Economy, jobs and prices in Reading, Pennsylvania: official figures
The median household income in Reading was $44,091 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 11th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the Pennsylvania median $77,971.
What is the per capita income in Reading?
Income per resident (per capita income) in Reading averaged $21,406 a year in 2020-2024, 6th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; Pennsylvania: $44,355).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in Reading?
Reading's Gini index of household income inequality was 0.471 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 240th most unequal of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US figure was 0.483.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Reading, Pennsylvania?
13.7% of the civilian labor force in Reading was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (6,125 people), 6th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US rate in the same survey was 5.2% and Pennsylvania's 5.3%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Reading have jobs?
38,505 residents of Reading held civilian jobs, 54.0% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%), and 5 served in the armed forces.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Reading?
The largest industry group for working residents of Reading was education, health care and social assistance (21.0% of employed residents), followed by manufacturing (20.9%) and retail trade (10.9%), 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Reading work in manufacturing?
Manufacturing employed 20.9% of working residents of Reading, 21st highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 7.3% (US: 12.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow long is the commute in Reading, Pennsylvania?
Commuters in Reading took 24.1 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 374th shortest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 6.9% travelled an hour or more and 29.4% less than 15 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow do people in Reading get to work?
6.4% of workers living in Reading worked from home in 2020-2024, 41st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 61.6% drove to work alone, 18.1% carpooled, 3.4% used public transport and 4.7% walked.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the average rent in Reading, Pennsylvania?
The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in Reading was $1,067 a month in 2020-2024, 108th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; Pennsylvania: $1,209).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does a house cost in Reading?
Owner-occupied homes in Reading had a median value of $121,300 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 18th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; Pennsylvania: $254,500).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow affordable are homes in Reading?
The median home value in Reading was 2.8 times the median household income, 51st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 4.1 times).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Reading have no internet?
10.8% of households in Reading (3,567) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 28th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 17.8% relied on a cellular data plan alone (US: 11.5%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Reading compares with other cities in the United States
Median household income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)
Reading ranks 813 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median household income (2024 dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 810 | Dayton | $45,247 |
| 811 | Muncie | $44,471 |
| 812 | Pontiac | $44,329 |
| 813 | Reading | $44,091 |
| 814 | Stillwater | $43,700 |
| 815 | Canton | $43,188 |
| 816 | Terre Haute | $43,126 |
Per capita income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)
Reading ranks 818 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Per capita income (2024 dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 815 | Brownsville | $22,512 |
| 816 | Lynwood | $22,464 |
| 817 | Flint | $21,720 |
| 818 | Reading | $21,406 |
| 819 | Pharr | $21,195 |
| 820 | Huntington Park | $20,866 |
| 821 | Camden | $20,566 |
Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)
Reading ranks 240 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Gini index of household income inequality |
|---|---|---|
| 237 | West Des Moines | 0.471 |
| 238 | Cleveland | 0.471 |
| 239 | Bryan | 0.471 |
| 240 | Reading | 0.471 |
| 241 | Grand Forks | 0.471 |
| 242 | Kansas City | 0.470 |
| 243 | Bend | 0.470 |
Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) (2020-2024)
Reading ranks 6 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Perth Amboy | 14.3% |
| 4 | Detroit | 14.0% |
| 5 | Delano | 13.9% |
| 6 | Reading | 13.7% |
| 7 | Madera | 12.6% |
| 8 | Passaic | 12.5% |
| 9 | Youngstown | 11.9% |
Labor force participation rate (16 and over) (2020-2024)
Reading ranks 601 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Labor force participation rate (16 and over) |
|---|---|---|
| 598 | Olympia | 62.6% |
| 599 | Augusta | 62.6% |
| 600 | Newport Beach | 62.6% |
| 601 | Reading | 62.6% |
| 602 | Folsom | 62.6% |
| 603 | Tamarac | 62.5% |
| 604 | Vallejo | 62.5% |
Mean travel time to work (minutes) (2020-2024)
Reading ranks 450 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Mean travel time to work (minutes) |
|---|---|---|
| 447 | West Jordan | 24.1 |
| 448 | Irving | 24.1 |
| 449 | Jacksonville | 24.1 |
| 450 | Reading | 24.1 |
| 451 | Sparks | 24.0 |
| 452 | Draper | 24.0 |
| 453 | Southaven | 24.0 |
Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)
Reading ranks 783 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Workers who worked from home |
|---|---|---|
| 780 | Pharr | 6.5% |
| 781 | Elyria | 6.5% |
| 782 | Watsonville | 6.4% |
| 783 | Reading | 6.4% |
| 784 | Bowling Green | 6.3% |
| 785 | Elizabeth | 6.3% |
| 786 | San Bernardino | 6.2% |
Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)
Reading ranks 162 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Workers commuting by public transportation |
|---|---|---|
| 159 | San Ramon | 3.4% |
| 160 | Bothell | 3.4% |
| 161 | Paramount | 3.4% |
| 162 | Reading | 3.4% |
| 163 | Orland Park | 3.4% |
| 164 | Utica | 3.4% |
| 165 | Aurora | 3.4% |
Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)
Reading ranks 21 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Employed residents working in manufacturing |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | St. Joseph | 21.3% |
| 19 | Cupertino | 21.2% |
| 20 | Battle Creek | 20.9% |
| 21 | Reading | 20.9% |
| 22 | Green Bay | 20.8% |
| 23 | Troy | 20.8% |
| 24 | Appleton | 20.6% |
Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance (2020-2024)
Reading ranks 573 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance |
|---|---|---|
| 570 | Gallatin | 21.1% |
| 571 | Davie | 21.0% |
| 572 | Lynwood | 21.0% |
| 573 | Reading | 21.0% |
| 574 | Caldwell | 21.0% |
| 575 | Lawrence | 21.0% |
| 576 | Chandler | 21.0% |
Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)
Reading ranks 716 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median gross rent per month |
|---|---|---|
| 713 | North Little Rock | $1,069 |
| 714 | Mobile | $1,068 |
| 715 | Baton Rouge | $1,067 |
| 716 | Reading | $1,067 |
| 717 | Macon-Bibb County | $1,066 |
| 718 | Fayetteville | $1,065 |
| 719 | Pontiac | $1,063 |
Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020-2024)
Reading ranks 806 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median value of owner-occupied homes |
|---|---|---|
| 803 | Akron | $122,000 |
| 804 | Pharr | $121,900 |
| 805 | Pontiac | $121,700 |
| 806 | Reading | $121,300 |
| 807 | Anderson | $119,000 |
| 808 | Springfield | $116,800 |
| 809 | Terre Haute | $115,700 |
Median home value as a multiple of median household income (2020-2024)
Reading ranks 770 of 820, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median home value as a multiple of median household income |
|---|---|---|
| 767 | Kettering | 2.8x |
| 768 | Warner Robins | 2.8x |
| 769 | Camden | 2.8x |
| 770 | Reading | 2.8x |
| 771 | Pontiac | 2.7x |
| 772 | Elkhart | 2.7x |
| 773 | Brownsville | 2.7x |
Occupied homes lived in by their owners (2020-2024)
Reading ranks 764 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Occupied homes lived in by their owners |
|---|---|---|
| 761 | Santa Clara | 40.8% |
| 762 | Athens | 40.7% |
| 763 | Tallahassee | 40.6% |
| 764 | Reading | 40.6% |
| 765 | New Bedford | 40.3% |
| 766 | San Luis Obispo | 40.3% |
| 767 | El Monte | 40.2% |
Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)
Reading ranks 768 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households with a broadband subscription |
|---|---|---|
| 765 | New Orleans | 86.5% |
| 766 | Hialeah | 86.5% |
| 767 | Allentown | 86.5% |
| 768 | Reading | 86.5% |
| 769 | Newark | 86.4% |
| 770 | Camden | 86.4% |
| 771 | Rochester | 86.4% |
Households with no internet access (2020-2024)
Reading ranks 28 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households with no internet access |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Terre Haute | 10.8% |
| 26 | Canton | 10.8% |
| 27 | Roanoke | 10.8% |
| 28 | Reading | 10.8% |
| 29 | Cleveland | 10.7% |
| 30 | Hialeah | 10.7% |
| 31 | Camden | 10.7% |
More on Reading: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B08013: Aggregate Travel Time to Work (in Minutes) of Workers by Sex (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 6939fdfa046fd5bb829ec8da9549e66298cc740f6a3f5dd60e1920a08e3083fb), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5f94e7878b6a…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B23025: Employment Status for the Population 16 Years and Over (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 264a5bd9367c5f58d9773fa4966fa94fe1e02f9c7106bc2ab39168d6de7c3e4a), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2630e6946370…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19083: Gini Index of Income Inequality (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 338f7a1191eaaf3913913e78c36aaa9d82f2b5c8faaf889be2e597b28869205e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b8cf854b1f94…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C24030: Sex by Industry for the Civilian Employed Population 16 Years and Over (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 66a2799a71a5fc36f0e3bc22767fe5bdd8f96eb29e85b91311e990d35cc14114), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5d717c57e7e4…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19013: Median Household Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2024 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 b25a176b0e6c339b6f3a2a0d3d8446bf06f5f080b4395993ec9a8313efb1c229), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1d8a264807c6…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B08301: Means of Transportation to Work (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 552b24c135b6e7c566910914a861cda6fc798ba0cd47801b1eb64295a128c2ee), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 eaf823006d53…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19301: Per Capita Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2024 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 9fc107e98fee7fa49bb8314560205569184fad65fb64b80adb5c5bdd83ccc409), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 24c1e725b26a…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25064: Median Gross Rent (Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 b36e6dc1fcef36b8b307d31b37517b64c80d8b9c70d48c9b1894242860f42eb0), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b842a7ff825c…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25077: Median Value (Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 89eb2153764a2330b23959d8bbc29b3a8f3016f087b990f2a8ea0d5096d9a816), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 22b59a3b1acb…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B28002: Presence and Types of Internet Subscriptions in Household (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 12446ff0691b8818f5908cdc398817361772c5b3078c506d0409adc9c841840b), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4b375b368bf9…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25003: Tenure (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 68e963e1ed60fcf6b0658579cefc6498b7a9eb780b9f3e87fd1b9775c4d4ac6c), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2983c28f47fa…)
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