CensusEasy
METRO AREA · 2020 ACS

Reading Metro

Reading, PA · 1 counties · 428,849 residents · 856.403 sq mi
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The short version

Reading 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
327K356K385K414K443K1990201020202024Reading
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 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%
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%
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+19%
Home value$424,224+126%
Population445,814+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
READING VS
Savannah
Income$77,692+17%
Home value$302,959+61%
Population438,314same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
READING VS
Wilmington
Income$76,547+16%
Home value$362,172+93%
Population492,772+12%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
READING VS
York
Income$84,829+28%
Home value$248,600+33%
Population473,197+8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Reading, PA?

Reading, PA has about 428,849 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Reading, PA?

The typical household in Reading, PA earns about $66,154 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 $187,600, and the typical rent is about $951 a month.

How educated are people in Reading, PA?

About 25.9% 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 11.7% 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 92,326 residents, a change of about 27 percent over that period.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →