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CITY · 2020 ACS

Reading

Massachusetts · 25,518 residents · 9.976 sq mi
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The short version

Reading is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $131,515. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 63% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 33%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $594,000. Poverty is rare here, at 3.0% of residents. Households here earn about 56% more than the Massachusetts median.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 43.3
US median: 38.8
More educated
63% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 47%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
25,518
+8%since 2000
from 23,708 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Population density
2,558 / sq mi
+8%since 2000
from 2,377 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
43.3
+11%since 2000
from 39.1 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
22K23K24K25K26K1990201020202024Reading
202426K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$131,515
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $77,059 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$54,706
+66%since 2000
from $32,888 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
68.7%
+5.3 ptssince 2009
from 63.4% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
3.0%
+0.4 ptssince 2000
from 2.6% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Other services10.6%
US avg: 6.6%
Retail trade9.5%
US avg: 10%
Public administration8.2%
US avg: 4.7%
Information6.1%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade4.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Arts, entertainment, food2.8%
US avg: 2%
Finance & insurance2.8%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical2.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing0.3%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services0.3%
US avg: 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.1%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$594,000
+47%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $268,000 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,363
+23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $739 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
81.8%
−0.7 ptssince 2000
from 82.5% in 2000
18.2% rent
Afford Score
4.5
+30%since 2000
from 3.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Reading on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic95.8%(22,721)
Black0.3%(81)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(200)
Asian2.2%(521)
Other0%
Diversity Score8.3%(1,969)
2020
White, non-Hispanic87.2%(22,253)
Black1.2%(318)
Hispanic / Latino2.7%(688)
Asian5.3%(1,347)
Other1.7%(445)
Diversity Score25.8%(6,596)
Diversity Score
26
+211%since 2000
from 8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
63.4%
+15.6 ptssince 2000
from 47.8% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
97.1%
+2.5 ptssince 2000
from 94.5% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
29.9%
+10.2 ptssince 2000
from 19.7% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
33.6 min
+78%since 2000
from 18.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
69.2%
−11.8 ptssince 2009
from 81.0% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
7.2%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.7%
−2.5 ptssince 2011
from 5.3% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
70.1%
−2.1 ptssince 2011
from 72.2% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
66.0%
−9.0 ptssince 2009
from 75.0% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.9%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
Female
51.1%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 51.9% in 2009
Foreign born
9.4%
+4.2 ptssince 2009
from 5.2% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
0.8%
−97.8 ptssince 2013
from 98.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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Compare Reading to nearby cities

READING VS
Wakefield
Income$134,306+2%
Home value$723,500+22%
Population27,793+9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
READING VS
Lynnfield
Income$175,265+33%
Home value$917,600+54%
Population13,064−49%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
READING VS
Wilmington
Income$168,152+28%
Home value$680,500+15%
Population23,336−9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
READING VS
Woburn
Income$111,185−15%
Home value$673,500+13%
Population43,962+72%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Reading, Massachusetts?

Reading, Massachusetts has about 25,518 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Reading, Massachusetts?

The typical household in Reading, Massachusetts earns about $131,515 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 $594,000, and the typical rent is about $1,363 a month.

How educated are people in Reading, Massachusetts?

About 63.4% 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 3.0% 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 2,979 residents, a change of about 13 percent over that period.

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

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