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CITY · 1990 CENSUS

Reading

Pennsylvania · 78,380 residents · 9.843 sq mi
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The short version

Reading has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $22,112. Population has declined 3% since 2000. 9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 20%. Median home value is $37,300.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Mid-age
median age 32.3
US median: 33.0
Less educated
9% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
78,380
−3%vs 2000
vs 81,207 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
32.3
+6%vs 2000
vs 30.6 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
77K82K87K92K97K1990201020202024Reading
202495K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 58.2%(6,450)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 97.5%(5,842)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 146.2%(4,854)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 196.7%(5,248)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 248.6%(6,743)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3417.1%(13,421)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4411.6%(9,131)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 548.6%(6,718)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 648.8%(6,925)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 748.9%(6,951)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 846.2%(4,877)
US avg: 4%
85 and over1.6%(1,220)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$22,112
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $26,698 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$11,041
−16%vs 2000
vs $13,086 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
19.4%
−6.7 ptsvs 2000
vs 26.1% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$37,300
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $45,000 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$352
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $459 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
55.9%
+4.9 ptsvs 2000
vs 51.0% in 2000
44.1% rent
RELATED:See current rent listings in Reading on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic48.1%(39,038)
Black10.8%(8,799)
Hispanic / Latino37.3%(30,302)
Asian1.5%(1,233)
Other0%
1990
White, non-Hispanic78.8%(61,761)
Black9.8%(7,646)
Hispanic / Latino18%(14,130)
Asian1.2%(956)
Other10.2%(8,017)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Puerto Rican29.2%(27,799)
Dominican23.6%(22,520)
Mexican10.7%(10,206)
Central American2.7%(2,587)
South American2.4%(2,314)
Salvadoran1.3%(1,195)
Guatemalan1.2%(1,119)
Colombian1%(935)
Cuban0.6%(533)
Peruvian0.5%(519)
Ecuadorian0.5%(477)
Venezuelan0.3%(258)
+ 6 more hispanic origin groups with data
Nicaraguan0.2%(145)
Honduran0.1%(128)
Argentine0.1%(86)
Spaniard0.1%(82)
Chilean0%(36)
Asian origin
Korean0.3%(280)
Chinese0.2%(175)
Vietnamese0.2%(168)
Pakistani0.1%(52)
Filipino0%(32)
Kazakh0%(11)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German7.3%(6,984)
American4%(3,840)
Irish3%(2,896)
Italian2.9%(2,749)
Polish1.6%(1,550)
English1.5%(1,471)
West Indian1.2%(1,106)
Dutch1.1%(1,021)
French0.6%(559)
Haitian0.5%(501)
Welsh0.3%(298)
+ 35 more ancestry groups with data
Guyanese0.3%(268)
Nigerian0.3%(267)
Scottish0.2%(231)
Greek0.2%(230)
Jamaican0.2%(225)
Portuguese0.2%(214)
Swiss0.2%(185)
Swedish0.2%(182)
Ukrainian0.1%(136)
Arab0.1%(131)
Lithuanian0.1%(102)
Hungarian0.1%(96)
Canadian0.1%(84)
Romanian0.1%(73)
Slovak0.1%(64)
Czech0.1%(52)
British0%(46)
Norwegian0%(45)
Russian0%(43)
Austrian0%(34)
Egyptian0%(27)
Brazilian0%(25)
Lebanese0%(24)
Moroccan0%(15)
Finnish0%(15)
Syrian0%(14)
Danish0%(13)
Serbian0%(12)
Slovene0%(11)
Israeli0%(6)
Belgian0%(1)
RANKED:Largest Puerto Rican population · Largest Dominican population · Largest Mexican population · Largest German population · Largest American population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
8.5%
−0.1 ptsvs 2000
vs 8.6% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
58.4%
−3.9 ptsvs 2000
vs 62.3% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
3.1%
+0.2 ptsvs 2000
vs 3.0% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
15.6 min
+11%vs 2000
vs 14.0 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married50.1%(17,509)
Married35.6%(12,436)
Widowed2.1%(734)
Divorced12.2%(4,252)
Women 15+
Never married50%(18,925)
Married31.2%(11,803)
Widowed6.3%(2,402)
Divorced12.4%(4,711)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Reading to nearby cities

READING VS
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Income$171,204+674%
Home value$568,800+1425%
Population13,439−86%
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READING VS
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Income$102,434+363%
Home value$340,300+812%
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READING VS
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READING VS
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Home value$193,200+418%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Reading, Pennsylvania?

Reading, Pennsylvania has about 78,380 residents according to the 1990 Census.

What is the median household income in Reading, Pennsylvania?

The typical household in Reading, Pennsylvania earns about $22,112 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Reading, Pennsylvania expensive?

In Reading, Pennsylvania, the median home is worth about $37,300, and the typical rent is about $352 a month.

How educated are people in Reading, Pennsylvania?

About 8.5% of adults age 25 and over in Reading, Pennsylvania hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Reading, Pennsylvania?

About 19.4% of people in Reading, Pennsylvania live below the federal poverty line.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →