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Kutztown is a small borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, situated in the heart of the Pennsylvania Dutch country roughly midway between Reading and Allentown. The borough has a population of approximately 5,000 residents, a number that swells during the academic year when students from Kutztown University arrive on campus. Kutztown's identity is closely tied to its Pennsylvania Dutch heritage, most visibly expressed through the nationally recognized Kutztown Folk Festival held each summer, which draws tens of thousands of visitors to celebrate regional crafts, food, and traditions. The commercial center of the borough runs along Main Street, offering a mix of local restaurants, a grocery store, hardware and convenience shops, and a handful of bars and cafes popular with the student population. The surrounding landscape is largely rural and agricultural, with rolling farmland and small crossroads communities defining the countryside beyond the borough limits. Renters in Kutztown benefit from some of the most affordable housing costs in eastern Pennsylvania, and the compact layout of the borough means most amenities are easily reachable on foot. Larger shopping and dining options are available in Reading, about 20 miles to the south, and Allentown, roughly 20 miles to the northeast.
The stretch of Main Street through the center of the borough is the social hub of the student community, with local restaurants, a grocery store, and small shops all accessible on foot from nearby student rentals.
The residential blocks immediately north of the Kutztown University campus are the most popular with students, featuring rental houses and duplexes within a few minutes' walk of academic buildings and campus facilities.
The southern end of Kutztown has a quieter character with single-family rental homes and duplexes at slightly lower prices, still within easy walking distance of both campus and Main Street.
Here's what you need to know about getting around Kutztown.
Public transit options in Kutztown are limited given the borough's rural setting. Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority provides some bus service connecting Kutztown to Reading and nearby communities, though schedules are infrequent and do not cover the full range of student needs. Students who rely entirely on transit will find it works for occasional trips to Reading but is not practical for daily commuting to off-campus jobs or activities far from the borough.
Kutztown is exceptionally walkable for a borough of its size. The compact layout means that most off-campus rental housing, the university, Main Street shops, and local dining are all within a 10 to 15 minute walk from any point in the central borough. Biking is also practical on the flat terrain, and many students use bikes for errands and getting between campus and their off-campus homes. There are no major designated bike lanes, but traffic volumes are low enough that road cycling is generally comfortable.
Parking in Kutztown is relatively straightforward compared to urban college towns. Street parking is available throughout the borough and is generally free or low-cost, and off-street parking is included with most rental properties. Students with cars have few difficulties finding a spot near their housing, though parking near the main campus lots can become competitive during peak class hours. A borough parking permit may be required for extended on-street parking in certain zones.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Kutztown offers some of the most affordable rents in eastern Pennsylvania. Rooms in shared student houses near campus typically run from about $500 to $800 per month, and entire houses rented by a group of students are common. Costs vary based on proximity to campus and the age of the property, but overall the rental market is budget-friendly compared to nearby Reading or Allentown.
Browse student housing near each Kutztown-area university.