Reading

County:: Berks County
County Seat:: Yes
Area (mi²):: 9.843
State:: Pennsylvania

Reading is a city located in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Reading has a 2025 population of 94,853. It is also the county seat of Berks County. Reading is currently declining at a rate of -0.03% annually and its population has decreased by -0.13% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 94,977 in 2020.

The average household income in Reading is $59,949 with a poverty rate of 26.98%. The median age in Reading is 31.7 years: 31 years for males, and 32.5 years for females.

Demographics

The racial composition of Reading includes 30.15% White, 27.29% other race, 10.01% Black or African American, and smaller percentages for Native American, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and multiracial populations.

Population by Race

White

Two or more races

Other race

Black or African American

Native American

Asian

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

Race	Population	Percentage (of total)
White	28,597	30.15%
Two or more races	28,376	29.92%
Other race	25,879	27.29%
Black or African American	9,491	10.01%
Native American	1,572	1.66%
Asian	916	0.97%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander	5	0.01%

Reading Marital Status

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

Never Married

Economics and Income Statistics

Reading's average per capita income is $35,234. Household income levels show a median of $45,599. The poverty rate stands at 26.98%.

Families: A family includes the owner or renter of the home along with everyone related to them - whether through birth, marriage, or adoption. This includes relatives like spouses, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, and any other family members.

Households: A household includes all the people who occupy a housing unit (such as a house or apartment) as their usual place of residence.

Non Families: A nonfamily household is either someone living alone or when the owner/renter lives with people they aren't related to, like roommates.

Name	Median	Mean
Married Families	$67,254	$83,948
Families	$53,704	$65,620
Households	$45,599	$59,949
Non Families	$26,445	$40,880

$35,234

Average Income

$45,599

Median Household Income

26.98%

Poverty Rate