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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

Reading

Pennsylvania · 81,207 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 $26,698. Population has held roughly steady since 1990. 9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 24%. Median home value is $45,000. At a median age of 30.6, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 33% less than the Pennsylvania median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 30.6
US median: 35.2
Less educated
9% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
More affordable
home values down 8%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
81,207
+4%since 1990
from 78,380 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Median age
30.6
−5%since 1990
from 32.3 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
77K82K87K92K97K1990201020202024Reading
202495K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 58.7%(7,037)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 98.9%(7,221)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 148.1%(6,555)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 197.8%(6,318)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 248.2%(6,669)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3415.1%(12,244)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4413.9%(11,261)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5410.3%(8,339)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 646.8%(5,495)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 746.1%(4,940)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 844.6%(3,759)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over1.7%(1,369)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$26,698
−8%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $22,112 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$13,086
+19%since 1990
from $11,041 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
26.1%
+6.7 ptssince 1990
from 19.4% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$45,000
−8%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $37,300 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$459
−1%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $352 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
51.0%
−4.9 ptssince 1990
from 55.9% in 1990
49.0% rent
RELATED:See current rent listings in Reading on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

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

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
8.6%
+0.1 ptssince 1990
from 8.5% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
62.3%
+3.9 ptssince 1990
from 58.4% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
3.0%
−0.2 ptssince 1990
from 3.1% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
14.0 min
−10%since 1990
from 15.6 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 married41.2%(11,716)
Married45.8%(13,016)
Widowed3.9%(1,102)
Divorced9.1%(2,577)
Women 15+
Never married33.2%(10,545)
Married42.1%(13,380)
Widowed12.2%(3,869)
Divorced12.6%(3,996)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Reading to nearby cities

READING VS
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Income$171,204+541%
Home value$568,800+1164%
Population13,439−86%
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READING VS
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Income$102,434+284%
Home value$340,300+656%
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READING VS
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READING VS
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Home value$193,200+329%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Reading, Pennsylvania?

Reading, Pennsylvania has about 81,207 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Reading, Pennsylvania?

The typical household in Reading, Pennsylvania earns about $26,698 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 $45,000, and the typical rent is about $459 a month.

How educated are people in Reading, Pennsylvania?

About 8.6% 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 26.1% of people in Reading, Pennsylvania live below the federal poverty line.

Has Reading, Pennsylvania grown since 1990?

Yes, Reading, Pennsylvania has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,827 residents, a change of about 4 percent over that period.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →