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CITY · 2020 ACS

West Reading

Pennsylvania · 4,553 residents · 0.59 sq mi
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The short version

West Reading is a city of 4,553 people in Pennsylvania. 27.1% of people here live below the federal poverty line. 48% of homes are owner-occupied. The typical home is worth $122,400, having risen by half since 2000. Households here earn about 23% less than in Pennsylvania as a whole. The foreign-born share is 6%.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 36.9
US median: 38.8
Average education
34% 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

4,553
+12%since 2000
from 4,049 in 2000
1990 – 2025
36.9
−8%since 2000
from 40.3 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
0.59 sq mi
Population, 19902024
4K4K4K4K5K19902000201020202024West Reading
20245K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 55.3%(243)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96%(274)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 146.2%(284)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196%(271)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.9%(269)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3417.7%(807)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4413.2%(602)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5412.3%(562)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 649.8%(444)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7410.4%(475)
US avg: 10%
75 to 844.8%(217)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.3%(105)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$49,000
−15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $38,340 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$41,982
+96%since 2000
from $21,414 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
29.3%
+10.9 ptssince 2009
from 18.5% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
27.1%
+17.6 ptssince 2000
from 9.5% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade11.9%
US avg: 10%
Information7.9%
US avg: 11.1%
Other services7.1%
US avg: 6.6%
Finance & insurance6.2%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical5.9%
US avg: 4.7%
Wholesale trade5.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.8%
US avg: 2.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.9%
US avg: 1.7%
Manufacturing1.9%
US avg: 0.5%
Education & health services0.3%
US avg: 0.8%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$122,400
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $72,900 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$982
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $600 in 2000
US average: $1,124
48.4%
−11.0 ptssince 2000
from 59.4% in 2000
51.6% rent
2.30 people
−3%since 2009
from 2.36 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
2.5
+4%since 2009
from 2.4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
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-Hispanic85.5%(3,463)
Black3.8%(155)
Hispanic / Latino7.8%(315)
Asian1.5%(62)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic59.8%(2,722)
Black7%(320)
Hispanic / Latino25.9%(1,181)
Asian2.1%(95)
Other3.9%(179)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Puerto Rican16.9%(726)
Mexican9.1%(392)
Dominican0.8%(34)
Colombian0.7%(28)
Guatemalan0.6%(24)
Venezuelan0.4%(16)
Asian origin
Asian Indian2.4%(102)
Vietnamese2.2%(93)
Chinese1.1%(46)
Laotian0.4%(17)
Korean0.2%(10)
Ancestry
German21.3%(916)
Italian8.8%(377)
Irish8.2%(351)
English4.6%(196)
Polish4.3%(183)
American2.9%(123)
Scottish2.1%(90)
Welsh1.6%(70)
French1.4%(59)
Dutch0.9%(40)
Greek0.7%(28)
Scotch-Irish0.7%(28)
+ 14 more ancestry groups with data
Swiss0.7%(28)
Austrian0.6%(24)
Czech0.4%(17)
Moroccan0.4%(16)
Danish0.3%(15)
West Indian0.3%(14)
Haitian0.3%(14)
Ukrainian0.3%(12)
Lithuanian0.2%(10)
Croatian0.2%(7)
Slovak0.1%(6)
Russian0.1%(5)
Section 05

Education

33.9%
+19.4 ptssince 2000
from 14.6% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
90.3%
+17.3 ptssince 2000
from 73.1% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
11.9%
+6.5 ptssince 2000
from 5.3% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

22.6 min
+87%since 2000
from 12.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
78.7%
+8.5 ptssince 2009
from 70.2% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
12.9%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 12.0% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

1.0%
−3.3 ptssince 2011
from 4.3% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
52.7%
−8.7 ptssince 2011
from 61.5% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
57.6%
US average: 73.3%
33.1%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 33.5% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

44.9%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 44.2% in 2009
55.1%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 55.8% in 2009
5.9%
−4.4 ptssince 2009
from 10.3% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
3.6%
−5.3 ptssince 2013
from 8.9% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
94.9%
US average: 91.9%
90.1%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married41.8%(724)
Married38.9%(675)
Widowed3.5%(60)
Divorced15.9%(275)
Women 15+
Never married31.4%(621)
Married52.1%(1,031)
Widowed3.9%(77)
Divorced12.7%(251)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

3.6%
−5.3 ptssince 2013
from 8.9% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
62.7%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
13.6%
US average: 13.7%
15.5%
US average: 17.6%
25.4%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
1.3%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
73.6%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
35.9%
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)24.3%(36)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)18.9%(28)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era24.3%(36)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 148 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.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in West Reading, Pennsylvania?

West Reading, Pennsylvania has about 4,553 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in West Reading, Pennsylvania?

The typical household in West Reading, Pennsylvania earns about $49,000 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is West Reading, Pennsylvania expensive?

In West Reading, Pennsylvania, the median home is worth about $122,400, and the typical rent is about $982 a month.

How educated are people in West Reading, Pennsylvania?

About 33.9% of adults age 25 and over in West Reading, Pennsylvania hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in West Reading, Pennsylvania?

About 27.1% of people in West Reading, Pennsylvania live below the federal poverty line.

Has West Reading, Pennsylvania grown since 1990?

Yes, West Reading, Pennsylvania has grown since 1990. The population has added about 444 residents, a change of about 11 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 →