Reading, PA · standard
ZIP Code 19605
Berks County, Pennsylvania - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 18,985
- 438/sq mi High-density area
- $92,648
- Median income Above-median income area
- $233,600
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 26.4%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Reading pairs an upper-quartile household income with above-median home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 24%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 47%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 438
- people per sq mi
- 86%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 19605 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 19605 (Reading, PA) rose +4.3% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 232.7 in 2023 to 242.7 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 19605 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania, home to 18,985 residents across 43.4 square miles, a density of 438 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 19605 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $92,648 (19% above the average Pennsylvania ZIP), while per-capita income is $41,056. The poverty rate is 8.8%, with unemployment at 6.0%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $233,600 (3% above the average Pennsylvania ZIP) and median rent is $1,402; 85.9% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 26.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 41.5, and the average commute is 23 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Berks County, so 19605 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 19605
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Reading, PA
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 + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, 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; 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 ZIP avg
$41,056
Per Capita Income
8.8%
Poverty Rate
6.0%
Unemployment Rate
22.5 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 19605 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)
$92,648 Top 21% higher than 79% 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
8,155housing units
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 ZIP avg
$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 19605 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 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
- 19560 7,805
Temple (19560)
7,805 residents
- 19533 7,686
Leesport (19533)
7,686 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 19605 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 19605 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 19510
Blandon (19510)
$117,719 median income
- 19533
Leesport (19533)
$105,179 median income
- 19605
Reading (19605)
$92,648 median income
- 19555
Shoemakersville (19555)
$89,583 median income
- 19610
Reading (19610)
$87,374 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
What this shows By household income, ZIP 19605 ranks #3 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| 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 |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 19605, 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 (18,985 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 19605 in?
ZIP code 19605 (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 19605?
ZIP code 19605 in Reading, PA has a population of 18,985 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 19605?
The median household income in ZIP 19605 is $92,648, which is 21% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 19605?
The median home value in ZIP 19605 is $233,600, which is 16% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 19605?
The largest racial group in ZIP 19605 is White at 61.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 31.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 19605?
ZIP code 19605 has 685 business establishments employing approximately 17,185 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 19605?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 19605 are: Retail trade (104), Health care and social assistance (79), Wholesale trade (66). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 19605?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 19605 increased by 4.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 143%. 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 19605?
In ZIP code 19605, 64.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 26.4% 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 19605?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 19605 is 22.5 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 19605?
In ZIP code 19605, approximately 85.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 14.1% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 19605?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 19605 is 8.8% 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 19605's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 19605 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.