$130,870Average Value$131Average Price per Sq Ft1Home For Sale
City center named after defunct railroad company
Downtown Reading offers comparatively lower-priced homes close to shopping and dining, as well as three blocks featuring over 30 murals by local artists. The fourth-largest city in Pennsylvania, it was named after the now-defunct Reading Railroad Company. The city saw a lot of success during the Industrial Revolution, and while Reading has lost a lot of industry since, it still offers employment options for its nearly 100,000 residents. "Carpenter Steel is still a major force, but Reading Hospital is also a major employer, and we have three colleges in the city or right outside of it where people can work," says Brad Smith, an archivist and associate director at Berks History Center, as well as an adjunct professor at Alvernia University.
Downtown Reading offers comparatively lower-priced homes close to shopping and dining.
Downtown Reading is within walking distance of shops, dining and attractions.
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Rowhouses starting in the $100,000s
Traditional, yet colorful, rowhouses line the streets of Downtown Reading. Most downtown rowhomes were built in the early 20th century, and many are multi-unit residences. These houses are primarily attached to one another with brick facades, and some homes feature covered front porches. "Reading is very affordable compared to the areas around it, including the counties," says Liz Egner, team lead of The Liz Egner Group at RE/MAX of Reading, who’s been selling homes in Reading for over 30 years. Houses in Downtown Reading typically sell for $100,000 to $300,000. The CAP Index gives Downtown Reading a crime score of 8 out of 10, which is above the national average of 4. In September 2024, the Reading Police Department noted a 21% decline in overall crime for the first six months of the year. To combat crime, officers regularly meet with residents and patrol areas of known concern.
Traditional, yet colorful, rowhouses line the streets of Downtown Reading.
Most of the rowhomes in Downtown Reading were built in the early 20th century.
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Popular local restaurants include La Casa del Chimi
Popular local restaurants include La Casa del Chimi with Dominican dishes, The Peanut Bar for American favorites and Judy's on Cherry, a Mediterranean-inspired fine-dining restaurant with seasonal menus. The Ugly Oyster Drafthaus, an Irish tavern, serves more than 80 beers. Bravo Supermarkets is along Penn Street for groceries.
La Casa del Chimi comes alive with Downtown Reading residents during the busy lunch hours.
The Peanut Bar has been serving the Downtown Reading neighborhood for 100 years.
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Events downtown and at the Mid Atlantic Air Museum
In April, downtown hosts the West Reading Craft Pretzel & Beer Fest, which has live music, pretzel vendors and dozens of regional brews to sample. Reading Liederkranz Oktoberfest is a five-day event offering classic German food, beer and live music. The Mid Atlantic Air Museum hosts WWII Weekend in June, featuring hundreds of aircraft and military vehicles, reenactors, live entertainment and over 200 military flea market vendors.
Student exchange program at Reading Senior High
Students may start at Tyson-Schoener Elementary, which has a D-plus from Niche, before going to Southwest Middle, which gets a D. Reading Senior High, which receives a C-minus, is the largest high school in the state with roughly 5,500 students. Reading is a sister city with Reutlingen, Germany, which allows high schoolers to apply to be part of the student exchange program. Reading students travel to Reutlingen for two weeks in the fall, while German exchange students will come to Reading in the spring.
Local students attend the Southwest Middle School in Downtown Reading.
Local students attend the Tyson-Schoener School in Southeast Reading.
Reading Senior High School in Northeast Reading is fondly nicknamed The Castle on the Hill.
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Outdoor recreation spots and indoor attractions
Riverfront Park is in the south end of downtown with a playground, baseball field and basketball courts. The Schuylkill River Trail is an 18-mile path from downtown to Yarnell Park at Five Locks. The trail is part of a planned 140-mile path that will connect Schuylkill County to Fort Mifflin in Philadelphia. The Reading Skatepark, which opened in 2024, is just south along Canal Street. For indoor attractions, residents can head to the Santander Performing Arts Center to hear the Reading Symphony Orchestra. Right in the heart of the city, GoggleWorks Center for the Arts offers installations from regional, national and international contemporary artists. Second Street has an IMAX movie theater. The Reading Royals play hockey at Santander Arena and the Fightin Phils play minor league baseball at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Schuylkil River Trail provides a scenic walk along the river for Reading residents.
Reading Skatepark opened in August 2024 to much fanfare from local skaters.
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BARTA buses, quick highway access
Downtown Reading gets a high walkability score because of its compact, urban layout. The Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority, called BARTA, operates a fleet of hybrid electric buses from the downtown transportation center. Commuters can take U.S. Route 422, known locally as the West Shore Bypass, to travel 50 miles west to Harrisburg. U.S. Route 222 is also nearby, connecting residents 30 miles south to Lancaster. Reading Regional Airport is 4 miles north. Reading Hospital is less than a mile south.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood?
Reach out to
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an experienced agent in this area.
Parks in this Area
City Park
Baseball/Softball
Picnic Area
Playground
Second & Oley Playground
Barbey's Park
Riverfront Park
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Skateboard
Schlegel Park
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Pool
Reading Skatepark
Schuylkil River Trail
Transit
Airport
Lehigh Valley International
59 min drive
Bus
Court And Reed St. Farside Eb
Bus
5th & Washington St. Farside Nb
Bus
4th & Walnut St. Farside Sb
Bus
Penn St. & 3rd St. Farside Wb
Bus
2nd St. & Penn St. Nearside Wb
Bus
6th & Court St. - Near Side - Eastb
Bus
6th St. & Washington St. Farside Nb
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Downtown Reading
US
Homicide
10
4
Sexual Assault
9
4
Assault with Weapon
9
4
Robbery
10
4
Burglary
8
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
7
4
Larceny
7
4
Crime Score
8
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Downtown Reading, Reading sell after 62 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Downtown Reading, Reading over the last 12 months is $206,565, up 50% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Calling all investors! 9 Unit Residential Victorian Style Apartment Building now available in the heart of the city. Central location makes residential units easy to rent. Excellent cash flow for both new and well experienced savvy investors. Please reach out today for additional details and to schedule your private showing.
Prime Historic Mixed-Use Property – Sold As-IsDiscover this 6,263-square-foot historic gem, located on a high-visibility corner lot in the heart of Reading's downtown district. Brimming with timeless architectural features, this mixed-use property offers incredible potential for business owners and investors alike. Please note, the property is being sold as-is, providing a unique
Discover our newly renovated, modernized apartment homes, featuring 1 and 2 bedrooms, situated in the heart of Downtown Reading. This prime location is within close proximity to both RACC and Googleworks, and just minutes to Reading Hospital and Saint Joe's! Making it an ideal choice for students and professionals.Our building is undergoing an extensive renovation to ensure a fresh,
One of the nicest 1 bedroom apartments you'll find in the City of Reading!! This building was gutted just over 15 years ago and everything at that time was put in new and it still looks beautiful!! This is a first floor unit featuring 1 bedroom, living room, kitchen with dining area and bath. The heating and hot water system is gas - ultra modern and very economical! Beautiful oak kitchen
Apartments Coming 2024. Thank you for showing interest in the Madison. We can’t wait to officially welcome you home. At the Madison luxury is waiting for you. From the moment you walk into this building and experience the beautiful grand lobby to the beautiful modern kitchens, featuring quartz countertops, to the desirable amenities such as washer/dryer included, stainless-steel appliances, to
Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood?
Reach out to
Loren Keim,
an experienced agent in this area.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
2,670
Median Age
36
Population Density
20 ppl/acre
Population under 18
27.1%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
13.6%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$17,142
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$29,913
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
74.7%
College Graduates
9.6%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
5.9%
% Population in Labor Force
45.5%
Below the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
44''
Average Winter Low Temperature
23°F
Average Summer High Temperature
86°F
Annual Snowfall
18''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
52/ 100
Walker's Paradise
Walk Score®
91/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
