Reading, Pennsylvania
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Data-driven estimates for Reading — with the methodology behind every number.
Reading market snapshot
- Median Sale Price
- $210K
- Median Days on Market
- 16 days
- Active Listings
- 76
RentCast market data · Berks County County, Pennsylvania
About Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading ( RED-ing; Pennsylvania German: Reddin) is a city in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. The city had a population of 95,112 at the 2020 census and is the fourth-most populous city in Pennsylvania after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Allentown. Reading is located in the southeastern part of the state and is the principal city of the Greater Reading area, which had 420,152 residents in 2020.
Reading gives its name to the now-defunct Reading Company, also known as the Reading Railroad and since acquired by Conrail, that played a vital role in transporting anthracite coal from Pennsylvania's Coal Region to major East Coast markets through the Port of Philadelphia for much of the 19th and 20th centuries. Reading Railroad is one of the four railroad properties in the classic U.S. version of the Monopoly board game. Reading was one of the first localities where outlet shopping became a tourist industry. It has been known as "The Pretzel City" because numerous local pretzel bakeries are based in the city and its suburbs; currently, Bachman, Dieffenbach, Tom Sturgis, and Unique Pretzel bakeries call the Reading area home. In recent years, the Reading area has become a destination for cyclists with more than 125 miles (201 km) of trails in five major preserves; the region is an International Mountain Bicycling Association ride center.
According to 2010 census data, Reading had the highest share of citizens living in poverty in the nation among cities with populations exceeding 65,000. Reading's poverty rate fell over the next decade. Reading's poverty rate in the five-year American Community Survey, published in 2018, showed that 35.4% of the city's residents were below the poverty line, or less "than the infamous 41.3% from 2011, when Reading was declared the poorest small city in the nation."
Reading by the numbers
Population 94,836 · Median age 31.7 yrs · Census ACS 2023
Median household income
Reading's median household income of $45,599 compares to $76,081 statewide and $78,538 nationally, per Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates.
Median age (years)
The median age in Reading is 31.7 yrs, compared to 40.9 yrs for Pennsylvania and 38.7 yrs nationally.
Gender split
Reading is 48.6% male and 51.4% female, per Census ACS estimates.
Population trend — Reading
Reading's population grew 7.5% from 2019 to 2023, per Census ACS 5-year estimates.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year estimates.
Pennsylvania government
Governor
Josh Shapiro
Democrat
U.S. Senators
House Representatives (17)
- Fitzpatrick, Brian K. (D-1)(R)
- Boyle, Brendan F. (D-2)(D)
- Evans, Dwight (D-3)(D)
- Dean, Madeleine (D-4)(D)
- Scanlon, Mary Gay (D-5)(D)
- Houlahan, Chrissy (D-6)(D)
- Mackenzie, Ryan (D-7)(R)
- Bresnahan, Robert P. (D-8)(R)
- Meuser, Daniel (D-9)(R)
- Perry, Scott (D-10)(R)
- Smucker, Lloyd (D-11)(R)
- Lee, Summer L. (D-12)(D)
- Joyce, John (D-13)(R)
- Reschenthaler, Guy (D-14)(R)
- Thompson, Glenn (D-15)(R)
- Kelly, Mike (D-16)(R)
- Deluzio, Christopher R. (D-17)(D)
Source: Congress.gov, Wikidata. Federal legislators represent Pennsylvania statewide or by congressional district.
Reading economy
Large employers based in Reading and surrounding communities include Boscov's, EnerSys, Carpenter, Penske Truck Leasing, and Redner's Markets. Jump Start Incubator, a program of Berks County Community Foundation, and Berks LaunchBox, a project of Penn State Berks, are programs intended to provide office space and support to entrepreneurs in the area. According to the Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the largest employers in the Berks county area as of 2017 were:
Source: Wikipedia article on Reading under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Reading real estate news
Recent news about the Reading housing market. Source: Google News.
- St. Luke's expands real estate portfolio with another church property - WFMZ.comWFMZ.com·
- Philly real estate influencers indicted on federal fraud charges - Inquirer.comInquirer.com·
- One in custody, two injured after shooting outside Reading bar - WFMZ.comWFMZ.com·
- Berks County real estate transactions for May 10 - Reading EagleReading Eagle·
- Reading’s unsafe and nuisance homes: Who owns them? - Spotlight PASpotlight PA·
Reading real estate — frequently asked questions
- What is the median home price in Reading?
- The median home sale price in Reading, PA is $209,900, based on the most recent available sales data.
- How long do homes stay on the market in Reading?
- Homes in Reading sell in a median of 16 days.
- What is the cost of living like in Reading?
- Reading has a median household income of $45,599, per U.S. Census Bureau ACS estimates.
- Who lives in Reading?
- Reading has a population of 94,836 with a median age of 31.7 years, per U.S. Census Bureau ACS estimates.
- How do I sell my home in Reading?
- Start with a free, no-obligation home value estimate. Enter your address above and we'll connect you with a licensed local real-estate professional familiar with the Reading market within 24 hours.
How it works
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ForSaleAmerica.com is an online marketplace and is not a real estate brokerage in Pennsylvania. Property valuations shown are automated estimates based on public data and are not appraisals, comparative market analyses, or guarantees of sale price. We connect homeowners with top local agents and partners — we do not represent buyers or sellers.
