CensusEasy
CITY

Reading

Kansas · 183 residents (2025 est.) · 0.213 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Emporia micropolitan area
Compare
The short version

Reading has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $68,125. Population has fallen 20% since 2000, a loss of 49 residents. 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $51,700. Poverty is rare here, at 5.6% of residents.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 37.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
17% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 70%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
198
−20%since 2000
from 247 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
930 / sq mi
−20%since 2000
from 1,160 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
37.5
+18%since 2000
from 31.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:183 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
1342032733424111990201020202024Reading
2024198
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$68,125
+50%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $25,000 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,615
+171%since 2000
from $11,673 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
46.4%
+28.3 ptssince 2009
from 18.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
5.6%
−7.7 ptssince 2000
from 13.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.348
+9%since 2010
from 0.321 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade34%
US avg: 9.9%
Information13.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade10.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services3.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing2.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Finance & insurance1.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Education & health services1.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Professional, scientific, technical0%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$51,700
+70%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $16,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$725
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $417 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
83.3%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 80.4% in 2000
16.7% rent
Vacancy rate
1.2%
−9.3 ptssince 2009
from 10.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.1%
−10.5 ptssince 2009
from 27.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
7.1%
−9.5 ptssince 2009
from 16.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
0.8
+14%since 2000
from 0.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
37
RELATED:See current rent listings in Reading on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.6%(241)
Black0.4%(1)
Hispanic / Latino1.6%(4)
Asian0%(0)
Other0%
Diversity Score5%(12)
2024
White, non-Hispanic93.9%(186)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(1)
Asian0%(0)
Other5.6%(11)
Diversity Score14.3%(28)
Diversity Score
14
+186%since 2000
from 5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.7%
−0.2 ptssince 2000
from 16.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
97.9%
+20.0 ptssince 2000
from 77.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.3%
+3.9 ptssince 2000
from 4.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
28.3 min
+27%since 2000
from 22.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
90.9%
+4.8 ptssince 2009
from 86.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.8%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
1.1%
−4.4 ptssince 2009
from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.1%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
1.2%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.1%
+0.8 ptssince 2011
from 3.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
64.9%
−2.3 ptssince 2011
from 67.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
8.5%
−2.8 ptssince 2009
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
24.5%
−32.8 ptssince 2009
from 57.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.0%
−5.3 ptssince 2009
from 55.3% in 2009
Female
50.0%
+5.3 ptssince 2009
from 44.7% in 2009
Foreign born
0.5%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
17.3%
−33.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.7%
+1.6 ptssince 2012
from 14.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
11.1%
−67.3 ptssince 2013
from 78.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
76.2%
+13.2 ptssince 2017
from 63.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
99.5%
+4.8 ptssince 2016
from 94.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.0%
−2.5 ptssince 2016
from 2.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Reading

Girard
Pop 177
Tildenville
Pop 183
Little Creek
Pop 199
Lloyd
Pop 187
Places similar to Reading
Head to head

Compare Reading to nearby cities

READING VS
Emporia
Income$52,704−23%
Home value$132,700+157%
Population24,137+13090%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
READING VS
Ottawa
Income$71,699+5%
Home value$166,500+222%
Population12,716+6849%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
READING VS
Topeka
Income$56,956−16%
Home value$144,200+179%
Population125,795+68640%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
READING VS
Lawrence
Income$65,009−5%
Home value$292,700+466%
Population96,367+52560%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Reading, Kansas?

Reading, Kansas has about 198 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Reading, Kansas?

The typical household in Reading, Kansas earns about $68,125 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Reading, Kansas expensive?

In Reading, Kansas, the median home is worth about $51,700, and the typical rent is about $725 a month.

How educated are people in Reading, Kansas?

About 16.7% of adults age 25 and over in Reading, Kansas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Reading, Kansas?

About 5.6% of people in Reading, Kansas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Reading, Kansas grown since 1990?

Yes, Reading, Kansas has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 54 residents, a change of about -21 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Kansas
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Reading with another place

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Reading, Kansas: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy