Population 433,015 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Berks County
Household size in Berks County
| Period | Berks County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.59 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.63 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.66 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.64 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.05 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
At 2.64 people per household, Berks County sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is bigger than in Pennsylvania as a whole, where it has 2.46 people. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.59, even as the national average fell. Few Pennsylvania counties have larger households: only three of 67.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Berks County
| Period | Berks County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.2 | 40.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.8 | 41.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.7 | 41.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.8 | 42.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.6 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
At 40.8, the median age in Berks County is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 39.2, mirroring the country. Of Pennsylvania's 67 counties, only six are younger.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Berks County
| Period | Berks County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.8% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.9% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.9% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.2% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in eight households in Berks County (13.2%), a bit above the national share of 11.6%. Of Pennsylvania's 67 counties, only four have a higher share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Berks County
Renters in Berks County
| Period | Berks County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.9% | 29.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 28.3% | 30.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.5% | 31.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 28.7% | 30.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.8 pts | +1.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Berks County own their homes; 28.7% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 40.7% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the southeast. The renter share is up 1.8 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Berks County
| Period | Berks County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.4% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.4% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.2% | 10.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.9% | 9.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Berks County than nationally: 5.9%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 1.5 points, mirroring the country. Berks County has a lower vacancy rate than at least four in five Pennsylvania counties.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Berks County
| Period | Berks County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1965 | 1963 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1966 | 1964 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1967 | 1965 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1967 | 1967 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Berks County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1967, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The picture is much the same across Pennsylvania. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the center has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Berks County
| Period | Berks County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $805 | $829 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $910 | $923 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,053 | $1,039 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,310 | $1,323 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$505 | +$494 | +$606 |
Rent in Berks County runs $1,310 a month at the median, utilities included, below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $505 a month since 2006–10, up 63%, roughly in step with the nation. The typical renter here spends 30.3% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Berks County
Bachelor's degrees in Berks County
| Period | Berks County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.3% | 27.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.1% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.1% | 31.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 26.6% | 35.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.4 pts | +8.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
Just over a quarter of adults 25 and older in Berks County (26.6%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 5.4 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the center.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Berks County
| Period | Berks County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 82.2% | 87.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 83.6% | 88.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 85.5% | 90.3% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 87.4% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.1 pts | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in eight adults in Berks County never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 87.4% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma has risen 5.1 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Few Pennsylvania counties have a lower share of high school graduates: only six of 67.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Berks County
| Period | Berks County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.3% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.0% | 8.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.3% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.0% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.3 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Berks County is close to the national rate: 6.0% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.3 points, in line with the national trend. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Berks County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berks County | 2.64 | 40.8 | 13.2% | 28.7% | 5.9% | 1967 | $1,310 | 26.6% | 87.4% | 6.0% |
| Lebanon County | 2.53 | 41.5 | 10.0% | 28.7% | 6.6% | 1971 | $1,242 | 24.6% | 88.2% | 4.2% |
| Dauphin County | 2.43 | 39.7 | 12.3% | 36.9% | 6.2% | 1971 | $1,286 | 33.6% | 90.5% | 5.0% |
| Bucks County | 2.62 | 44.8 | 8.0% | 22.2% | 4.2% | 1975 | $1,800 | 44.8% | 94.9% | 4.3% |
| Cumberland County | 2.45 | 41.2 | 8.0% | 28.7% | 6.6% | 1978 | $1,389 | 41.0% | 93.7% | 3.5% |
| Mercer County | 2.68 | 40.3 | 12.3% | 37.8% | 6.7% | 1967 | $1,780 | 45.3% | 88.4% | 6.6% |
| Perry County | 2.54 | 43.6 | 9.4% | 18.2% | 8.8% | 1974 | $898 | 19.6% | 89.1% | 3.2% |
| Middlesex County | 2.87 | 40.6 | 10.7% | 36.4% | 4.7% | 1972 | $1,956 | 46.3% | 88.6% | 6.6% |
| Monmouth County | 2.65 | 44.0 | 7.8% | 24.4% | 6.8% | 1974 | $2,113 | 51.0% | 93.9% | 5.3% |
| Huntingdon County | 2.38 | 44.7 | 7.5% | 20.8% | 21.6% | 1969 | $859 | 20.7% | 91.9% | 4.6% |
| Blair County | 2.38 | 42.9 | 10.0% | 27.6% | 10.5% | 1961 | $936 | 24.5% | 93.9% | 4.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Tulare County, CA · Santa Barbara County, CA · Monterey County, CA · Hillsborough County, NH · Horry County, SC · Galveston County, TX · Lane County, OR · Solano County, CA · Washtenaw County, MI · Mercer County, NJ
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Berks County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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