ZIP Code 19605
standardSource:
Reading · Berks County · Pennsylvania
- Population
- 18,985
- Median income
- $92,648
- Median home value
- $233,600
- Bachelor's or higher
- 26.4%
- Land area
- 43.4 sq mi
438/sq mi
▲ 21% vs US
higher than 76% of US ZIPs
▼ 16% vs US
higher than 53% of US ZIPs
Median age 41.5
New York
ZIP code 19605 in Reading, Pennsylvania has a population of 18,985. The median household income is $92,648, which is 21% above the national average. Median home value is $233,600, 16% below the US average. 26.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 19605 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 43.4 square miles in Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania. The area is home to 18,985 residents, producing a population density of 438 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 19605 against Pennsylvania and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 19605 sits at $92,648 (19% above the Pennsylvania average), while per-capita income is $41,056. The poverty rate stands at 8.8% and the unemployment rate at 6.0%. On housing, the median home value is $233,600 (3% above the state average) with median rent at $1,402 per month, and 85.9% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 19605 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 26.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 41.5, and the average commute is 23 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Berks County, so you can benchmark 19605 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 19605
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 19605.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
104 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
79 establishments
- Wholesale trade
Wholesale trade
66 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
64 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
61 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 19605, 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
18,985
Population
43.4
Area (sq mi)
438
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 19605?
41.5
Median Age
49.2%
Male
50.8%
Female
14.0%
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?
$92,648
Median Household Income
+19% vs state
$41,056
Per Capita Income
8.8%
Poverty Rate
6.0%
Unemployment Rate
22.5 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?
8,155
Total Housing Units
7,743
Occupied Units
412
Vacant Units
2.74
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$233,600
Median Home Value
+3% vs state
$1,402
Median Rent
1969
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
+4.3%
YoY Change (2024)
243
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+143%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 19605 have increased 4.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +143% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +4.0% | 162 |
| 2021 | +13.6% | 184 |
| 2022 | +15.2% | 212 |
| 2023 | +9.9% | 233 |
| 2024 | +4.3% | 243 |
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 685 business establishments in ZIP 19605, employing approximately 17,185 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,011,980,000.
685
Businesses
17,185
Employees
$1.0B
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 104 | 15.2% |
| Health care and social assistance | 79 | 11.5% |
| Wholesale trade | 66 | 9.6% |
| Accommodation and food services | 64 | 9.3% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 61 | 8.9% |
| Construction | 58 | 8.5% |
| Manufacturing | 51 | 7.5% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 40 | 5.8% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 36 | 5.3% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 34 | 5.0% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 33 | 4.8% |
| Finance and insurance | 26 | 3.8% |
| Information | 11 | 1.6% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 10 | 1.5% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 6 | 0.9% |
| Educational services | 4 | 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 19605 vs 19601 →
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19601 | Reading, PA | 32,998 | 3.2 mi |
| 19560 | Temple, PA | 7,805 | 2.6 mi |
| 19533 | Leesport, PA | 7,686 | 2.9 mi |
| 19604 | Reading, PA | 27,658 | 3.3 mi |
| 19611 | Reading, PA | 10,589 | 5.1 mi |
| 19610 | Reading, PA | 15,258 | 4.4 mi |
| 19602 | Reading, PA | 17,900 | 5.1 mi |
| 19555 | Shoemakersville, PA | 3,406 | 6.6 mi |
| 19607 | Reading, PA | 22,544 | 7.4 mi |
| 19510 | Blandon, PA | 7,639 | 4.7 mi |
More ZIP Codes in Berks County
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Frequently Asked Questions
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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.