West Reading borough, Pennsylvania Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

West Reading borough is a small community located in Pennsylvania, within Berks County. The total population is 4,537. It ranks as the 305th most populous out of 1,993 cities and towns in Pennsylvania.

Age Demographics

The median age in West Reading borough is 34.9 years. This is 15% lower than the state median of 40.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in West Reading borough is $61,974. This is 19% lower than the state median of $76,081. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 21% lower. The poverty rate stands at 17.9%. This is 52% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 4.5%. This is 13% lower than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $159,700. Housing costs are 34% lower than the state median of $240,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, West Reading borough is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 54.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 21% lower than the state average of 69.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in West Reading borough is White (non-Hispanic), making up 50.4% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 32.5%. The Black or African American population (4.6%) is well below the state average of 10.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (32.5% vs 8.4%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (6.6% vs 3.7%).

Education

33.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 3% 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 90.7%. Notably, 16.8% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for West Reading borough, Pennsylvania is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Pennsylvania state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,993 Census-designated places in Pennsylvania. For official data, visit data.census.gov.