Rents are 6% below what Reading's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,472 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
January. Asking rents in Reading usually run 0.9% below trend in January and 0.7% above it in September, about $24 a month apart at today's median. Based on 10 years of data.
Rent in Reading is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2016.
Rent in Reading changed +3.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 114 Pennsylvania cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.6%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Reading rose 57% while median household income rose 37% ($32,176 to $44,091). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Reading is 66.9% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 8 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($44,091) is $1,102 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,088); a 2-bedroom is $1,372.
The priciest of 5 ZIP codes in Reading, 19606 ($1,645/mo), costs 30% more than the cheapest, 19602 ($1,269/mo).
Tamaqua, 30 miles away, rents for 28% less ($1,063/mo), about $4,900 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Reading. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Reading, PA is majority renter-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 11.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Reading, PA has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Reading, PA stood at $985 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,472, reflecting a 49.4% increase over the period. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $38,738 in 2021 to $44,091 more recently. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 1.1% since 2021, moving from about 94,161 residents to roughly 95,242. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Reading, PA market of 2021.
Discussions about Reading
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Reading on your salary?
At $1,472/mo, how Reading rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Reading rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Reading. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Reading
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Reading is $1,472/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $940/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,372/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,088/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,716/mo.
At 40% of local median household income ($44,091/yr), Reading ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.7% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Reading?
Is rent going up or down in Reading?
When is the cheapest time to rent in Reading?
Has rent outpaced income in Reading?
Which Reading neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Reading rent compare to other cities in Pennsylvania?
At $1,472/mo, rent takes ~40% of Reading's median household income ($44,091/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Reading.
No discussions yet.