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Reading, PA
City in Berks County, Pennsylvania. ZIP codes: 19601, 19602, 19604, 19611.
Population
95,242
Land area
9.8sq mi
People per sq mi
9,676
ZIP codes
4
Reading and its ZIP codes
Reading at a glance
- Reading is about 33 times as dense as Pennsylvania as a whole.
- It is the 4th most populous of 1,991 cities and towns in Pennsylvania.
- Households here earn a median of $44,091 a year, 43% less than the Pennsylvania figure of $77,971.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $121,300 (52% below Pennsylvania) and median rent is $1,067 a month.
Local data for Reading, PA
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals1
- Nursing Homes1
- Schools26
- Colleges5
- Libraries4
- Banks10
- Post Offices1
- Parks30
- Grocery Stores48
- Restaurants214
- Affordable Housing6
- Home Health Agencies2
- Community Health Centers4
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment9
- Private Schools7
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools3
- Toxic Release Facilities4
- Historic Places25
Housing and community stats
Reading, PA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$44,091
Poverty rate
28.7%
Median home value
$121,300
Median rent
$1,067/mo
Homeownership
40.6%
Bachelor's or higher
11.4%
Median age
31.9
Average commute
24.1 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Puerto Ricans (27,799), Dominican Americans (22,520), Mexican Americans (10,206).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Berks County. PPP loans are for Reading.
Unemployment rate
3.4%
Sep 2026, -1.2 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$65,982
175,054 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$62,942
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$2.7B
FY 2026, $6,288 per person
PPP loans
$163M
1,882 loans, 16,821 jobs reported
How people get to work
Reading, PA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone61.6%
- Carpooled18.1%
- Public transit3.4%
- Walked4.7%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other5.7%
- Worked from home6.4%
Average one-way commute: 24.1 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Reading, PA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Top: winter weather
Storm events since 1996
1,910
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
684
0.5% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
87° / 23°F
45.2 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone25 historic places
ZIP codes in Reading
4 in or overlapping Reading. Population shown
Cities near Reading
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Mount PennBorough | 1.5 mi | 0.4 |
| West ReadingBorough | 1.6 mi | 0.6 |
| PennsideCensus-designated place | 2.1 mi | 1 |
| KenhorstBorough | 2.3 mi | 0.6 |
| GrillCensus-designated place | 2.5 mi | 0.8 |
| St. LawrenceBorough | 2.5 mi | 0.9 |
| Stony Creek MillsCensus-designated place | 2.9 mi | 0.6 |
| GreenfieldsCensus-designated place | 2.9 mi | 0.7 |
| WyomissingBorough | 3 mi | 4.5 |
| Hyde ParkCensus-designated place | 3 mi | 0.5 |
| ReifftonCensus-designated place | 3.3 mi | 1.9 |
| Colony ParkCensus-designated place | 3.5 mi | 0.6 |
| ShillingtonBorough | 3.6 mi | 1 |
| Penn State BerksCensus-designated place | 3.7 mi | 0.4 |
| LaureldaleBorough | 3.9 mi | 0.8 |
| Muhlenberg ParkCensus-designated place | 3.9 mi | 0.6 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Reading, PA in?
- Reading is in Berks County, Pennsylvania.
- What ZIP codes are in Reading, PA?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Reading include 19601, 19602, 19604, 19611.
- What is the population of Reading, PA?
- About 95,242 people live in Reading, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Reading?
- Nearby places include Mount Penn (1.5 mi), West Reading (1.6 mi), Pennside (2.1 mi), Kenhorst (2.3 mi), Grill (2.5 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023