Reading, Pennsylvania 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.
-
F
Reading Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Reading | Pennsylvania Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $44,237 | $78,249 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $40,709 | $62,573 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 6.3% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 2.6% | 13.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 2.7% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Reading is about 43% lower than in Pennsylvania. Income has been growing faster in Reading (6.3%/yr) than in Pennsylvania (4.4%/yr).
About 3% of adults in Reading earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Pennsylvania average of 13%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Reading, Pennsylvania grew by 58.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $44,237 in 2024. That's an average of about 6.3% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Reading
| Metric | Reading | Pennsylvania Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.545 | 0.537 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $45,462 | $71,585 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $39,592 | $57,854 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 12.9% | 19.2% | 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 0.545, higher than Pennsylvania's 0.537, so income is less 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 15% more than women's income in Reading, Pennsylvania. Over a 35-year career, a 15% wage gap accumulates to roughly $205,450 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, Pennsylvania has narrowed from about 16% to 13% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 18% in 2010, and was narrowest at 12% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $815 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Reading | Pennsylvania Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 13.7% | 5.2% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 6.4% | 15.6% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 6,106 people are unemployed in Reading, Pennsylvania.
The average commute time in Reading is 21 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Pennsylvania.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Reading, Pennsylvania has fallen from 18.8% to 13.7% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 20.0% in 2012 and fell as low as 11.4% in 2022.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Reading, Pennsylvania has an overall wealth index grade of F, making it worse than Pennsylvania, and worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Reading, Pennsylvania.
How Rich Is Reading, Pennsylvania?
Reading has a wealth index grade of F. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; an F grade means residents are well below the U.S. average. The median household income is $44,237, about 43% lower than the Pennsylvania average of $78,249.
How fast is household income rising in Reading, Pennsylvania?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Reading, Pennsylvania rose 58%, from $27,930 to $44,237. Over the same years, income here outpaced Pennsylvania as a whole: +58% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Reading in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Reading, Pennsylvania was $45,537, up 5% from $43,304 in 2022. The Pennsylvania median that year was $76,230.
What was the median household income in Reading in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Reading, Pennsylvania was $35,829. By 2024 it had risen 23% to $44,237.
Is it hard to find a job in Reading, Pennsylvania?
Unemployment in Reading, Pennsylvania is 13.7%, well above the Pennsylvania rate of 5.2%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Reading, Pennsylvania?
The Gini coefficient in Reading is 0.545. 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, Pennsylvania?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Reading, Pennsylvania has narrowed from about 16% to 13% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 18% in 2010, and was narrowest at 12% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $815 since 2009.
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