ZIP Code 19606: Population, Income, Housing

State: PA
Total population: 35,853 Household income: $85,557 Rent: $1,243

Overview

Total population
35,853
Rent
$1,243
Year built
1975
Household income
$85,557
Per capita income
$41,940
Poverty rate
9.9%
Unemployment rate
N/A
Household size
2.5 persons
Rent over 30% of income
48.3%

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

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available. New 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State
Pennsylvania
County
Berks County
City
Exeter Township
Total population
35,853
Adults over 25
25,846
Total households
14,064
Household size
2.5 persons

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

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available. New 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Income & Poverty

Household income
$85,557
Per capita income
$41,940
Poverty rate
9.9%
Unemployment rate
N/A
Rent over 30% of income
48.3%

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

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available. New 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Housing

Rent
$1,243
Year built
1975
Households that rent
20.4%
Households that own
79.6%
Rooms per home (all homes)
6.6

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

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available. New 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Race

White
75.6%
Black
4%
Asian
1.3%
Two or more races
11.6%

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

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available. New 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino
18.2%
Not Hispanic or Latino
81.8%

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

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available. New 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Commute

Commute rate
15,957 (87.1%)
Commute time to work
25 mins
Work from home
2,366 (12.9%)

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

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available. New 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Education

Less than high school
21%
High school graduate or GED
37.4%
Some college or associate degree
10.9%
Bachelor’s degree or higher
30.8%

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

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available. New 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

 

Comparison of ZIP Code 19606 with: Berks County, PA Reading metro area, PA Pennsylvania United States

ZIP 19606

Total population35,853
Rent$1,243
Year built1975
Household income$85,557
Per capita income$41,940
Poverty rate9.9%
Unemployment rateN/A

Berks County, PA

Total population433,015
Rent$1,181
Year built1969
Household income$79,777
Per capita income$39,815
Poverty rate12.2%
Unemployment rate3.2%

Reading Metro Area, PA

Total population433,015
Rent$1,181
Year built1969
Household income$79,777
Per capita income$39,815
Poverty rate12.2%
Unemployment rate3.7%

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 ZIP19606 CountyBerks, PAMetro AreaReading metro area, PAStatePennsylvaniaCountryUnited States
Total population35,853433,015433,01513,018,639334,922,499
Rent$1,243$1,181$1,181$1,209$1,413
Year built19751969196919651980
Household income$85,557$79,777$79,777$77,971$80,734
Per capita income$41,940$39,815$39,815$44,355$44,673
Poverty rate9.9%12.2%12.2%11.7%12.5%
Unemployment rateN/A3.2%3.7%3.6%4%

View the full multi-level comparison →

 

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Summary for 19606

Rent & Income

In 19606, the typical monthly rent is $1,243 and the typical household income is $85,557. Rent here is similar to Pennsylvania, and household income is higher than Pennsylvania. The estimated poverty rate is 9.9%.

Housing & Affordability

This ZIP Code is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 20.4% of households. About 48.3% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 30.8% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher.

 

ZIP 19606 — Rent vs Household Income

 

 

ZIP 19606 — Poverty

 

 

How ZIP 19606 compares in Pennsylvania (107 ZIP Codes)

Metric This ZIP Rank Starts from State range
Rent $1,243 39 / 107 from lower rent $725 – $2,177
Household income $85,557 46 / 107 from higher income $31,069 – $171,179
Poverty rate 9.9% 47 / 107 from lower poverty 2.5% – 48.2%

Rankings are calculated among ZIP Codes in Pennsylvania with total population > 30,000 (year 2024).

 

Detailed Ranking Explanation for ZIP Code 19606

Rent

In terms of rental prices, this ZIP stands 39th out of 107 ZIP Codes in Pennsylvania. Across Pennsylvania, figures vary from $725 in ZIP 16101 up to $2,177 in ZIP 19087.

Household income

When comparing household incomes, ZIP Code 19606 stands 46th out of 107 ZIP Codes. Throughout Pennsylvania, numbers span from $31,069 in ZIP 15213 up to $171,179 in ZIP 19087.

Poverty rate

Looking at poverty indicators, this ZIP stands 47th out of 107 ZIP Codes. At the state level, values extend from 2.5% in ZIP 19335 up to 48.2% in ZIP 15213.

 

💰 Rent in ZIP Code 19606 (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,243 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 like heat, water, and electricity.

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 ZIP Code 19606

Annual Household Income: $85,557

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in the ZIP code — 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 ZIP Code 19606

Estimated Rate: 9.9%

💡 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 ZIP Code 19606

In ZIP Code 19606, households that rent: 2,873 (20.4%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this ZIP Code?
Household Type Count Share
Renter-Occupied 2,873 20.4%
Owner-Occupied 11,191 79.6%

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 ZIP Code 19606

In ZIP Code 19606, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 1,387 (48.3%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?
Household Group Households Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%) 1,387 48.3%
Other renter households 1,486 51.7%
Total renter households 2,873 100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in the ZIP code 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 ZIP Code 19606

Less than High School: 5,417 people (21%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 9,657 people (37.4%)

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

Some College or Associate Degree: 2,812 people (10.9%)

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

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 7,960 people (30.8%)

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

👥 Total Adults (25+): 25,846

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.