The Reading metro is home to 429,989 people (up 3.2% over five years), with a median household income of $77,684. Typical rent of $1,551/month works out to 24.0% of the median household income — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Reading's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 23.4% |
| Manufacturing | 17.8% |
| Retail trade | 11.7% |
| Professional & management | 9.5% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 7.0% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 24.0% of median income leave room for rent growth without pricing out the median tenant. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Reading market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,551/month suggests a household income around $62,000/year. The metro's median household income is $77,684.
By workforce share: Education & health care (23.4%), Manufacturing (17.8%), Retail trade (11.7%) (Census ACS 5-year).