CensusEasy
METRO AREA

Reading Metro

Reading, PA · 1 counties · 440,072 residents (2025 est.) · 856.403 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

Reading has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $79,777. Population has grown 16% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $257,300. It ranks in the top 5% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.9
US median: 38.9
Less educated
28% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 35%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
433,015
+16%since 2000
from 373,638 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
506 / sq mi
+16%since 2000
from 436 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
39.9
+7%since 2000
from 37.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:440,072 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
327K356K385K414K443K1990201020202024Reading
2024433K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$79,777
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $44,714 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$39,815
+88%since 2000
from $21,232 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
53.0%
+20.8 ptssince 2009
from 32.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
12.2%
+2.8 ptssince 2000
from 9.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.446
+6%since 2010
from 0.421 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade17.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Information12%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance6.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade6.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services5.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services1%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$257,300
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $104,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,181
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $545 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
71.3%
−2.7 ptssince 2000
from 74.0% in 2000
28.7% rent
Vacancy rate
4.9%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
20.8%
−7.1 ptssince 2009
from 27.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
48.5%
+5.0 ptssince 2009
from 43.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.2
+38%since 2000
from 2.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
37
RELATED:See current rent listings in Reading 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%
2024
White, non-Hispanic66.6%(288,465)
Black4%(17,109)
Hispanic / Latino24.8%(107,531)
Asian1.3%(5,418)
Other3.3%(14,492)
Diversity Score61.5%(266,142)
Segregation Score54%(233,617)
Diversity Score
61
+94%since 2000
from 32 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
54
−1%since 2020
from 54 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
27.7%
+9.2 ptssince 2000
from 18.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
88.4%
+10.4 ptssince 2000
from 78.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
10.2%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 6.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.4 min
+69%since 2000
from 15.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
73.5%
−6.7 ptssince 2009
from 80.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 9.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.0%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
11.9%
+8.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.5%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
8.7%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.4%
−3.3 ptssince 2011
from 8.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
64.3%
−2.0 ptssince 2011
from 66.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
10.0%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 11.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
35.6%
−26.1 ptssince 2009
from 61.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.6%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
Female
50.4%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.7% in 2009
Foreign born
9.7%
+3.8 ptssince 2009
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.6%
−42.9 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.5%
+0.7 ptssince 2012
from 12.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.3%
−82.4 ptssince 2013
from 89.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.6%
+11.0 ptssince 2017
from 78.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
78.7%
−3.5 ptssince 2016
from 82.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
17.6%
+3.7 ptssince 2016
from 14.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

ReadingCENTRAL95,832
What's inside

1 component county

Berks CountyCENTRAL440,072
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Reading

Salem
Pop 445,814
Savannah
Pop 438,314
Wilmington
Pop 492,772
York
Pop 473,197
Places similar to Reading
Head to head

Compare Reading side by side

READING VS
Salem
Income$78,938−1%
Home value$424,224+65%
Population445,814+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
READING VS
Savannah
Income$77,692−3%
Home value$302,959+18%
Population438,314same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
READING VS
Wilmington
Income$76,547−4%
Home value$362,172+41%
Population492,772+12%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
READING VS
York
Income$84,829+6%
Home value$248,600−3%
Population473,197+8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Reading, PA?

Reading, PA has about 433,015 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Reading, PA?

The typical household in Reading, PA earns about $79,777 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Reading, PA expensive?

In Reading, PA, the median home is worth about $257,300, and the typical rent is about $1,181 a month.

How educated are people in Reading, PA?

About 27.7% of adults age 25 and over in Reading, PA hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Reading, PA?

About 12.2% of people in Reading, PA live below the federal poverty line.

Has Reading, PA grown since 1990?

Yes, Reading, PA has grown since 1990. The population has added about 96,492 residents, a change of about 29 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Metro rankings
Largest US metrosHighest income metrosFastest growing metros
Compare
Compare Reading with another metro

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Reading, PA: population, income & housing data · CensusEasy