Population 181,457 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Reading: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Reading
Household size in Reading
| Period | Reading | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.64 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.72 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.81 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.77 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.13 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Households in Reading average 2.77 people, a bit above the national 2.65, so families with children are somewhat more common here. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.64, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the east and smallest in the northwest.
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 Reading
| Period | Reading | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.1 | 40.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.3 | 41.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.1 | 41.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.3 | 42.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.2 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
Reading is a little younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 37.3, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 36.1, in line with the national trend. Of the 496 Pennsylvania cities with 5,000+ people, only 35 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 Reading
| Period | Reading | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.1% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 18.3% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 18.1% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 18.2% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Reading: 18.2% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. Of the 496 Pennsylvania cities with 5,000+ people, only 19 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 Reading
Renters in Reading
| Period | Reading | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.5% | 29.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 38.9% | 30.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 39.8% | 31.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 39.6% | 30.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | +1.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
About four in ten households in Reading rent their homes (39.6%), a bit above the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 44.3% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 2.1 points, as it has nationally. Of the 496 Pennsylvania cities with 5,000+ people, only 49 have a higher share of renters.
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 Reading
| Period | Reading | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.1% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.3% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.3% | 10.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.1% | 9.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.0 pts | −1.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Reading: 7.1% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Vacancy is down 3.0 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Reading
| Period | Reading | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1958 | 1963 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1959 | 1964 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1960 | 1965 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1959 | 1967 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +4 | +6 |
Reading is a place of older homes: half were built before 1959, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. 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 Reading
| Period | Reading | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $801 | $829 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $891 | $923 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,038 | $1,039 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,316 | $1,323 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$515 | +$494 | +$606 |
Rent in Reading runs $1,316 a month at the median, utilities included, below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $515 a month from 2006–10, a 64% jump, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 32.7% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the center; the highest are in the west.
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 Reading
Bachelor's degrees in Reading
| Period | Reading | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.6% | 27.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.0% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.7% | 31.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 23.6% | 35.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.0 pts | +8.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Reading: 23.6% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 4.0 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the east.
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 Reading
| Period | Reading | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 76.2% | 87.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 76.8% | 88.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 79.2% | 90.3% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 81.6% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.4 pts | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly one in five adults in Reading never finished high school, well above the national share: only 81.6% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 5.4 points, as it has nationally. Of the 496 Pennsylvania cities with 5,000+ people, only 12 have a lower share of high school graduates.
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 Reading
| Period | Reading | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.5% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 13.6% | 8.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.4% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.7% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Reading runs well above the national rate: 9.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Of the 496 Pennsylvania cities with 5,000+ people, only 14 have higher unemployment. Unemployment is down 1.8 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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).
Reading compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 2.77 | 37.3 | 18.2% | 39.6% | 7.1% | 1959 | $1,316 | 23.6% | 81.6% | 9.7% |
| West Reading | 2.52 | 34.5 | 13.1% | 43.9% | 3.5% | 1938 | $1,481 | 33.1% | 89.6% | 4.3% |
| Monterey | 2.50 | 44.9 | 6.2% | 30.7% | 7.7% | 1973 | $1,129 | 26.3% | 82.1% | 0.7% |
| Wyomissing | 2.27 | 51.6 | 8.9% | 32.0% | 6.9% | 1971 | $1,526 | 55.3% | 97.2% | 2.1% |
| Kenhorst | 2.53 | 37.0 | 14.9% | 21.5% | 6.1% | 1953 | $1,298 | 24.5% | 89.2% | 3.0% |
| Mount Penn | 2.68 | 36.5 | 20.5% | 32.9% | 8.5% | 1945 | $1,010 | 20.0% | 95.0% | 1.0% |
| Shillington | 2.55 | 37.7 | 16.0% | 37.5% | 7.3% | 1946 | $1,451 | 23.9% | 96.3% | 5.6% |
| Pennside | 2.38 | 42.4 | 6.0% | 22.4% | 6.4% | 1954 | $1,518 | 23.5% | 95.2% | 2.0% |
| Ridgewood | 2.51 | 42.8 | 8.8% | 25.6% | 8.5% | 1972 | $1,440 | 37.4% | 93.2% | 2.2% |
| West Wyomissing | 2.31 | 42.1 | 9.2% | 17.3% | 4.5% | 1959 | $1,382 | 32.4% | 90.3% | 1.9% |
| Laureldale | 2.77 | 39.1 | 19.4% | 18.6% | 5.5% | 1956 | $1,540 | 12.3% | 87.2% | 6.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Phoenix, AZ · Palatine, IL · Pflugerville, TX · Pasadena, CA · Pharr, TX · Petaluma, CA · Pasco, WA · Perris, CA · Pearland, TX · Owensboro, KY
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 Reading. 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.