Reading, Massachusetts Income Statistics
Reading Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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A+
Reading Top grade
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Reading | Massachusetts Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $163,864 | $104,336 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $114,091 | $80,230 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.1% | 4.9% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 35.6% | 20.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 40.8% | 22.3% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Reading is about 57% higher than in Massachusetts. Income has been growing faster in Reading (5.1%/yr) than in Massachusetts (4.9%/yr).
About 36% of adults in Reading earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the Massachusetts average of 21%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Reading, Massachusetts grew by 68.8% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $163,864 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Reading
| Metric | Reading | Massachusetts Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.469 | 0.531 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $123,336 | $90,842 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $109,046 | $75,629 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 11.6% | 16.7% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Reading, it is 0.469, lower than Massachusetts's 0.531, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 13% more than women's income in Reading, Massachusetts. Over a 35-year career, a 13% wage gap accumulates to roughly $500,150 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Reading, Massachusetts has narrowed from about 23% to 12% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 37% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $5,062 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Reading | Massachusetts Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% | 5.1% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 30.2% | 18.6% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 28 | 25 | 22 |
Approximately 454 people are unemployed in Reading, Massachusetts.
The average commute time in Reading is 28 minutes, longer than the 25 minutes in Massachusetts.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Reading, Massachusetts has fallen from 5.3% to 3.3% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 6.2% in 2013 and fell as low as 2.7% in 2020.
Reading, MA Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
Reading, MA is typical in size for this group, 25,603 residents against a local median of 25,536, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. The measure that sets Reading, MA apart most is median household income: $163,864, 29% above the local median of $127,104. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Unemployment tells the same story from another angle: 3.3% against a local median of 4.6%, 28% below it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Reading, MA is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The cities themselves spread $53,256 on median household income, so Reading, MA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Reading, MA has the 2nd highest median household income of the 5 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, MA | 25,603 | $163,864 #2/5 | 5.1%/yr #3/5 | 3.3% #2/5 | 0.469 #2/5 |
| Wakefield, MA | 27,739 | $136,429 | 5.2%/yr | 4.4% | 0.473 |
| Stoneham, MA | 23,334 | $117,780 | 4.4%/yr | 2.2% | 0.465 |
| Wilmington, MA | 23,238 | $166,224 | 6.1%/yr | 4.8% | 0.501 |
| Woburn, MA | 41,946 | $112,968 | 3.9%/yr | 7.9% | 0.506 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Reading, Massachusetts has an overall wealth index grade of A+, making it notably better than Massachusetts, and far better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Reading, Massachusetts.
How Rich Is Reading, Massachusetts?
Reading has a wealth index grade of A+. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; an A+ grade means it is one of the most prosperous areas in the country. The median household income is $163,864, about 57% higher than the Massachusetts average of $104,336.
How has median household income changed in Reading, Massachusetts?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Reading, Massachusetts rose 69%, from $97,047 to $163,864. Over the same years, income here outpaced Massachusetts as a whole: +69% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Reading in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Reading, Massachusetts was $161,227, up 5% from $153,738 in 2022. The Massachusetts median that year was $101,513.
What was the median household income in Reading in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Reading, Massachusetts was $127,361. By 2024 it had risen 29% to $163,864.
Is Reading, Massachusetts a high-income area?
Yes. 36% of adults in Reading, Massachusetts earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 3), against 21% (about 1 in 5) in Massachusetts. 41% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 22% in Massachusetts.
Is it hard to find a job in Reading, Massachusetts?
Unemployment in Reading, Massachusetts is only 3.3%, well below the Massachusetts rate of 5.1%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Reading, Massachusetts?
The Gini coefficient in Reading is 0.469. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Reading, Massachusetts?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Reading, Massachusetts has narrowed from about 23% to 12% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 37% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $5,062 since 2009.
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