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Reading, MA
Census-designated place in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. ZIP codes: 01867.
Population
25,612
Land area
10sq mi
People per sq mi
2,567
ZIP codes
1
Reading and its ZIP codes
Reading at a glance
- Reading is about 2.8 times as dense as Massachusetts as a whole.
- The median household income is $165,912, 60% above the Massachusetts median of $103,960.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $809,000 (44% above Massachusetts) and median rent is $1,991 a month.
Local data for Reading, MA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Reading, MA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$165,912
Poverty rate
3.2%
Median home value
$809,000
Median rent
$1,991/mo
Homeownership
82.4%
Bachelor's or higher
66.3%
Median age
43.7
Average commute
30.9 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (7,958), Italian Americans (5,377), German Americans (2,241).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Middlesex County. PPP loans are for Reading.
Unemployment rate
4.0%
Aug 2026, -0.3 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$118,479
903,942 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$112,011
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$27.4B
FY 2026, $16,790 per person
PPP loans
$47.15M
763 loans, 5,053 jobs reported
How people get to work
Reading, MA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone56.9%
- Carpooled7.0%
- Public transit4.5%
- Walked1.1%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.4%
- Worked from home30.2%
Average one-way commute: 30.9 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Reading, MA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively High
Top: ice storm
Storm events since 1996
1,840
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
4,000
1.0% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
84° / 19°F
50.0 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone83 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Reading, MA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
23.3%
U.S. 33.3% -10.0 pts
Diabetes
8.0%
U.S. 12.1% -4.1 pts
Smoking
8.2%
U.S. 12.8% -4.6 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
2.7%
U.S. 11.1% -8.4 pts
ZIP codes in Reading
1 in or overlapping Reading. Population shown
Cities near Reading
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| WakefieldCensus-designated place | 2.8 mi | 7.4 |
| LynnfieldCensus-designated place | 2.9 mi | 9.9 |
| WoburnCity | 3.6 mi | 12.7 |
| WilmingtonCensus-designated place | 3.8 mi | 17 |
| StonehamCensus-designated place | 4.3 mi | 6 |
| BurlingtonCensus-designated place | 5.4 mi | 11.8 |
| MelroseCity | 5.9 mi | 4.7 |
| WinchesterCensus-designated place | 6 mi | 6 |
| SaugusCensus-designated place | 6.3 mi | 10.8 |
| PinehurstCensus-designated place | 6.5 mi | 3.7 |
| PeabodyCity | 7.1 mi | 16.2 |
| MedfordCity | 7.6 mi | 8.1 |
| MaldenCity | 7.7 mi | 5 |
| LynnCity | 8.1 mi | 10.7 |
| DanversCensus-designated place | 8.2 mi | 13.3 |
| AndoverCensus-designated place | 8.5 mi | 3.7 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Reading, MA in?
- Reading is in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
- What ZIP codes are in Reading, MA?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Reading include 01867.
- What is the population of Reading, MA?
- About 25,612 people live in Reading, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Reading?
- Nearby places include Wakefield (2.8 mi), Lynnfield (2.9 mi), Woburn (3.6 mi), Wilmington (3.8 mi), Stoneham (4.3 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023