ZIP Code · PA

ZIP 19606

Part of Reading, PA

Pop. 35,853·Berks County·113th most expensive ZIP in Pennsylvania

Median rent (all units)

$1,645/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

-1.1%

vs US Median

-$287

Reported rents

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 19606 · $1,645

More affordable than 62% 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

$1,210

1 BR

$1,370

2 BR

$1,750

3 BR

$2,150

4 BR+

$2,320

Research median

$1,750/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

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($85,557) is $2,139 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,750); a 3-bedroom is $2,150.

Rank in Reading

5th cheapest of 5 ZIP codes in Reading.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 19602, 3 miles away, rents for 23% less ($1,269/mo), about $4,500 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 19606. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$19,740/yr

At $1,645/mo median

Location

CityReading

StatePA

CountyBerks County

Rent Market Meter

Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are softening (down 0.0% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, -1.1% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 19606 (Reading, PA) is majority owner-occupied, 30.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

35,853

Median income

$85,557

Median age

41.1

Renters

20.4%

Age distribution

21.5%

23.3%

14.8%

18.9%

Under 1821.5%

18–3421.5%

35–5423.3%

55–6414.8%

65+18.9%

Gender

49.3%

50.7%

Male49.3%

Female50.7%

Race & ethnicity

75.6%

18.2%

White75.6%

Black4%

Hispanic18.2%

Asian1.3%

Other1%

Education (25+)

37.4%

24.7%

30.8%

No HS diploma7.1%

HS diploma37.4%

Some college24.7%

Bachelor's+30.8%

Housing tenure

79.6%

20.4%

Owner79.6%

Renter20.4%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 19606 in Reading, PA has changed in 5 years

Income

$74,654 → $85,557

up 14.6%

Population

36,052 → 35,853

down 0.6%

Renter share

21.6% → 20.4%

-1.2 pts

Bachelor's+

30% → 30.8%

+0.8 pts

Census figures show median household income at $85,557 today, compared with $74,654 five years earlier.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 19606

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 19606 covers Reading, PA. The median rent here is $1,645/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,370/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,750/mo.

At 23% of local median household income ($85,557/yr), ZIP 19606 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 19606?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $66,000/year (about $32/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,645/mo in ZIP 19606. The local median household income is $85,557/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.