United States › Massachusetts › Reading CITY · 2000 CENSUS
Reading Massachusetts · 23,708 residents · 9.98 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
Reading is home to 23,708 people in Massachusetts. Median home value sits at $268,000. 48% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, against 24% nationally. That is roughly 53% ahead of the Massachusetts median. Households take in $77,059 a year at the median, 81% more than the country as a whole. 82% of homes are owner-occupied.
At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $42,589
Older
median age 39.1
US median: 35.2
More educated
48% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01
Population & growth from 36.1 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
22K 23K 24K 25K 26K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Reading Age distribution, 2000
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $77,059
+11%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $52,783 in 1990
US average: $42,589
from $21,074 in 1990
US average: $21,522
from 2.1% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
$268,000
−1%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $206,500 in 1990
US average: $120,530
$739
−21%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $706 in 1990
US average: $602
from 81.4% in 1990
17.5% rent
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 1990
White, non-Hispanic 98.3%(22,161)
Hispanic / Latino 0.7%(151)
2000
White, non-Hispanic 95.8%(22,721)
Hispanic / Latino 0.8%(200)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.
Hispanic origin
+ 2 more hispanic origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 31 more ancestry groups with data from 36.7% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
from 91.9% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
from 13.7% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 22.3 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07
Work & employment No data for the years selected.
Section 08
People & community No data for the years selected.
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 24.7%(2,142)
Women 15+
Never married 19.1%(1,848)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09
Health coverage Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).
from 1.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 79.1% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 13.9% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 19.5% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 8.6% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 1.2% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 89.2% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 25.5% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 10.6%(94)
Gulf War (1990s) 19.8%(176)
Share of the 887 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper
Places similar to Reading Head to head
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Reading, Massachusetts? Reading, Massachusetts has about 23,708 residents according to the 2000 Census.
What is the median household income in Reading, Massachusetts? The typical household in Reading, Massachusetts earns about $77,059 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Reading, Massachusetts expensive? In Reading, Massachusetts, the median home is worth about $268,000, and the typical rent is about $739 a month.
How educated are people in Reading, Massachusetts? About 47.8% of adults age 25 and over in Reading, Massachusetts hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Reading, Massachusetts? About 2.6% of people in Reading, Massachusetts live below the federal poverty line.
Has Reading, Massachusetts grown since 1990? Yes, Reading, Massachusetts has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,169 residents, a change of about 5 percent over that period.
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