Español

Este sitio también está en español. Leer en español

City · 95,242 residents · Berks County, Pennsylvania

Reading , Pennsylvania

In Reading, a typical home is worth $121,300 and typical rent is $1,067 a month. Compared with all of Berks County, the typical home value is 53% lower, typical household income is 45% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 31 points lower.

WhatsApp

  • Typical home value

    $121,300

    53% below the county

    52% below Pennsylvania

    • Reading
    • Berks
    • Pennsylvania

  • Typical rent

    $1,067a month

    10% below the county

    12% below Pennsylvania

    • Reading
    • Berks
    • Pennsylvania

  • Typical household income

    $44,091a year

    45% below the county

    43% below Pennsylvania

    • Reading
    • Berks
    • Pennsylvania

  • Households that own their home

    41%

    31 points below the county

    29 points below Pennsylvania

    • Reading
    • Berks
    • Pennsylvania

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$262,626
3.8% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,472 a month
3.2% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Reading is in Berks County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Berks County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Reading apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. 41% of households in Reading own their home, against 71% in Berks County.

  2. The typical home in Reading is worth $121,300, 53% less than in Berks County as a whole ($257,300).

  3. The typical household income in Reading is $44,091, 45% less than in Berks County as a whole ($79,777).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Reading

What homes there are in Reading, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In Reading there is a bit of everything: no kind of home reaches half. The most common are attached houses (townhouses) (52%), more than in Berks County (23%).

Year built

The typical home in Reading was built before 1940, the oldest group the Census tells apart; 75% of homes date from before 1960.

There are fewer big homes in Reading than in Berks County: 57% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 70%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

At least 99% of owner-occupied homes in Reading are worth less than $500,000, below the FHA loan limit for Berks County ($541,287).

Monthly rent with utilities

By rent, most homes in Reading cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($1,418): about 76%.

With a mortgage

$1,218 a month

Berks County: $1,800 a month

Without a mortgage

$530 a month

Berks County: $722 a month

Owners with a mortgage

53%

Berks County: 61%

Owning costs less in Reading: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,218 a month; in Berks County, $1,800. Without one, $530.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Since 2015–2019, homes in Reading gained value faster than in Berks County: 66% against 44%.

The typical rent in Reading rose 32% over the same time; in Berks County, it rose 26%.

While home values in Reading changed +66% and rent +32%, the typical household income rose 37%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureReadingBerks CountyPennsylvaniaUnited States
Rental vacancy 3.5%4.0%4.9%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy 2.4%0.6%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room 4.6%1.7%1.6%3.4%
People per household 2.782.572.392.53
Drive alone 62%74%68%69%
Carpool 18%9%8%9%
Public transit 3%1%4%3%
Walk or bike 5%3%4%3%
Work from home 6%12%16%15%
Other means 6%2%1%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Open rentals in Reading look like those in Berks County: the rental vacancy rate is 3.5%.

More households are short on space in Reading: 4.6% have more than one person per room; in Berks County, 1.7%.

Households in Reading are bigger: 2.78 people on average; in Berks County, 2.57.

In Reading, 18% of workers share a car to get to work; in Berks County, 9%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Reading?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Reading, worth $121,300, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 29% of the typical household income in Reading, which is $44,091 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $45,499 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Berks County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Reading. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $4,246 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,062

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$119,102
Total interest
$171,360
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $2,048 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,029 a month

  • Tight

    $1,029 to $1,323 a month

    Your payment · 29%

  • Hard

    more than $1,323 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Reading ($44,091 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,062
Principal & interest$807
Property tax$151
Home insurance$51
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$54

You need at least $4,246 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Reading and Berks County

Reading is in Berks County, Pennsylvania. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Reading's own numbers

Typical home value
$121,300
Typical monthly rent
$1,067
Typical yearly household income
$44,091
Households that own their home
41%
Effective property tax rate
1.49%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Berks County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,418
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+59%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Berks County.

Everything about Berks County

Buying

Buying a home in Reading

A typical home in Reading is worth $121,300: 53% below the county and 52% below Pennsylvania. With the typical household income in Reading ($44,091 a year), a typical home costs 2.8 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Reading 2.8 years
  • Berks 3.2 years
  • Pennsylvania 3.3 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Berks County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Berks County rose 90% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Berks County.

Period County Pennsylvania U.S.
Last year (2025) +5.6% +4.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +59% +48% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +90% +77% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Reading next to Berks County, Pennsylvania and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Reading $121,300
  • Berks $257,300
  • Pennsylvania $254,500
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Reading $1,067
  • Berks $1,181
  • Pennsylvania $1,209
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Reading $44,091
  • Berks $79,777
  • Pennsylvania $77,971
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Reading next to Berks County and Pennsylvania
Measure Reading Berks County Pennsylvania U.S.
Typical home value $121,300 $257,300 $254,500 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,067 $1,181 $1,209 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $44,091 $79,777 $77,971 $80,734
Households that own their home 41% 71% 69% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,805 $4,239 $3,311 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.49% 1.65% 1.3% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 60% 52% 48% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Berks County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Reading

For a typical $121,300 home in Reading, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Reading's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,062a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $4,246
    Cash to close
    $7,885
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $54

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,039a month

    Down payment
    $6,065
    Cash to close
    $9,704
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $58

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $859a month

    Down payment
    $24,260
    Cash to close
    $27,899
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $971a month

    Down payment
    $18,195
    Cash to close
    $21,834
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Reading and for Berks County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Reading

1.49%of the home’s value each year

$1,805 a year for the typical owner in Reading.

  • Reading 1.49%
  • Berks 1.65%
  • Pennsylvania 1.3%

What Pennsylvania publishes Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program (PTRR) (Pennsylvania Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Pennsylvania

Flood risk in Berks County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Berks County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
1%
1,445
Of those, with NFIP insurance
34%
County Pennsylvania U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1% 2% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 34% 23% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Reading

Typical rent in Reading is $1,067 a month: 10% below the county. In Reading, 60% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Berks County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,418 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $27.27 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Berks County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $978 $18.81 $39,120
1 bedroom $1,114 $21.42 $44,560
2 bedrooms $1,418 $27.27 $56,720
3 bedrooms $1,744 $33.54 $69,760
4 bedrooms $1,877 $36.10 $75,080

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Reading

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Reading has 4 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,420 in all of them.

4 of the 4 are above the fair market rent for Berks County ($1,418).

  • 19601 $1,420$1,750
  • 19602 $1,420$1,750
  • 19604 $1,420$1,750
  • 19611 $1,420$1,750

4 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Reading when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Reading

HUD lists 23 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Reading. These are the largest.

  • D.D. Eisenhower Apts 815 Franklin St, Reading 19602 582 homes, 575 low-income · Run by Reading Housing Authority · Average payment: $335 a month · Average wait: 26 months (610) 775-4813
  • Oakbrook Homes 901 Patton Ave, Reading 19611 531 low-income homes · Run by Reading Housing Authority · Average payment: $474 a month · Average wait: 37 months (610) 775-4813
  • Glenside Homes 1349 Avenue D, Reading 19601 400 low-income homes · Run by Reading Housing Authority · Average payment: $480 a month · Average wait: 38 months (610) 775-4813
  • Jamestown Village 300 Lackawanna St, Reading 19601 275 homes, 273 low-income · For families (610) 374-8116
  • Reading Elderly Housing 100 N Front St, Reading 19601 201 homes, 200 low-income · For older adults (610) 373-1130

See all 40 buildings in Berks County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Reading

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 2 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Berks County; 2 say they serve in Spanish.

Two women and a girl laugh together at the bus stop.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Reading

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Reading or Berks County. The ones below are statewide in Pennsylvania: they work in Reading the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Pennsylvania

Housing counselors near Reading

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Reading, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Berks, Inc.

    210 N 5th St, Reading · 0 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 2 more
    (610) 372-8433

  • Berks Community Action Program, Inc.

    645 Penn St, Reading · 0 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Homelessness services
    • and 1 more
    (610) 375-7866

  • Housing Partnership of Chester County

    41 W Lancaster Ave, Downingtown · 26 miles away · Spanish

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Predatory lending workshops
    • and 2 more
    (610) 518-1522

Every agency in Berks County All counseling agencies in Pennsylvania

Help in Spanish near Reading

3 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Reading

HUD’s record names them for Reading or Berks County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Reading Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (610) 775-4813
  • Housing Authority of the County of Berks Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (610) 370-0822

All housing agencies in Pennsylvania Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Berks County

These cities are also in Berks County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Berks County Housing in Pennsylvania

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Reading, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Berks County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Reading.

All guides
A man and two girls read a book together on the sofa.

Questions

Housing questions about Reading

Short answers with the numbers for Reading and all of Berks County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Reading?

The typical home value in Reading is $121,300, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Berks County it is $257,300.

How much does it cost to rent in Reading?

Typical rent in Reading is $1,067 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Berks County is $1,418.

What is the FHA loan limit in Reading?

Reading uses the FHA limit for all of Berks County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Reading?

The typical homeowner in Reading pays $1,805 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.49% of the home’s value; in Berks County, the rate is 1.65%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Reading?

There are 2 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Berks County. 2 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).