Reading, PA · standard
ZIP Code 19606
Berks County, Pennsylvania - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 34,416
- 483/sq mi High-density area
- $85,557
- Median income Above-median income area
- $245,600
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 30.8%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Reading pairs an above-median household income with above-median home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 31%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 44%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 483
- people per sq mi
- 80%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 19606 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 19606 (Reading, PA) rose +7.3% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 231.7 in 2023 to 248.6 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 19606 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania, with 34,416 residents across 71.3 square miles, a density of 483 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 19606 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $85,557 (10% above the average Pennsylvania ZIP), while per-capita income is $41,940. The poverty rate is 9.9%, with unemployment at 5.5%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $245,600 (8% above the average Pennsylvania ZIP) and median rent is $1,243; 79.6% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 30.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 41.1, and the average commute is 25 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Berks County, so 19606 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 19606
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Reading, PA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 19606.
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
77 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
76 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
65 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
57 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
50 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 19606, 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
34,416
Population
71.3
Area (sq mi)
483
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 19606?
41.1
Median Age
49.3%
Male
50.7%
Female
6.7%
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?
$85,557
Median Household Income
+10% vs state ZIP avg
$41,940
Per Capita Income
9.9%
Poverty Rate
5.5%
Unemployment Rate
25.2 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 19606 ranks nationally
Reading, PA household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$85,557 Top 31% higher than 69% of 30,318 US ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US 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
14,721housing units
14,721
Total Housing Units
14,064
Occupied Units
657
Vacant Units
2.52
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$245,600
Median Home Value
+8% vs state ZIP avg
$1,243
Median Rent
1975
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
+7.3%
YoY Change (2024)
249
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+149%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 19606 have increased 7.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +149% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +5.4% | 165 |
| 2021 | +12.8% | 186 |
| 2022 | +15.0% | 214 |
| 2023 | +8.0% | 232 |
| 2024 | +7.3% | 249 |
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 534 business establishments in ZIP 19606, employing approximately 11,951 people with a combined annual payroll of $529,234,000.
534
Businesses
11,951
Employees
$529.2M
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Other services (except public administration) | 77 | 14.4% |
| Health care and social assistance | 76 | 14.2% |
| Retail trade | 65 | 12.2% |
| Accommodation and food services | 57 | 10.7% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 50 | 9.4% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 44 | 8.2% |
| Construction | 36 | 6.7% |
| Finance and insurance | 27 | 5.1% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 21 | 3.9% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 20 | 3.8% |
| Wholesale trade | 18 | 3.4% |
| Manufacturing | 17 | 3.2% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 9 | 1.7% |
| Information | 7 | 1.3% |
| Educational services | 5 | 0.9% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 4 | 0.8% |
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 19606 vs 19535 →
ZIP 19606 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
- 19602
Reading (19602)
17,900 residents
- 19508
Birdsboro (19508)
15,725 residents
- 19610
Reading (19610)
15,258 residents
- 19611 10,589
Reading (19611)
10,589 residents
- 19560 7,805
Temple (19560)
7,805 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 19606 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 19606 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
- 19610
Reading (19610)
$87,374 median income
- 19606
Reading (19606)
$85,557 median income
- 19508
Birdsboro (19508)
$84,826 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 $40,973
Reading (19601)
$40,973 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 19606 ranks #3 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19535 | Limekiln, PA | 23 | 2.8 mi |
| 19602 | Reading, PA | 17,900 | 3.1 mi |
| 19604 | Reading, PA | 27,658 | 3.1 mi |
| 19508 | Birdsboro, PA | 15,725 | 5.1 mi |
| 19611 | Reading, PA | 10,589 | 4.5 mi |
| 19601 | Reading, PA | 32,998 | 4.5 mi |
| 19560 | Temple, PA | 7,805 | 5.0 mi |
| 19610 | Reading, PA | 15,258 | 6.3 mi |
| 19607 | Reading, PA | 22,544 | 5.6 mi |
| 19510 | Blandon, PA | 7,639 | 7.8 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 19606, 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 (34,416 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 19606 in?
ZIP code 19606 (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 19606?
ZIP code 19606 in Reading, PA has a population of 34,416 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 19606?
The median household income in ZIP 19606 is $85,557, which is 12% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 19606?
The median home value in ZIP 19606 is $245,600, which is 12% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 19606?
The largest racial group in ZIP 19606 is White at 75.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 18.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 19606?
ZIP code 19606 has 534 business establishments employing approximately 11,951 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 19606?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 19606 are: Other services (except public administration) (77), Health care and social assistance (76), Retail trade (65). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 19606?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 19606 increased by 7.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 149%. 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 19606?
In ZIP code 19606, 68.2% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 30.8% 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 19606?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 19606 is 25.2 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 19606?
In ZIP code 19606, approximately 79.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 20.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 19606?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 19606 is 9.9% 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 19606's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 19606 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
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.