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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Berks County

Pennsylvania · 428,849 residents · 856.403 sq mi
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The short version

Berks County has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $66,154. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $187,600.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 40.4
US median: 38.8
Less educated
26% 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

Total population
428,849
+15%since 2000
from 373,638 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
501 / sq mi
+15%since 2000
from 436 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
40.4
+8%since 2000
from 37.4 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
327K356K385K414K443K1990201020202024Berks County
2024433K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$66,154
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $44,714 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$32,781
+54%since 2000
from $21,232 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
44.6%
+12.3 ptssince 2009
from 32.2% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
11.7%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 9.4% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade18.4%
US avg: 10%
Information11.9%
US avg: 11.1%
Finance & insurance5.8%
US avg: 5.5%
Other services5.5%
US avg: 6.6%
Wholesale trade5.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical4.4%
US avg: 4.7%
Public administration3.9%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.6%
US avg: 2.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.9%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction1.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services1.3%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$187,600
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $104,400 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$951
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $545 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
69.7%
−4.2 ptssince 2000
from 74.0% in 2000
30.3% rent
Afford Score
2.8
+21%since 2000
from 2.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Berks County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic84.8%(317,025)
Black3.3%(12,478)
Hispanic / Latino9.7%(36,357)
Asian1%(3,713)
Other0%
Diversity Score31.7%(118,273)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic67.9%(291,258)
Black4.2%(18,087)
Hispanic / Latino23.2%(99,550)
Asian1.5%(6,225)
Other2.3%(9,905)
Diversity Score59.1%(253,543)
Segregation Score54.5%(233,714)
Diversity Score
59
+87%since 2000
from 32 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
54
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
25.9%
+7.4 ptssince 2000
from 18.5% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
87.2%
+9.2 ptssince 2000
from 78.0% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
9.5%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 6.5% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.3 min
+68%since 2000
from 15.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
79.0%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 80.2% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
8.5%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.6%
−3.1 ptssince 2011
from 8.7% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
65.0%
−1.4 ptssince 2011
from 66.3% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
33.6%
−28.1 ptssince 2009
from 61.7% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
Female
50.8%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 50.7% in 2009
Foreign born
7.5%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
6.2%
−83.5 ptssince 2013
from 89.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Berks County

Manatee County
Pop 468,200
Onondaga County
Pop 466,584
Butler County
Pop 400,128
Sarasota County
Pop 479,958
Places similar to Berks County
Head to head

Compare Berks County to nearby counties

BERKS COUNTY VS
Lehigh County
Income$80,079+21%
Home value$300,400+60%
Population384,383−13%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BERKS COUNTY VS
Schuylkill County
Income$68,313+3%
Home value$153,000−18%
Population145,085−67%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BERKS COUNTY VS
Lebanon County
Income$78,425+19%
Home value$242,000+29%
Population146,380−67%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BERKS COUNTY VS
Lancaster County
Income$86,959+31%
Home value$301,100+61%
Population563,159+28%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Berks County, Pennsylvania?

Berks County, Pennsylvania has about 428,849 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Berks County, Pennsylvania?

The typical household in Berks County, Pennsylvania earns about $66,154 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Berks County, Pennsylvania expensive?

In Berks County, Pennsylvania, the median home is worth about $187,600, and the typical rent is about $951 a month.

How educated are people in Berks County, Pennsylvania?

About 25.9% of adults age 25 and over in Berks County, Pennsylvania hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Berks County, Pennsylvania?

About 11.7% of people in Berks County, Pennsylvania live below the federal poverty line.

Has Berks County, Pennsylvania grown since 1990?

Yes, Berks County, Pennsylvania has grown since 1990. The population has added about 92,326 residents, a change of about 27 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

107 census tracts (top 20 by population)
Census Tract 124Census Tract 104.02Census Tract 105Census Tract 109.03Census Tract 130Census Tract 103.04Census Tract 133.02Census Tract 106.02Census Tract 120.04Census Tract 101Census Tract 108.03Census Tract 116.01Census Tract 119.03Census Tract 102.02Census Tract 114Census Tract 11Census Tract 116.03Census Tract 111.02Census Tract 117.05Census Tract 127.01
51 ZIP codes (top 30 by population)
ZIP 19601ZIP 19606ZIP 19604ZIP 19608ZIP 19607ZIP 19605ZIP 19602ZIP 19518ZIP 19610ZIP 19512ZIP 19530ZIP 19508ZIP 19522ZIP 19540ZIP 19526ZIP 19611ZIP 19609ZIP 19565ZIP 19560ZIP 19533ZIP 19510ZIP 19506ZIP 19543ZIP 19567ZIP 18011ZIP 19504ZIP 19551ZIP 19547ZIP 19541ZIP 19539
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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