United States › Pennsylvania › Reading CITY · 2020 ACS
Reading Pennsylvania · 95,112 residents · 9.84 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
Reading is home to 95,112 people in Pennsylvania. 10% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. 38% of homes are owner-occupied. The median age is 31.4, younger than the US median of 38.8. 30.9% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Households here earn about 44% less than in Pennsylvania as a whole.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 31.4
US median: 38.8
Less educated
10% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 30.6 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
77K 82K 87K 92K 97K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Reading Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $35,745
−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,698 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $13,086 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 9.1% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 26.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 5.2%
Public administration 3.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 3.5%
Transportation & warehousing 1.9%
Arts, entertainment, food 1%
Education & health services 0.4%
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$79,500
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $45,000 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$817
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $459 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 51.0% in 2000
61.5% rent
from 2.71 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 2.2 in 2009
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)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 18.9%(17,999)
Hispanic / Latino 69%(65,591)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 6 more hispanic origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 32 more ancestry groups with data from 8.6% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 62.3% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 3.0% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 14.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 57.3% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 26.1% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 18.8% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 60.3% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 15.1% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 16.5% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 19.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 50.1%(17,509)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 19.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 18.9%(481)
Gulf War (1990s) 17.6%(449)
Share of the 2,544 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
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Reading, Pennsylvania? Reading, Pennsylvania has about 95,112 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Reading, Pennsylvania? The typical household in Reading, Pennsylvania earns about $35,745 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 $79,500, and the typical rent is about $817 a month.
How educated are people in Reading, Pennsylvania? About 10.1% 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 30.9% 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 16,732 residents, a change of about 21 percent over that period.
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