Berks County, Pennsylvania Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Berks County is located in Pennsylvania with a total population of 429,989. It is the 9th most populous county out of 67 in Pennsylvania. The county encompasses 29 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Berks County is 39.9 years. This is 2% lower than the state median of 40.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Berks County is $77,684. This is 2% higher than the state median of $76,081. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 1% lower. The poverty rate stands at 11.7%. This is about average than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 5.3%. The median home value is $239,700. Housing costs are about average than the state median of $240,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 71.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% higher than the state average of 69.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Berks County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 67.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 24.0%. The Black or African American population (4.0%) is well below the state average of 10.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (24.0% vs 8.4%). The Asian population (1.3%) is well below the state average of 3.7%.

Education

27.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 21% lower than the state rate of 34.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 88.4%.