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Living in
Reading.
About
Life in Reading
The Latino community makes up about 69% of the population, making Reading genuinely multicultural in ways that show up in food, festivals, churches, and neighborhoods—it's a vibrant, lived-in diversity rather than a tourism angle. Summers get hot and humid (expect 27 days over 90°F and extended muggy stretches), winters are mild by northern standards but still bring freezing temps and around 25 inches of snow, and springs flip wildly between warm and cold, so you're looking at real seasons without brutal extremes. Weekends have real texture: the GoggleWorks Center offers free admission to galleries and artist studios in a restored historic factory, the Reading Symphony Orchestra and chamber choirs keep cultural life alive, and if you bike, you've got over 125 miles of trails across five preserves plus nearby access to the Appalachian Trail (27 miles away) and Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site; the Reading Fightin' Phils and Reading Royals give you minor-league sports, and the pretzel legacy isn't just tourism—it's actual local food culture worth exploring.
Reading at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
31.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
28.7%
Foreign-Born
25.4%
Broadband Internet
86.5%
of households
Population Growth
+0.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics25.4% foreign-born, most often from Dominican Republic
Who lives in Reading: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Reading, the largest foreign-born group is from Dominican Republic (57.1%), and 57.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
28.4%
of residents
65 and Older
10.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
38.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
29.9%
of households
Married Couples
26.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.78
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 12% below PA average
Rent, home values, and income in Reading
In Reading, rent runs 12% below the PA average, and home values are 52% below the PA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
56.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
29.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
97.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,805
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
40.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Vacant Homes
8.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $262,626 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.4 pts above PA average
Unemployment in Reading
Unemployment in Reading is 1.4 percentage points higher than the PA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Reading Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute24.1 min avg
How Reading residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Reading, most residents drive alone to work (62%), and 68% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 24 mi
Lancaster Airport (LNS)
Regional airport · few flights19k passengers boarded in 2025
- 48 mi
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
Major hub14.8M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 22% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Reading runs 22% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
257.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,285
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Reading Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 39 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
92.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Berks County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Berks County, which includes Reading, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 39 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 39 | Thunderstorm Wind | $315,000 |
| 2024 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 29 | Thunderstorm Wind | $50,000 |
| 2022 | 23 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2021 | 33 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 26 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 43 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 26 | Flash Flood | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Berks County, county-wide
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Berks County, which includes Reading, is typically good — 249 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
43
Good Days
249
per year
Moderate Days
113
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Berks County, county-wide
Climate84°F summers, 25°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Reading has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and cold winters (avg low 25°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
63°/42°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
65°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
41°/25°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
49.3"
Annual Snowfall
27.2"
Hot Days/Year
24
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
107
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
144
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39°F | 23°F | 2.97" |
| Feb | 42°F | 24°F | 2.61" |
| Mar | 51°F | 32°F | 3.53" |
| Apr | 63°F | 42°F | 3.35" |
| May | 74°F | 52°F | 3.51" |
| Jun | 82°F | 61°F | 4.77" |
| Jul | 87°F | 66°F | 4.77" |
| Aug | 84°F | 64°F | 4.49" |
| Sep | 77°F | 57°F | 4.88" |
| Oct | 65°F | 45°F | 3.80" |
| Nov | 54°F | 35°F | 3.02" |
| Dec | 43°F | 28°F | 3.51" |
Healthcare3 hospitals, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Reading
Reading has 3 hospitals, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
3
within city limits
Uninsured
14.7%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Penn State Health St. Joseph
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Haven Behavioral Hospital of Eastern Pennsylvania
Psychiatric
Tower Behavioral Health
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Reading Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.3 mi away · West Reading
Surgical Institute of Reading
Acute Care Hospitals · 3.4 mi away · Wyomissing
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Reading
Reading's student/teacher ratio is 15.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 11.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
19
within city limits
Private Schools
7
within city limits
College Degree Rate
11.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Reading
Reading Area Community College
Public · 2-year · 3,703 students · in-state tuition $6,630 · 22% graduate · median earnings $45,376 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,152 students · in-state tuition $47,550 · 61% graduate · median earnings $60,651 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,217 students · in-state tuition $31,025 · 50% graduate · median earnings $63,312 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, 12 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Reading
Reading has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site (12 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site
National Historic Site
12 mi awayAppalachian National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
27 mi awayValley Forge National Historical Park
National Historical Park
30 mi awayFirst State National Historical Park
National Historical Park
40 mi awayEdgar Allan Poe National Historic Site
National Historic Site
49 mi awayIndependence National Historical Park
National Historical Park
49 mi awayThaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial
National Memorial
49 mi awayGloria Dei Church National Historic Site
National Historic Site
50 mi awayPublic Libraries in Reading
Reading Public Library
100 S. 5th Street, Reading
Northeast Branch Library
1348 N. 11th Street, Reading
Northwest Branch Library
901 Schuylkill Avenue, Reading
Southeast Branch Library
1426 Perkiomen Avenue, Reading
Cities Near Reading
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Reading?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Reading FAQ
Is Reading, Pennsylvania affordable?⌄
Reading's median rent is $1,067/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $44,091/year. Median home value is $121,300.
Is Reading, Pennsylvania safe?⌄
Reading's violent crime rate was 258 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1285 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Reading, Pennsylvania?⌄
Reading has an unemployment rate of 5.7%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Reading, Pennsylvania?⌄
The cost of living in Reading is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,067/month and median household income is $44,091/year. The median home value is $121,300. About 56% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Reading, Pennsylvania?⌄
The average commute in Reading is 24 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from