ZIP Code 19601
standardSource:
Reading · Berks County · Pennsylvania
- Population
- 32,998
- Median income
- $40,973
- Median home value
- $123,100
- Bachelor's or higher
- 12.1%
- Land area
- 9.6 sq mi
3,420/sq mi
▼ 46% vs US
higher than 6% of US ZIPs
▼ 56% vs US
higher than 18% of US ZIPs
Median age 33.4
New York
ZIP code 19601 in Reading, Pennsylvania has a population of 32,998. The median household income is $40,973, which is 46% below the national average. Median home value is $123,100, 56% below the US average. 12.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 19601 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 9.6 square miles in Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania. The area is home to 32,998 residents, producing a population density of 3,420 people per square mile, and falls within the New York time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 19601 against Pennsylvania and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 19601 sits at $40,973 (47% below the Pennsylvania average), while per-capita income is $20,746. The poverty rate stands at 29.7% and the unemployment rate at 13.7%. On housing, the median home value is $123,100 (46% below the state average) with median rent at $1,011 per month, and 39.5% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 19601 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 12.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 33.4, and the average commute is 24 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Berks County, so you can benchmark 19601 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →
Top industries in ZIP 19601
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 19601.
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
84 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
81 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
57 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
56 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
38 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 19601, Reading, PA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
32,998
Population
9.6
Area (sq mi)
3,420
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 19601?
33.4
Median Age
47.6%
Male
52.4%
Female
26.6%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$40,973
Median Household Income
-47% vs state
$20,746
Per Capita Income
29.7%
Poverty Rate
13.7%
Unemployment Rate
24.3 min
Mean Commute Time
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
14,003
Total Housing Units
13,166
Occupied Units
837
Vacant Units
2.72
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$123,100
Median Home Value
-46% vs state
$1,011
Median Rent
1938
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
-6.5%
YoY Change (2024)
342
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+242%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 19601 have decreased 6.5% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +242% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.2% | 190 |
| 2021 | +19.2% | 227 |
| 2022 | +20.7% | 274 |
| 2023 | +33.4% | 365 |
| 2024 | -6.5% | 342 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 504 business establishments in ZIP 19601, employing approximately 9,911 people with a combined annual payroll of $744,056,000.
504
Businesses
9,911
Employees
$744.1M
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Other services (except public administration) | 84 | 16.7% |
| Health care and social assistance | 81 | 16.1% |
| Retail trade | 57 | 11.3% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 56 | 11.1% |
| Accommodation and food services | 38 | 7.5% |
| Construction | 36 | 7.1% |
| Manufacturing | 29 | 5.8% |
| Wholesale trade | 22 | 4.4% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 21 | 4.2% |
| Finance and insurance | 18 | 3.6% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 17 | 3.4% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 14 | 2.8% |
| Information | 13 | 2.6% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 12 | 2.4% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 3 | 0.6% |
| Educational services | 3 | 0.6% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 19601 vs 19611 →
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19611 | Reading, PA | 10,589 | 1.9 mi |
| 19604 | Reading, PA | 27,658 | 1.6 mi |
| 19610 | Reading, PA | 15,258 | 2.0 mi |
| 19605 | Reading, PA | 18,985 | 3.2 mi |
| 19602 | Reading, PA | 17,900 | 2.2 mi |
| 19607 | Reading, PA | 22,544 | 4.2 mi |
| 19609 | Reading, PA | 9,946 | 3.4 mi |
| 19560 | Temple, PA | 7,805 | 4.3 mi |
| 19606 | Reading, PA | 34,416 | 4.5 mi |
| 19533 | Leesport, PA | 7,686 | 5.5 mi |
More ZIP Codes in Berks County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 19601 in? ▼
What is the population of ZIP code 19601? ▼
What is the median household income in ZIP 19601? ▼
What is the average home value in ZIP 19601? ▼
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 19601? ▼
How many businesses are in ZIP code 19601? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 19601? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 19601? ▼
What is the education level in ZIP code 19601? ▼
What is the average commute time in ZIP 19601? ▼
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 19601? ▼
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 19601? ▼
ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for Reading, PA
Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023). Business data: Source: Census ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023. Home value trends: Source: FHFA House Price Index (HPI), Five-Digit ZIP Codes.
PlainZIP is not affiliated with the U.S. Census Bureau or any government agency.
Read our methodology , how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.