The Town FilesWest Reading, Pennsylvania
Borough in Berks County · population 4,553 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $173,100
- Household income
- $65,885
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 27 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 35.4
West Reading is a borough of 4,553 people in Berks County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $173,100, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 100% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 100% of Pennsylvania towns, more walkable than 99% of Pennsylvania towns.
- #4 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Pennsylvania
- #8 in The 50 Most Walkable Historic Small Towns in America
- #9 in The 25 Most Walkable Historic Small Towns in Pennsylvania
- #18 in The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in Pennsylvania
- #19 in The 50 Most Walkable Historic Places in America
- #21 in The 50 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in America
How West Reading ranks
Percentile among Pennsylvania towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in West Reading is worth $173,100, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $65,885, which is more affordable than 64% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,365 a month. 56.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Reading | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $173,100 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,365 | $996 |
| Median household income | $65,885 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 56.1% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in West Reading
| People | West Reading | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.4 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.0% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.0% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.8% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.4% | — |
| Work from home | 7.5% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 21.9 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.6% | 89.0% |
Weather in West Reading
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 23.0°F. About 45.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.2 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 107 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Reading since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 4, 1950 about 7.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 4, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 51 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 22, 2014.
Severe weather in Berks County since 1996
Berks County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4267: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 12, 2011 | Flood | DR-4030: Tropical Storm Lee |
Jobs and pay in Berks County
Berks County had 173,692 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $63,608 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in West Reading itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Public schools in West Reading
1 public school with 293 students, about 14.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Reading El Ctr | 5-6 | 293 | 14.0 |
Towns near West Reading
- Wyomissing, PA1.0 mi · 11,114 people · home $339,900
- Reading, PA1.1 mi · 95,112 people · home $121,300
- Kenhorst, PA1.9 mi · 3,001 people · home $195,900
- Shillington, PA2.4 mi · 5,475 people · home $203,500
- West Wyomissing, PA2.7 mi · 3,630 people · home $208,200
- Mount Penn, PA3.0 mi · 3,240 people · home $176,300
- Whitfield, PA3.1 mi · 4,911 people · home $311,700
- Hyde Park, PA3.1 mi · 2,806 people · home $173,700
West Reading questions
Is West Reading, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Reading scores better for retirees than 3% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 1%. 12.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.4).
How much does a house cost in West Reading?
The median owner-occupied home in West Reading is valued at $173,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,885, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $1,365 a month.
What is the weather like in West Reading?
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 23.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.2 inches of precipitation a year and 27.2 inches of snow.
Does West Reading get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Reading since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 4, 1950. The typical Pennsylvania town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)