Skip to main content
Population Review

Reading, Massachusetts Population 2026

Updated April 2026 · US Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates

The population of Reading, Massachusetts is 25,448 as of the 2023 American Community Survey, making it the 63rd-largest city in Massachusetts. The median household income is $163,725, the median home value is $741,100, and the median age is 44.1.

25,448

Population

2551

People / sq mi

$163,725

Median Income

$741,100

Median Home Value

Reading covers 10.0 sq mi of land at 2551 people per square mile.

About Reading, MA

Reading is a city in Massachusetts with a population of 25,448. It ranks #63 among cities in Massachusetts by population. The median age is 44.1, older than the national median. The population is 48.0% male and 52.0% female.

The median household income in Reading is $163,725, above the US median of $74,580. 1.8% of residents live below the federal poverty level. Home values sit at a median of $741,100, with monthly rent averaging $1,722. The homeownership rate of 83.1% is higher than the national rate of 64.8%.

Educational attainment in Reading reflects 65.1% of adults 25 and older holding a bachelor's degree or higher, above the national average of 34.3%. Roughly 27.7% of workers primarily work from home, noticeably above the national work-from-home rate of 14.2%. The average commute is 30.6 minutes each way.

Race & Ethnicity

White87.1%
Black or African American0.3%
Asian0.0%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)0.2%
Two or More Races0.0%

Economy & Income

$163,725

Median Household Income

$71,474

Per Capita Income

1.8%

Poverty Rate

2.1%

Unemployment Rate

Housing

$741,100

Median Home Value

$1,722

Median Rent

83.1%

Owner-Occupied

Education

96.2%

High School+

65.1%

Bachelor's+

Commute

5.1%

Drive Alone

59.6%

Public Transit

27.7%

Work From Home

30.6 min

Avg Commute

Community Profile

18.4%

Foreign Born

88.7%

Non-English at Home

5.6%

Veterans

8.6%

With Disability

98.0%

Health Insurance

95.3%

Internet Access

Employment by Industry

Professional, Scientific & Management27.8%
Finance, Insurance & Real Estate19.7%
Information11.4%
Manufacturing10.9%
Education, Health Care & Social Services5.1%
Public Administration4.9%
Construction4.7%
Transportation & Warehousing3.3%
Retail Trade2.4%
Arts, Entertainment & Food Services2.3%
Agriculture & Mining0.3%

Largest cities in Massachusetts

Largest counties in Massachusetts

Part of Massachusetts

Metro areas in Massachusetts

City rankings

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading, Massachusetts has a population of 25,448 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, making it the 63rd-largest city in Massachusetts.

The median household income in Reading, Massachusetts is $163,725, with 1.8% of residents living below the federal poverty level.

The median home value in Reading, Massachusetts is $741,100, with median monthly rent at $1,722 and a homeownership rate of 83.1%.

The median age in Reading, Massachusetts is 44.1 years. The population is 48.0% male and 52.0% female.

Data from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.