ZIP Code · PA

ZIP 19602

Part of Reading, PA

Pop. 18,495·Berks County·220th most expensive ZIP in Pennsylvania

Median rent (all units)

$1,269/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.1%

Month-over-Month

-0.2%

vs US Median

-$663

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 19602 · $1,269

More affordable than 88% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$940

1 BR

$1,080

2 BR

$1,370

3 BR

$1,680

4 BR+

$1,810

Research median

$1,370/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of Pennsylvania

Rent in ZIP 19602 changed +3.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 205 Pennsylvania ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.8%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($34,582) is $865 a month. That is less than HUD's Fair Market Rent for a studio ($940).

Rank in Reading

1st cheapest of 5 ZIP codes in Reading.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 19602. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$15,228/yr

At $1,269/mo median

Location

CityReading

StatePA

CountyBerks County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (3.1% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.1% YoY, -0.2% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 19602 (Reading, PA) is majority renter-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 10.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

18,495

Median income

$34,582

Median age

31.4

Renters

73.5%

Age distribution

30.8%

23.4%

25.6%

Under 1830.8%

18–3423.4%

35–5425.6%

55–6411.1%

65+9.2%

Gender

52.3%

47.7%

Male52.3%

Female47.7%

Race & ethnicity

19.5%

71.7%

White19.5%

Black11.6%

Hispanic71.7%

Education (25+)

31.2%

39.4%

19.3%

No HS diploma31.2%

HS diploma39.4%

Some college19.3%

Bachelor's+10.1%

Housing tenure

26.5%

73.5%

Owner26.5%

Renter73.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 19602 in Reading, PA has changed in 5 years

Income

$35,092 → $34,582

down 1.5%

Population

17,568 → 18,495

up 5.3%

Renter share

68.1% → 73.5%

+5.4 pts

Bachelor's+

12.2% → 10.1%

-2.1 pts

Median age

33.9 → 31.4

-2.5 yrs

On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 19602 in Reading, PA now reports about $34,582, up from $35,092 in 2021. The population has grown by 5.3% since 2021, moving from about 17,568 residents to roughly 18,495. Renters now make up 73.5% of households, compared with 68.1% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 10.1% of adults here, versus 12.2% in 2021.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 19602

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 19602 covers Reading, PA. The median rent here is $1,269/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,080/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,370/mo.

At 44% of local median household income ($34,582/yr), ZIP 19602 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.1% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 19602?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $51,000/year (about $25/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,269/mo in ZIP 19602. The local median household income is $34,582/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 19602?

Rent in ZIP 19602 has risen 3.1% over the past year.

How does ZIP 19602 compare to other ZIPs in Pennsylvania?

ZIP 19602 is one of the more affordable among Pennsylvania ZIP codes for rent, ranking #220 of 261 at $1,269/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 19602 changed +3.1%, against a typical +3.8% across the 205 Pennsylvania ZIP codes Zillow tracks.