Reading, PA · standard
ZIP Code 19602
Berks County, Pennsylvania - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 17,900
- 2,794/sq mi High-density area
- $34,582
- Median income Below-median income area
- $96,000
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 10.1%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Reading pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a suburban-density, renter-heavy area.
- 3rd pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 8th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 2,794
- people per sq mi
- 27%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 19602 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 19602 (Reading, PA) rose +5.4% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 311.2 in 2023 to 328.1 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 19602 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania, home to 17,900 residents across 6.4 square miles, a density of 2,794 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 19602 sits on the lower end of the income spectrum: median household income is $34,582 (56% below the average Pennsylvania ZIP), while per-capita income is $19,090. Economic pressure is pronounced: 35.5% of residents are below the poverty line and unemployment is 17.1%. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $96,000 (58% below the average Pennsylvania ZIP), and median rent is $1,041; owner occupancy is 26.5%.
Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 10.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 31.4, and the average commute is 27 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Berks County, so 19602 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 19602
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Reading, PA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 19602.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
38 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
28 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
23 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
23 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing 12
Real estate and rental and leasing
12 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 + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 19602, Reading, PA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
17,900
Population
6.4
Area (sq mi)
2,794
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 19602?
31.4
Median Age
52.3%
Male
47.7%
Female
20.1%
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?
$34,582
Median Household Income
-56% vs state ZIP avg
$19,090
Per Capita Income
35.5%
Poverty Rate
17.1%
Unemployment Rate
27.4 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 19602 ranks among Pennsylvania ZIPs
Reading, PA household income vs. every Pennsylvania ZIP code
Median household income among 1,642 reporting Pennsylvania ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$34,582 2nd percentile higher than 2% of 1,642 Pennsylvania ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Pennsylvania ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
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?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
8,034housing units
8,034
Total Housing Units
6,840
Occupied Units
1,194
Vacant Units
2.69
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$96,000
Median Home Value
-58% vs state ZIP avg
$1,041
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
+5.4%
YoY Change (2024)
328
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+228%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 19602 have increased 5.4% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +228% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +22.0% | 161 |
| 2021 | +19.0% | 192 |
| 2022 | +16.6% | 224 |
| 2023 | +39.2% | 311 |
| 2024 | +5.4% | 328 |
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 187 business establishments in ZIP 19602, employing approximately 3,842 people with a combined annual payroll of $166,365,000.
187
Businesses
3,842
Employees
$166.4M
Annual Payroll
12
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 38 | 20.3% |
| Health care and social assistance | 28 | 15.0% |
| Accommodation and food services | 23 | 12.3% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 23 | 12.3% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 12 | 6.4% |
| Construction | 11 | 5.9% |
| Wholesale trade | 11 | 5.9% |
| Manufacturing | 9 | 4.8% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 8 | 4.3% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 6 | 3.2% |
| Finance and insurance | 6 | 3.2% |
| Information | 3 | 1.6% |
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 19602 vs 19611 →
ZIP 19602 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 19606
Reading (19606)
34,416 residents
- 19601
Reading (19601)
32,998 residents
- 19604
Reading (19604)
27,658 residents
- 19607
Reading (19607)
22,544 residents
- 19605
Reading (19605)
18,985 residents
- 19602
Reading (19602)
17,900 residents
- 19610
Reading (19610)
15,258 residents
- 19611 10,589
Reading (19611)
10,589 residents
- 19609 9,946
Reading (19609)
9,946 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 19602 ranks #6 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 19602 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 19605
Reading (19605)
$92,648 median income
- 19610
Reading (19610)
$87,374 median income
- 19606
Reading (19606)
$85,557 median income
- 19609
Reading (19609)
$82,576 median income
- 19607
Reading (19607)
$81,346 median income
- 19560
Temple (19560)
$80,769 median income
- 19611
Reading (19611)
$63,331 median income
- 19604
Reading (19604)
$52,905 median income
- 19601
Reading (19601)
$40,973 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 19602 ranks #null of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19611 | Reading, PA | 10,589 | 1.4 mi |
| 19604 | Reading, PA | 27,658 | 2.0 mi |
| 19601 | Reading, PA | 32,998 | 2.2 mi |
| 19606 | Reading, PA | 34,416 | 3.1 mi |
| 19607 | Reading, PA | 22,544 | 3.0 mi |
| 19610 | Reading, PA | 15,258 | 3.3 mi |
| 19609 | Reading, PA | 9,946 | 4.3 mi |
| 19560 | Temple, PA | 7,805 | 5.3 mi |
| 19605 | Reading, PA | 18,985 | 5.1 mi |
| 19535 | Limekiln, PA | 23 | 5.9 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 19602, both outside PA so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (17,900 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Berks County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 19602 in?
ZIP code 19602 (Reading) is located in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Berks County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/berks-pa.
What is the population of ZIP code 19602?
ZIP code 19602 in Reading, PA has a population of 17,900 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 19602?
The median household income in ZIP 19602 is $34,582, which is 55% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 19602?
The median home value in ZIP 19602 is $96,000, which is 65% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 19602?
The largest racial group in ZIP 19602 is Two or More Ethnicities at 46.4%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 71.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 19602?
ZIP code 19602 has 187 business establishments employing approximately 3,842 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 19602?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 19602 are: Retail trade (38), Health care and social assistance (28), Accommodation and food services (23). There are 12 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 19602?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 19602 increased by 5.4% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 228%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 19602?
In ZIP code 19602, 49.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 10.1% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 19602?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 19602 is 27.4 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 19602?
In ZIP code 19602, approximately 26.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 73.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 19602?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 19602 is 35.5% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 19602's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 19602 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Reading, PA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.