ZIP Code 19606
standardSource:
Reading · Berks County · Pennsylvania
- Population
- 34,416
- Median income
- $85,557
- Median home value
- $245,600
- Bachelor's or higher
- 30.8%
- Land area
- 71.3 sq mi
483/sq mi
▲ 12% vs US
higher than 69% of US ZIPs
▼ 12% vs US
higher than 56% of US ZIPs
Median age 41.1
New York
ZIP code 19606 in Reading, Pennsylvania has a population of 34,416. The median household income is $85,557, which is 12% above the national average. Median home value is $245,600, 12% below the US average. 30.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 19606 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 71.3 square miles in Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania. The area is home to 34,416 residents, producing a population density of 483 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 19606 against Pennsylvania and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 19606 sits at $85,557 (10% above the Pennsylvania average), while per-capita income is $41,940. The poverty rate stands at 9.9% and the unemployment rate at 5.5%. On housing, the median home value is $245,600 (8% above the state average) with median rent at $1,243 per month, and 79.6% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 19606 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 30.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 41.1, and the average commute is 25 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Berks County, so you can benchmark 19606 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 19606
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
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 + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, 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; HUD FMR + 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
$41,940
Per Capita Income
9.9%
Poverty Rate
5.5%
Unemployment Rate
25.2 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?
14,721
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
$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 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 |
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.