Reading, PA

Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)

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2021 Population
426,967
1.89% 1-year growth
US Senator
Bob Casey Jr.
Democratic Party
US Senator
John Fetterman
Democratic Party
2021 Median Age
40
0.498% 1-year decrease
2021 Poverty Rate
11.8%
0.975% 1-year increase
2021 Median Household Income
$69,272
4.71% 1-year growth
2021 Median Property Value
$195,900
4.42% 1-year growth
2021 Employed Population
209,098
1.34% 1-year growth

About

In 2021, Reading, PA had a population of 427k people with a median age of 40 and a median household income of $69,272. Between 2020 and 2021 the population of Reading, PA grew from 419,062 to 426,967, a 1.89% increase and its median household income grew from $66,154 to $69,272, a 4.71% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Reading, PA are White (Non-Hispanic) (69.7%), White (Hispanic) (7.97%), Other (Hispanic) (7.82%), Two+ (Hispanic) (5.22%), and Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (4.06%).

None of the households in Reading, 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.

96.4% of the residents in Reading, PA are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Reading, PA are Kutztown University of Pennsylvania (1,894 degrees awarded in 2021), Alvernia University (700 degrees), and Albright College (478 degrees).

In 2021, the median property value in Reading, PA was $195,900, and the homeownership rate was 70.9%.

Most people in Reading, PA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 25.1 minutes. The average car ownership in Reading, PA was 2 cars per household.

About the photo: The Pagoda, Reading, PA

geosearchPopulation & Diversity

Reading, PA is home to a population of 427k people, from which 96.4% are citizens. As of 2021, 7.85% of Reading, PA residents were born outside of the country (33.5k people).

In 2021, there were 8.74 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (298k people) in Reading, PA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 34k White (Hispanic) and 33.4k Other (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Citizenship

96.4%
2021 Citizenship
96.4%
2020 Citizenship

As of 2021, 96.4% of Reading, PA residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2020, the percentage of US citizens in Reading, PA was 96.4%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Reading, PA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Reading, PA
  1. White (Non-Hispanic)
    298k ± 612
  2. White (Hispanic)
    34k ± 2.2k
  3. Other (Hispanic)
    33.4k ± 2.2k
22.6%
Hispanic Population
96.5k people

In 2021, there were 8.74 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (298k people) in Reading, PA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 34k White (Hispanic) and 33.4k Other (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

22.6% of the people in Reading, PA are hispanic (96.5k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Reading, PA as a share of the total population.

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Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the MSA level, so we are showing data for Pennsylvania.
Most Common Origin
  1. India
    98,153 ± 7,663 people
  2. Dominican Republic
    81,192 ± 6,974 people
  3. China
    66,978 ± 6,337 people

In 2021, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Pennsylvania was India, the natal country of 98,153 Pennsylvania residents, followed by Dominican Republic with 81,192 and China with 66,978.

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Foreign-Born Population

7.85%
2021 Foreign-Born Population
33.5k people
7.54%
2020 Foreign-Born Population
31.6k people

As of 2021, 7.85% of Reading, PA residents (33.5k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.6%. In 2020, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Reading, PA was 7.54%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Reading, PA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Veterans

Most Common Service Period
  1. Vietnam
    8,116 ± 514
  2. Gulf War (1990s)
    2,804 ± 409
  3. Gulf War (2001-)
    2,799 ± 371

Reading, PA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.89 times greater than any other conflict.

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briefcaseEconomy

The economy of Reading, PA employs 209k people. The largest industries in Reading, PA are Manufacturing (37,838 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (31,108 people), and Retail Trade (24,431 people), and the highest paying industries are Management of Companies & Enterprises ($93,070), Utilities ($78,259), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($63,811).

Males in Pennsylvania have an average income that is 1.33 times higher than the average income of females, which is $57,734. The income inequality in Pennsylvania (measured using the Gini index) is 0.467, which is lower than than the national average.

Occupations

209k
2021 Value
± 3,724
1.34%
1 Year growth
± 2.45%

From 2020 to 2021, employment in Reading, PA grew at a rate of 1.34%, from 206k employees to 209k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Reading, PA, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (24,616 people), Production Occupations (20,681 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (18,666 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Reading, PA.

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Unemployment Insurance Claims

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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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Employment by Industries

209k
2021 Value
± 3,724
1.34%
1 Year growth
± 2.45%

From 2020 to 2021, employment in Reading, PA grew at a rate of 1.34%, from 206k employees to 209k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Reading, PA, are Manufacturing (37,838 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (31,108 people), and Retail Trade (24,431 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Reading, PA, though some of these residents may live in Reading, PA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

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Median Earnings by Industry

$49,626
Median earning men ± $865
$33,740
Median earning women ± $716

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2021 are Information ($69,815), Public Administration ($67,268), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($64,250).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2021 are Public Administration ($51,100), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($50,004), and Manufacturing ($42,678).

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Employment by Industry Sector

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Y-Axis
2.75%
Year-over-year growth
Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 155M people employed in Pennsylvania. This represents a 2.75% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

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

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Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments
  1. 2,888
    Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance
  2. 2,057
    Manufacturing
  3. 2,016
    Finance & Insurance, and Real Estate, Rental & Leasing

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

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Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll
  1. $6.03M
    Manufacturing
  2. $3.1M
    Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance
  3. $1.58M
    Finance & Insurance, and Real Estate, Rental & Leasing

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

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Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from Pennsylvania to other states, or from other states to Pennsylvania.
Top Domestic Production in Dollars
  1. $110B
  2. $76.1B
  3. $43.9B

In 2020, the top outbound Pennsylvania product (by dollars) was Pharmaceuticals with $110B, followed by Mixed freight ($76.1B) and Electronics ($43.9B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound Pennsylvania products.

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Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for Pennsylvania.
$722B
2020 Value in Pennsylvania
$1.46T
Projected 2050 Value in Pennsylvania
103% growth

In 2020, total outbound Pennsylvania trade was $722B. This is expected to increase 103% to $1.46T by 2050.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound Pennsylvania trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

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Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from Pennsylvania to other states, or from other states to Pennsylvania.
Most Common Trade Partners
  1. $73.7B
  2. $72.6B
  3. $36B

In 2020, the top outbound Pennsylvania domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was New Jersey with $73.7B, followed by New York with $72.6B and Ohio and $36B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that Pennsylvania shares with each state (excluding itself).

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flagCivics

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Pennsylvania went to Joseph R Biden Jr. with 50% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (48.8%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (1.15%).

Bob Casey Jr. and John Fetterman 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.

US Senators from Pennsylvania

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Pennsylvania.
Bob Casey Jr.
Senator from Pennsylvania1
Assumed office on January 3, 2007
John Fetterman
Senator from Pennsylvania3
Assumed office on January 3, 2023

Bob Casey Jr. and John Fetterman 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.

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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.

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learningEducation

In 2021, universities in Reading, PA awarded 4,082 degrees. The student population of Reading, PA in 2021 is skewed towards women, with 6,449 male students and 10,856 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Reading, PA are White (2,744 and 67.6%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (633 and 15.6%), Black or African American (354 and 8.72%), and Two or More Races (133 and 3.28%).

The largest universities in Reading, PA by number of degrees awarded are Kutztown University of Pennsylvania (1,894 and 46.4%), Alvernia University (700 and 17.1%), and Albright College (478 and 11.7%).

The most popular majors in Reading, PA are General Business Administration & Management (482 and 11.8%), Registered Nursing (178 and 4.36%), and General Psychology (169 and 4.14%).

The median tuition costs in Reading, PA are $32,135 for private four year colleges, and $7,716 and $11,574 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University
Measure

In 2021 in Reading, PA, the percentage of applicants admitted was 78.3%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 16.1%. The number of students enrolled in 2021 was 17,305 (37.3% men and 62.7% 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.

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Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2021 there were 17,305 students enrolled in Reading, PA, 37.3% men and 62.7% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 10,734 records, of which 62.7% were women and 37.3% men.

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Concentrations

Most Common
  1. 147 degree-majors awarded
  2. 103 degree-majors awarded
  3. 392 degree-majors awarded

In 2021, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Reading, PA was General Psychology with 147 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Reading, PA according to their major.

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Universities

Gender
Race
Largest Universities by degrees awarded
  1. 1,894 degrees awarded
  2. 700 degrees awarded
  3. 478 degrees awarded

In 2021, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Kutztown University of Pennsylvania with 1,894 degrees awarded.

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Student Diversity

University

In 2021, 1,447 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Reading, PA, which is 0.549 times less than the 2,635 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2021 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 2,744 degrees mean that there were 4.33 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 633 degrees awarded.

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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.

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Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($32,135) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2021.

Public, 4-year or above ($3,346) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2021.

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.

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Educational Pyramid

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

In 2021, 0.711% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.725% of women were in the same situation.

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

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Educational Attainment

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

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2021 were High School or Equivalent (3.52M), Bachelors Degree (1.95M), and Some college (1.84M).

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.

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homeHousing & Living

The median property value in Reading, PA was $195,900 in 2021, which is 0.8 times smaller than the national average of $244,900. Between 2020 and 2021 the median property value increased from $187,600 to $195,900, a 4.42% increase. The homeownership rate in Reading, PA is 70.9%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 64.6%.

People in Reading, PA have an average commute time of 25.1 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Reading, PA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Reading, PA is $69,272. In 2021, the county with the highest Median Household Income in Reading, PA was Chester County, PA with a value of $109,969, followed by Montgomery County, PA and Bucks County, PA, with respective values of $99,361 and $99,302.

Property

$195,900
Median Property Value 2021
±$2,568
$113,562
Median Property Taxes
±$2,190

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 Reading, PA the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Reading, PA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

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Rent vs Own

70.9%
Homeownership
2021
61.4%
Homeowners with Mortgage
2021

In 2021, 70.9% of the housing units in Reading, PA were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 71%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Reading, PA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

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Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.
Race/Ethnicity
Highest Median Household Income (Total)

In 2021, the county with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Reading, PA was Chester County, PA with a value of $109,969, followed by Montgomery County, PA and Bucks County, PA, with respective values of $99,361 and $99,302.

The following map shows all of the counties in Reading, PA colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

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Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.
$69,272
Median Household Income
± $1,108
160k
Number of Households
± 2,974

In 2021, the median household income of the 160k households in Reading, PA grew to $69,272 from the previous year's value of $66,154.

The following chart displays the households in Reading, 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.

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Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Reading, PA is from Pennsylvania.
0.467
2021 Wage GINI in Pennsylvania
0.466
2020 Wage GINI in Pennsylvania

In 2021, the income inequality in Pennsylvania was 0.467 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.147% growth from 2020 to 2021, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat less even. The GINI for Pennsylvania was lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Pennsylvania in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Pennsylvania across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

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Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2021
  1. Drove Alone (77.3%)
  2. Carpooled (8.12%)
  3. Worked At Home (7.76%)

In 2021, 77.3% of workers in Reading, PA drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (8.12%) and those who worked at home (7.76%).

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.

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Commute Time

25.1 minutes
Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Reading, PA have a shorter commute time (25.1 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.8 minutes). Additionally, 2.43% of the workforce in Reading, PA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Reading, PA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Car Ownership

2 cars
Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Reading, PA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Reading, PA have 2 cars.

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Poverty & Diversity

11.8% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Reading, PA (48.9k out of 414k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is lower than the national average of 12.6%. 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 Reading, PA is White, followed by Hispanic and Other.

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.

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pulseHealth

93.7% of the population of Reading, PA has health coverage, with 50.7% on employee plans, 17.6% on Medicaid, 13.2% on Medicare, 11.3% on non-group plans, and 0.824% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Pennsylvania see 1222 patients per year on average, which represents a 1.05% decrease from the previous year (1235 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1406 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 421 patients per year.

Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Pennsylvania.
1,222 to 1
Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Pennsylvania

Primary care physicians in Pennsylvania see an average of 1,222 patients per year. This represents a 1.05% decrease from the previous year (1,235 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.

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Health Care Diversity

In 2021, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 24.2% under 18 years, 20.2% between 18 and 34 years, 38.7% between 35 and 64 years, and 16.8% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.9% were men and 51.1% were women.

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

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Uninsured People

6.34%
Uninsured
50.7%
Employer Coverage
17.6%
Medicaid
13.2%
Medicare
11.3%
Non-Group
0.824%
Military or VA

Between 2020 and 2021, the percent of uninsured citizens in Reading, PA grew by 2.45% from 6.19% to 6.34%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Reading, PA changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

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