United States › Reading METRO AREA · 1990 CENSUS
Reading Metro Reading, PA · 1 counties · 336,523 residents · 856 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
Reading is a metro area of 336,523 people. Owners hold 74% of the housing stock. Poverty is uncommon here, at 8.0% of people across the metro. 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. There are 37,115 fewer people here than in 2000. Median home value sits at $80,900.
At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $30,130
Older
median age 35.5
US median: 33.0
Less educated
15% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01
Population & growth vs 37.4 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
327K 356K 385K 414K 443K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Reading Age distribution, 1990
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $32,048
−6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $44,714 in 2000
US average: $30,130
vs $21,232 in 2000
US average: $14,340
vs 9.4% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
$80,900
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $104,400 in 2000
US average: $93,722
$413
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $545 in 2000
US average: $450
vs 74.0% in 2000
26.1% rent
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 84.8%(317,025)
Hispanic / Latino 9.7%(36,357)
1990
White, non-Hispanic 93.7%(315,186)
Hispanic / Latino 4.8%(16,290)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.
Hispanic origin
+ 9 more hispanic origin groups with data Asian origin
+ 6 more asian origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 49 more ancestry groups with data vs 18.5% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
vs 78.0% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
vs 6.5% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06
Commute & transportation vs 15.0 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07
Work & employment No data for the years selected.
Section 08
People & community No data for the years selected.
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 36.7%(64,170)
Women 15+
Never married 31.3%(56,489)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).
from 10.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 58.8% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 14.2% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 18.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 20.6% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 1.8% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 71.2% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 36.9% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
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, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 19.1%(3,610)
Gulf War (1990s) 20.9%(3,953)
Share of the 18,922 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
In this metro
Largest cities ReadingCENTRAL 95,832 Wyomissing 11,285 Blandon 7,357 Shillington 5,542 Pennside 5,407 Whitfield 5,226 Birdsboro 5,161 Lorane 4,601 West Reading 4,590 Sinking Spring 4,584 Reiffton 4,575 Hamburg 4,551 Amity Gardens 4,499 Laureldale 4,352 Boyertown 4,333 Kutztown 4,255 Kutztown University 4,182 Fleetwood 4,094 Jacksonwald 3,894 Riverview Park 3,619 West Wyomissing 3,289 Mount Penn 3,269 Kenhorst 3,028 Womelsdorf 2,986 Mohnton 2,939 Hyde Park 2,846 Wernersville 2,831 Robesonia 2,181 Temple 2,135 Topton 2,062 The 30 most populous of 87 cities and towns in this metro. CENTRAL marks the metro's principal cities.
What's inside
1 component county Drill deeper
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Reading, PA? Reading, PA has about 336,523 residents according to the 1990 Census.
What is the median household income in Reading, PA? The typical household in Reading, PA earns about $32,048 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 $80,900, and the typical rent is about $413 a month.
How educated are people in Reading, PA? About 15.1% 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 8.0% of people in Reading, PA live below the federal poverty line.
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