries that are significant in Pennsylvania include manufacturing, with 35.7% of the working population in the Pennside neighborhood employed in manufacturing and related occupations (NeighborhoodScout). Additionally, executive, management, and professional roles employ 29.0% of residents, followed by sales and service jobs at 21.0% (NeighborhoodScout).
Average Salary and Cost of Living
The median income in Pennside was $40,372 in 2024 (Data Commons). However, another source indicates a median household income of $77,192 in 2024 (Data USA). In Pennsylvania, the median income is $48,550, with salaries varying significantly by region (Playroll).
The cost of living in Pennsylvania is generally considered moderate, ranking 24th out of all states according to the 2024 MERIC cost of living index (SoFi). Pennside’s cost of living is influenced by state-level costs, with housing and utilities averaging $9,146 annually (SoFi). Reading, a nearby city, has a cost of living index of 95.1, indicating it is about 5% less expensive than the national average (SoFi).
Climate and Environment
Pennside experiences a climate typical of southeastern Pennsylvania, characterized by four distinct seasons. The region has a humid continental climate with warm summers (NOAA). Average temperatures can fluctuate significantly throughout the year, with the warmest months generally being July and the coldest in January.
Pennsylvania typically receives around 71.61 millimeters (2.82 inches) of precipitation annually, spread across approximately 131.46 rainy days (NOAA). The climate graph for Pennsylvania shows average high temperatures in July reaching around 27.82°C (82.08°F) and average low temperatures in January dropping to -7.5°C (18.5°F) (NOAA).
Demographics and Community
Pennside is home to a population of approximately 5,407 residents as of 2024 (Data USA). The community is predominantly White, making up 65.3% of the population, with a significant Hispanic population at 24.2% (Census Dots). This demographic makeup shows an increase in racial diversity since the 2020 Census (Census Dots).
The median age in Pennside is 39.1 years (Data USA). The majority of residents are U.S. citizens, with 98.4% holding citizenship, which is higher than the national average (Data USA). A small percentage of residents, 4.51%, were born outside the United States (Data USA).
Racial and Ethnic Diversity
White residents constitute the largest group in Pennside, at 65.3% of the population (Census Dots). Hispanic residents form the second-largest demographic group, accounting for 24.2% of the population (Census Dots). This share of Hispanic residents is significantly higher than the Pennsylvania state average (Census Dots).
The Black population in Pennside is 2.5%, which is lower than the state average (Census Dots). Multiracial individuals make up 7.5% of the population, and other racial groups are present in smaller percentages (Census Dots).
Education and Schools
Pennside is served by several school districts, with the Exeter Township School District and Antietam School District being prominent. Niche provides school ratings, with Exeter Township School District receiving a ‘B+’ overall grade and serving approximately 3,858 students across its schools (Niche). Antietam School District has a ‘C’ overall grade, with 1,156 students (Niche).
Specific schools within or near Pennside include Owatin Creek Elementary School, rated ‘B+’ (Niche), and Jacksonwald Elementary School, which has a 5 out of 5 rating from parents (Niche). Mt. Penn Elementary Center and Mt. Penn Primary Center are also part of the educational landscape, with varying grades and student-teacher ratios (Niche).
School Ratings
When evaluating elementary schools in Pennside, Owatin Creek Elementary School stands out with a ‘B+’ overall Niche grade and a student-teacher ratio of 15:1 (Niche). Jacksonwald Elementary School also receives high marks, with parents giving it a 5 out of 5 rating (Niche). Mt. Penn Primary Center has a ‘B-‘ grade, while Mt. Penn Elementary Center has a ‘C’ grade (Niche).
For public schools in Pennside, several have received grades from Niche. Some schools in the area have a student-teacher ratio of 12:1, while others are as high as 21:1 (Niche). These ratings are based on rigorous analysis of state test scores, student diversity, and teacher quality (Niche).