Berks County, PA Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Berks County | Pennsylvania Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 426,646 | 12,851,405 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 493.1 | 278.8 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.52% | 0.21% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 38.8 | 41.5 | 37.1 |
| Households | 161,609 | 5,230,563 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Berks County grew by 6.9% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 429,935 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Berks County has a the economy index of B, which means it is quite prosperous.
| Metric | Berks County | Pennsylvania Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $78,554 | $76,231 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 4.54% | 4.69% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 5.3% | 5.2% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Berks County is about 3% higher than in Pennsylvania.
Housing
| Metric | Berks County | Pennsylvania Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $170,720 | $154,283 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $1,143 | $1,161 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 71.0% | 69.3% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Berks County is about 12.5 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,143 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Berks County spend about 43 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 177 hours, about 7.4 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Berks County | Pennsylvania Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 21.3 | 22.5 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 42.6 | 44.9 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 177 | 187 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $5,502 | $5,802 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 10.6% | 13.8% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 8,127 | 6,862 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 1,291 | 1,152 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Pennsylvania:
Cameron County (12.2 min), Elk County (15.4 min), Union County (16.3 min).
Slowest:
Pike County (33.0 min), Perry County (31.8 min), Carbon County (30.6 min).
The average commute time in Berks County is 21 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Pennsylvania.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Berks County has a education index of D, which means it is barely educated.
| Metric | Berks County | Pennsylvania Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.7% | 31.4% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.57 | 2.40 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Pennsylvania:
Chester County (0.4), Montgomery County (0.4), Allegheny County (0.4).
Lowest:
Forest County (0.1), Mifflin County (0.2), Juniata County (0.2).
Health
Berks County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Berks County | Pennsylvania Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 78.5 | 78.4 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 17.1% | 15.7% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 19.8% | 20.1% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Pennsylvania:
Montgomery County (0.8), Centre County (0.8), Chester County (0.8).
Lowest:
Forest County (0.8), Mifflin County (0.8), Jefferson County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Berks County, Pennsylvania.
What is the population of Berks County, Pennsylvania?
The population of Berks County, Pennsylvania is 426,646, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Berks County, Pennsylvania?
The population density of Berks County, Pennsylvania is 493.1 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Berks County, Pennsylvania?
The median household income in Berks County, Pennsylvania is $78,554, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Berks County, Pennsylvania?
The median home price in Berks County, Pennsylvania is $170,720, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Berks County, Pennsylvania?
The unemployment rate in Berks County, Pennsylvania is 5.3%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.