Reading PA Housing Market Report — 2026
Data compiled April 2026. Sources: Zillow, Redfin, NeighborhoodScout, Berks County Recorder of Deeds.
⚠️ Reading's 5% Transfer Tax — Critical Context
Reading, PA imposes a 4% local transfer tax on top of PA's 1% state tax — 5% total. The rest of Berks County pays 2% total. On a $185,000 sale, Reading sellers owe $7,400 in city transfer tax alone. This is the single biggest cost differentiator between Reading and neighboring markets.
Key Market Metrics
| Metric | Value | Source / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Typical Home Value (Zillow ZHVI) | $227,041 | Zillow, early 2026 — all homes |
| Median Sale Price | $185,000 | Redfin, Feb 2026 — closed transactions |
| YoY Price Change | -1.1% | Redfin Feb 2026 |
| Median Price Per Sq Ft | $120 | Redfin Feb 2026 |
| Median Days on Market | 24 days | Redfin Feb 2026 — up from 12 days YoY |
| Sale-to-List Ratio | 96.6% | Redfin Feb 2026 — down 4.7pts YoY |
| Homes Sold (month) | 47 | Redfin Feb 2026 |
| Average Offers Per Home | 6 | Redfin |
| Compete Score | 80/100 — Very Competitive | Redfin |
| 10-Year Appreciation | 135.05% (+8.92%/yr) | NeighborhoodScout |
| 5-Year Appreciation | 87.90% (+13.45%/yr) | NeighborhoodScout |
| Latest Quarter (annualized) | +15.30% | NeighborhoodScout |
| Cash Offer Range (avg home) | $130,000–$182,000 | USA Home Buyers estimate — 70-80% of FMV |
Market data last updated: April 2026
Transfer Tax Comparison
| Location | Local Tax | PA State | Total | On $185K Sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Reading | 4.0% | 1.0% | 5.0% | $9,250 |
| Berks County municipalities | 1.0% | 1.0% | 2.0% | $3,700 |
| Harrisburg | 0.5% | 1.0% | 1.5% | $2,775 |
| Allentown | 1.0% | 1.0% | 2.0% | $3,700 |
Sources: Berks County Recorder of Deeds · Alt Title PA Transfer Tax · PA Dept of Revenue
Housing Stock Characteristics
Housing Type
| Row homes / attached | 52.17% |
| Duplexes / small apt buildings | 18.54% |
| Large apartment complexes | 16.62% |
| Single-family detached | 12.33% |
Housing Age
| Before 1939 | 56.68% |
| 1940–1969 | 23.49% |
| 1970–1999 | 16.53% |
| 2000+ | 3.30% |
Over 80% of Reading's housing stock is 50+ years old. Lead paint, aging systems, and deferred maintenance are the norm — not the exception. Source: NeighborhoodScout
Demographics
| Population (2024) | 95,242 |
| Projected Population (2026) | 98,269 |
| Hispanic / Latino | 70.8% |
| Median Household Income | $44,091 |
| Poverty Rate | 25.5% |
| Median Age | 31.9 years |
| Owner-Occupied | 38.45% |
| Renter-Occupied | 61.55% |
| Average Market Rent | $1,748/month |
Sources: PA Demographics, NeighborhoodScout, City-Data.com
Long-Term Appreciation
| Period | Total | Annualized |
|---|---|---|
| Last 10 years | 135.05% | 8.92%/yr |
| Last 5 years | 87.90% | 13.45%/yr |
| Last 2 years | 4.81% | 2.38%/yr |
| Last 12 months | -0.16% | -0.16% |
| Latest quarter | 3.62% | 15.30% annualized |
Source: NeighborhoodScout. Reading is in the top 10% nationally for 10-year appreciation.
Market data last updated: April 2026
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