United States › Pennsylvania › Reading CITY · 1990 CENSUS
Reading Pennsylvania · 78,380 residents · 9.84 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
With 78,380 people, Reading is a city in Pennsylvania. There are 7,963 people per square mile. Median home value sits at $37,300. 9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Households here earn about 24% less than in Pennsylvania as a whole. 56% of homes are owner-occupied.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $22,112, 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 vs 8,250 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 221
vs 30.6 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
77K 82K 87K 92K 97K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Reading Age distribution, 1990
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Section 02
Income & economy $22,112
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $26,698 in 2000
US average: $30,130
vs $13,086 in 2000
US average: $14,340
vs 26.1% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
$37,300
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $45,000 in 2000
US average: $93,722
$352
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $459 in 2000
US average: $450
vs 51.0% in 2000
44.1% rent
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 48.1%(39,038)
Hispanic / Latino 37.3%(30,302)
1990
White, non-Hispanic 71.8%(56,249)
Hispanic / Latino 18%(14,130)
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.
Hispanic origin
+ 6 more hispanic origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 35 more ancestry groups with data vs 8.6% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
vs 62.3% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
vs 3.0% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06
Commute & transportation 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 married 50.1%(17,509)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).
from 19.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 34.9% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 7.7% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 13.9% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 48.1% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 1.4% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 41.8% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 56.8% 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) 25.6%(543)
Gulf War (1990s) 21.1%(449)
Share of the 2,124 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.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Reading Head to head
Compare Reading to nearby cities READING VS
Hockessin
Income $171,204 +674%
Home value $568,800 +1425%
Population 13,439 −86%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
READING VS
Pike Creek Valley
Income $102,434 +363%
Home value $340,300 +812%
Population 12,431 −87%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
READING VS
Claymont
Income $74,712 +238%
Home value $276,600 +642%
Population 8,786 −91%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
READING VS
Phillipsburg
Income $68,324 +209%
Home value $193,200 +418%
Population 15,456 −84%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
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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