PlainZIP

Reading, PA · standard

ZIP Code 19609

Berks County, Pennsylvania - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

9,946
1,548/sq mi
$82,576
Median income
$247,300
Median home value
37.0%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Reading pairs an above-median household income with above-median home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 35%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 43%
home value, US ZIPs
1,548
people per sq mi
83%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 19609 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 19609 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania, home to 9,946 residents across 6.4 square miles, a density of 1,548 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 19609 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $82,576 (6% above the Pennsylvania average), while per-capita income is $40,431. The poverty rate stands at 7.4% and the unemployment rate at 2.4%. The typical home here is valued at $247,300 (9% above the state average); renters pay a median of $1,246 monthly, and 83.3% of units are owner-occupied.

A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 37.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 39.4, and the average commute is 22 minutes. To put 19609 in local context, 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles appear further down this page alongside 6 additional ZIPs in Berks County, for a geography-aware comparison.

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 19609

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Reading, PA

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 19609.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

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 19609, 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

9,946

Population

6.4

Area (sq mi)

1,548

People / sq mi

New York

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 19609?

39.4

Median Age

49.0%

Male

51.0%

Female

7.5%

Foreign-Born

White 77.2%
African American 4.7%
Asian 1.7%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 12.9%
Hispanic or Latino 15.3%

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?

$82,576

Median Household Income

+6% vs state

$40,431

Per Capita Income

7.4%

Poverty Rate

2.4%

Unemployment Rate

22.4 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 19609 ranks nationally

Reading, PA household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$82,576 Top 35% higher than 65% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

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?

High School Graduate or Higher 66.7%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 37.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

4,207

Total Housing Units

4,132

Occupied Units

75

Vacant Units

2.39

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 83.3%
Renter 16.7%

$247,300

Median Home Value

+9% vs state

$1,246

Median Rent

1958

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

+5.5%

YoY Change (2024)

250

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+150%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 19609 have increased 5.5% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +150% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +4.9% 172
2021 +10.6% 190
2022 +15.1% 219
2023 +8.0% 236
2024 +5.5% 250

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 193 business establishments in ZIP 19609, employing approximately 3,152 people with a combined annual payroll of $141,502,000.

193

Businesses

3,152

Employees

$141.5M

Annual Payroll

15

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Health care and social assistance 36 18.6%
Other services (except public administration) 26 13.5%
Accommodation and food services 19 9.8%
Construction 18 9.3%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 16 8.3%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 15 7.8%
Finance and insurance 14 7.3%
Real estate and rental and leasing 14 7.3%
Retail trade 13 6.7%
Wholesale trade 6 3.1%
Manufacturing 3 1.6%
Transportation and warehousing 3 1.6%
Information 3 1.6%
Educational services 3 1.6%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 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 19609 vs 19610 →

ZIP 19609 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 19609 ranks #9 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 19609 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 19609 ranks #6 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
19610 Reading, PA 15,258 1.4 mi
19608 Reading, PA 22,719 2.3 mi
19611 Reading, PA 10,589 3.0 mi
19601 Reading, PA 32,998 3.4 mi
19602 Reading, PA 17,900 4.3 mi
19607 Reading, PA 22,544 3.7 mi
19565 Wernersville, PA 8,531 4.8 mi
19533 Leesport, PA 7,686 6.7 mi
19604 Reading, PA 27,658 5.0 mi
19540 Mohnton, PA 11,723 6.5 mi

More ZIP Codes in Berks County

19606 standard
Reading, PA
Pop: 34,416
19601 standard
Reading, PA
Pop: 32,998
19604 standard
Reading, PA
Pop: 27,658
19608 standard
Reading, PA
Pop: 22,719
19607 standard
Reading, PA
Pop: 22,544
19605 standard
Reading, PA
Pop: 18,985

Related Areas

Berks County Reading, PA Pennsylvania

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 19609 in? ▼
ZIP code 19609 (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 19609? ▼
ZIP code 19609 in Reading, PA has a population of 9,946 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 19609? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 19609 is $82,576, which is 8% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 19609? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 19609 is $247,300, which is 11% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 19609? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 19609 is White at 77.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 15.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 19609? ▼
ZIP code 19609 has 193 business establishments employing approximately 3,152 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 19609? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 19609 are: Health care and social assistance (36), Other services (except public administration) (26), Accommodation and food services (19). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 19609? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 19609 increased by 5.5% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 150%. 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 19609? ▼
In ZIP code 19609, 66.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 37.0% 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 19609? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 19609 is 22.4 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 19609? ▼
In ZIP code 19609, approximately 83.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 16.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 19609? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 19609 is 7.4% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.