Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA

Public Use Microdata Area (PUMA)

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2023 Population

150,961

0.265% 1-year growth

US Senator

John Fetterman

Democratic Party

US Senator

Dave McCormick

Republican Party

2023 Median Age

34.9

1.75% 1-year increase

2023 Poverty Rate

20.1%

6.09% 1-year decrease

2023 Median Household Income

$60,009

4.18% 1-year growth

2023 Median Property Value

$175,400

8.47% 1-year growth

2022 Employed Population

65,104

3.55% 1-year growth

About

In 2023, Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA had a population of 151k people with a median age of 34.9 and a median household income of $60,009. Between 2022 and 2023 the population of Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA grew from 150,562 to 150,961, a 0.265% increase and its median household income grew from $57,604 to $60,009, a 4.18% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA are White (Non-Hispanic) (41.3%), Two+ (Hispanic) (20%), Other (Hispanic) (18.6%), White (Hispanic) (7.63%), and Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (5.95%).

39.2% of the households in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

91.6% of the residents in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA are U.S. citizens.

In 2023, the median property value in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA was $175,400, and the homeownership rate was 53.2%.

Most people in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 24.4 minutes. The average car ownership in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA was 2 cars per household.

Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA borders Berks County (Northwest)--Wyomissing Borough PUMA, PA, Berks County (East) PUMA, PA, Chester County (North) PUMA, PA, and Lancaster County (East)--Ephrata Borough PUMA, PA.

About the photo: The Pagoda, Reading, PA

Photo by Jack

United States Pennsylvania

Population & Diversity

Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA is home to a population of 151k people, from which 91.6% are citizens. As of 2023, 15.2% of Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA residents were born outside of the country (23k people).

In 2023, there were 2.07 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (62.3k people) in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 30.2k Two+ (Hispanic) and 28.1k Other (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

The most common non-English languages spoken as the primary langauge in households in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA are Spanish (51,814 households), German (446 households), and Yoruba, Twi, Igbo, or Other Languages of Western Africa (308 households).

Population & Diversity

Residents by Gender and Age

76,548

Women

50.9%

73,895

Men

49.1%

The resident population of United States in 2022 was 150,443 inhabitants, with 49.1% men, and 50.9% women.

The visualization shows the distribution of the residents by gender and age in the United States.

With the upper buttons you can add a filter by race.

Citizenship

91.6%

2023 Citizenship

92.4%

2022 Citizenship

As of 2023, 91.6% of Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA residents were US citizens, which is lower than the national average of 93.4%. In 2022, the percentage of US citizens in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA was 92.4%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA

White (Non-Hispanic)
62.3k ± 1.48k
Two+ (Hispanic)
30.2k ± 2.51k
Other (Hispanic)
28.1k ± 2.31k

48.9%

Hispanic Population

73.8k people

48.9% of the people in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA are hispanic (73.8k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

Most Common Origin

Dominican Republic
10,214 ± 2,396 people
Mexico
4,050 ± 1,541 people
Guatemala
907 ± 737 people

In 2022, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA was Dominican Republic, the natal country of 10,214 Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA residents, followed by Mexico with 4,050 and Guatemala with 907.

Foreign-Born Population

15.2%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

23k people

14%

2022 Foreign-Born Population

21k people

As of 2023, 15.2% of Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA residents (23k people) were born outside of the United States, which is higher than the national average of 13.8%. In 2022, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA was 14%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Non-English Households

Most Common Non-English Languages

Spanish
51,814 households (36.9%)
German
446 households (0.317%)
Yoruba, Twi, Igbo, or Other Languages of Western Africa
308 households (0.219%)

39.2% of the households in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language, which is higher than the national average of 22%. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

In 2023, the most common non-English language spoken in households in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA was Spanish. 36.9% of the households in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA reported speaking Spanish at home as the primary shared language between all members living in the household.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
1,597 ± 250
Gulf War (2001-)
1,052 ± 264
Gulf War (1990s)
701 ± 228

Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.52 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA employs 65.1k people. The largest industries in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA are Restaurants & Food Services (4,776 people), Construction (3,211 people), and General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (2,562 people), and the highest paying industries are Electric power generation, transmission & distribution ($128,992), Executive offices & legislative bodies ($122,206), and Pharmaceutical & medicine manufacturing ($118,344).

Males in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA have an average income that is 1.21 times higher than the average income of females, which is $49,476. The income inequality in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA (measured using the Gini index) is N/A, which is N/A than the national average.

Employment

Workforce Diversity

Measure

30,112

Women

48.7%

31,673

Men

51.3%

The workforce of Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA in 2020 was 61,785 people, with 48.7% woman, and 51.3% men.

The visualization shows the distribution of the workforce by gender and age in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA.

With the upper buttons you can see the distribution of the average salary and add a filter by race.

Occupations

65.1k

2022 Value

3.55%

1 Year growth

± 3.55%

From 2021 to 2022, employment in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA grew at a rate of 3.55%, from 62.9k employees to 65.1k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA, are Laborers & freight, stock, & material movers, hand (2,225 people), Driver/sales workers & truck drivers (1,685 people), and Miscellaneous production workers, including semiconductor processors (1,684 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Pennsylvania (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

65.1k

2022 Value

3.55%

1 Year growth

± 3.55%

From 2021 to 2022, employment in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA grew at a rate of 3.55%, from 62.9k employees to 65.1k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA, are Restaurants & Food Services (4,776 people), Construction (3,211 people), and General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (2,562 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA, though some of these residents may live in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$45,248

Median earning men ± $1,684

$35,147

Median earning women ± $1,515

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2023 are Public Administration ($64,457), Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($58,190), and Information ($55,650).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2023 are Information ($64,750), Public Administration ($55,833), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($50,516).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Pennsylvania.

Y-Axis

2.78%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 6.03M people employed in Pennsylvania. This represents a 2.78% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 18.1%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Pennsylvania.

Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Pennsylvania went to Donald J. Trump with 50.4% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (48.7%), followed by Jill Stein (0.491%).

John Fetterman and Dave McCormick are the senators currently representing the state of Pennsylvania. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Pennsylvania is currently represented by 17 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA. Showing the available data for Pennsylvania.

2024 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (50.4%)
Republican Party
Kamala Harris (48.7%)
Democratic Party
Jill Stein (0.491%)
Green Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Pennsylvania went to Donald J. Trump with 50.4% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (48.7%), followed by Jill Stein (0.491%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Pennsylvania for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Pennsylvania

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Pennsylvania.

John Fetterman

Senator from Pennsylvania

Assumed office on January 3, 2023

Dave McCormick

Senator from Pennsylvania

Assumed office on January 3, 2025

John Fetterman and Dave McCormick are the senators currently representing Pennsylvania.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Pennsylvania over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representative Elections

US Representatives from Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is currently represented by 17 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for Pennsylvania have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2022, universities in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA awarded 1,967 degrees. The student population of Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA in 2022 is skewed towards women, with 3,169 male students and 5,736 female students.

The median tuition cost in N/A for private four year colleges is $33,060.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2022 in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA, the percentage of applicants admitted was 71.3%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 11.2%. The number of students enrolled in 2022 was 8,905 (35.6% men and 64.4% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2022 there were 8,905 students enrolled in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA, 35.6% men and 64.4% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in N/A with N/A records, of which N/A% were women and N/A% men.

Completions

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($33,060) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2022.

Private not-for-profit, 2-year ($2,266) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2022.

Public, 2-year ($1,800) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Measure

In false, 0% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population of Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA in false were N/A.

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA was $175,400 in 2023, which is 0.578 times smaller than the national average of $303,400. Between 2022 and 2023 the median property value increased from $161,700 to $175,400, a 8.47% increase. The homeownership rate in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA is 53.2%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 65%.

People in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA have an average commute time of 24.4 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA is $60,009. In 2023, the PUMA with the highest Median Household Income in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA was Chester County (West)--Phoenixville Borough PUMA, PA with a value of $144,137, followed by Bucks County (Northern Central) PUMA, PA and Montgomery County (Southern Lower)--King of Prussia PUMA, PA, with respective values of $141,042 and $135,290.

Housing

Property

$175,400

Median Property Value 2023

±$6,010

$29,126

Median Property Taxes

±$1,268

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

In 2023, the PUMA with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA was Chester County (West)--Phoenixville Borough PUMA, PA with a value of $144,137, followed by Bucks County (Northern Central) PUMA, PA and Montgomery County (Southern Lower)--King of Prussia PUMA, PA, with respective values of $141,042 and $135,290.

The following map shows all of the PUMAs in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$60,009

Median Household Income

± $2,206

54.8k

Number of Households

± 1,962

In 2023, the median household income of the 54.8k households in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA grew to $60,009 from the previous year's value of $57,604.

The following chart displays the households in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

N/A Wage GINI in N/A

In N/A, the income inequality in N/A was N/A according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a N/A N/A from N/A to N/A, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat N/A even. The GINI for N/A was N/A than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed N/A evenly in N/A in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2023

Drove Alone (69%)
Carpooled (12%)
Worked At Home (8.3%)

In 2023, 69% of workers in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (12%) and those who worked at home (8.3%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

24.4 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA have a shorter commute time (24.4 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.6 minutes). Additionally, 2.13% of the workforce in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA have 2 cars.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

20.1% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA (29.7k out of 148k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.4%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 35 - 44 and then Males 6 - 11.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA is Hispanic, followed by White and Two Or More.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Health

90.4% of the population of Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA has health coverage, with 39.2% on employee plans, 31.4% on Medicaid, 9.38% on Medicare, 9.63% on non-group plans, and 0.798% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Pennsylvania see 1216 patients per year on average, which represents a 0.491% decrease from the previous year (1222 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1410 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 397 patients per year.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Pennsylvania.

1,216 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Pennsylvania

Primary care physicians in Pennsylvania see an average of 1,216 patients per year. This represents a 0.491% decrease from the previous year (1,222 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Pennsylvania in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2023, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 27.6% under 18 years, 22.8% between 18 and 34 years, 36.3% between 35 and 64 years, and 13.3% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 47.7% were men and 52.3% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

9.59%

Uninsured

39.2%

Employer Coverage

31.4%

Medicaid

9.38%

Medicare

9.63%

Non-Group

0.798%

Military or VA

Between 2022 and 2023, the percent of uninsured citizens in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA grew by 9.69% from 8.75% to 9.59%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Berks County (Southwest)--Reading City PUMA, PA changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.