Reading, PA Local Data & Statistics

State: PA

Total population: 95,242 Household income: $44,091 Rent: $1,067

Overview

Total population

95,242

Rent

$1,067

Year built

1938

Household income

$44,091

Per capita income

$21,406

Poverty rate

28.7%

Unemployment rate

3.6%

Household size

2.8 persons

Rent over 30% of income

56.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Pennsylvania

Total population

95,242

Adults over 25

56,924

Total households

33,164

Household size

2.8 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$44,091

Per capita income

$21,406

Poverty rate

28.7%

Unemployment rate

3.6%

Rent over 30% of income

56.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,067

Year built

1938

Households that rent

59.4%

Households that own

40.6%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.6

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

24.2%

Black

9.3%

Asian

0.8%

Two or more races

39.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

70.8%

Not Hispanic or Latino

29.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

93.6%

Commute time to work

24 mins

Work from home

6.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

37.1%

High school graduate or GED

38.1%

Some college or associate degree

13.4%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

11.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Reading, PA with: Pennsylvania United States

Reading, PA

Total population95,242

Rent$1,067

Year built1938

Household income$44,091

Per capita income$21,406

Poverty rate28.7%

Unemployment rate3.6%

Pennsylvania State

Total population13,018,639

Rent$1,209

Year built1965

Household income$77,971

Per capita income$44,355

Poverty rate11.7%

Unemployment rate3.6%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityReading, PA	StatePennsylvania	CountryUnited States
Total population	95,242	13,018,639	334,922,499
Rent	$1,067	$1,209	$1,413
Year built	1938	1965	1980
Household income	$44,091	$77,971	$80,734
Per capita income	$21,406	$44,355	$44,673
Poverty rate	28.7%	11.7%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.6%	3.6%	4%

View the complete comparison of Reading, PA, Pennsylvania and United States →

Summary for Reading, PA

Reading is located in Pennsylvania.

Rent & Income

In Reading, the typical monthly rent is $1,067 and the typical household income is $44,091. Rent here is lower than in both Pennsylvania and the U.S., and household income is also lower than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 28.7%, which is higher than in both Pennsylvania and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 59.4% of households, making this a predominantly renter area. About 56.2% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Only about 11.4% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, indicating lower levels of formal education. The local unemployment rate is 3.6%, which is similar to Pennsylvania and lower than the national rate.

Reading, PA — Rent vs Household Income

Reading, PA — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Reading, PA compares in Pennsylvania (9 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,067	4 / 9	from lower rent	$870 – $1,397
Household income	$44,091	9 / 9	from higher income	$44,091 – $68,879
Poverty rate	28.7%	8 / 9	from lower poverty	15.7% – 30.5%
Unemployment rate	3.6%	5 / 9	from lower unemployment	2.5% – 4.1%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Pennsylvania with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

💰 Rent in Reading, PA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,067 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Reading, PA

Annual Household Income: $44,091

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Reading, PA

Estimated Rate: 28.7%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Reading, PA

In Reading, PA, households that rent: 19,690 (59.4%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	19,690	59.4%
Owner-Occupied	13,474	40.6%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Reading, PA

In Reading, PA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 11,068 (56.2%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	11,068	56.2%
Other renter households	8,622	43.8%
Total renter households	19,690	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Reading, PA

Less than High School: 21,144 people (37.1%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 21,697 people (38.1%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 7,616 people (13.4%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 6,467 people (11.4%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 56,924

📊 Unemployment Rate in Reading, PA

Estimated Rate: 3.6%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Tracy, CA95,358 Lawrence, KS95,459 Edmond, OK95,618 Deltona, FL95,682 Sandy, UT94,723 Asheville, NC94,369 Palm Coast, FL94,362 Erie, PA94,156 San Marcos, CA94,078 Livonia, MI94,058

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.