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Southeast Community

Southeast Community

Neighborhood in Reading, Pennsylvania

Berks County 19602

$112,372 Average Value
$107 Average Price per Sq Ft
4 Homes For Sale

Living close to Reading's city center in Southeast Community

Just under a mile from downtown Reading, Southeast Community offers a residential feel at the heart of the city. The streets are lined with houses, with the occasional corner store or market. With downtown so close, residents are just minutes from Reading’s best restaurants and sports venues. As part of a smaller city, Southeast Community doesn’t have to go far to connect with nature and the hiking opportunities surrounding the city. The community also offers more affordable housing that attracts a lot of buyers to the area, especially when the cost of living increases further from the city center and closer to Pennsylvania’s other major cities.

Turn-of-the-century rowhomes with Italianate detailing

Southeast Community features streets with lines and lines of traditional rowhomes dating back to the early 1900s. Many have front porches covered with awnings, bay windows and a dormer window at the top. Other options are simplistic Italianate options with a flatter façade. People with the front porches individualize this space with different awning designs and materials and furniture. Sidewalks run along both sides of the street. Most houses only offer street parking, but most residential streets are one-way, so people can park on both sides of the road. Some properties do have gravel driveways, but these are uncommon. Southeast Community homes typically list between $75,000 and $150,000, but a large percentage of people living here are renters, making this a great opportunity for investors.

Reading's historic pubs and Amish markets

Because Southwest Community is so close to downtown Reading, residents can easily get to some of Reading’s best restaurants. Ugly Oyster Drafthouse boasts being the oldest pub in Berks County, originally established in the 1700s. In the renovated building, people can enjoy standard Irish and pub food like wings and fish and chips. Saucony Creek’s Franklin Street location is housed in an old bus station and preserves much of the original structure. On Sunday mornings, people listen to jazz during brunch. La Niña Fresa is a local ice cream shop with a neon sign inside setting the fun atmosphere. When shopping for groceries, people can head to Berkshire Square, about 5 miles away, for Walmart. Pennsylvania Dutch Farmer’s Market of Wyomissing features authentic and fresh Amish goods, just 4.3 miles from Southeast Community. “There are some corner stores within walking distance,” says Realtor Joan Antosy with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Homesale Realt, highlighting options like Santa Rita Grocery and Tung Chengo Grocery.

Reading hockey games and samll-town festivals

Every June, West Reading hosts Art on the Avenue, an art and music festival along Penn Avenue. Penn Street Market is the community’s local open-air farmers market that takes place every Thursday from June through September. Here, residents can shop locally sourced fresh produce, baked foods and meat products while enjoying live music and food trucks. Out of the city of Kutztown, the Kutztown Folk Festival has been featured in USA Today and National Geographic for its nine-day summer celebration of Pennsylvania Dutch culture. It also features the largest quilt sale featuring traditional quilts made by local artisans. In the winter, the Reading Royals, the city’s hockey team, play at Santander Area in downtown Reading.

Students can learn trades at the Castle on the Hill

Amanda E. Stout Elementary School sits at the center of Southeast Community, serving grades kindergarten through fourth grade and receiving a D-plus from Niche. For fifth through eighth grade, students attend Southern Middle School, which Niche grants a D. Dubbed The Castle on the Hill by locals, Reading Senior High School offers trade education for careers like construction, health sciences and IT through Reading-Muhlenberg Career and Technology Center (RMCTC). Niche awards the high school a C-minus ranking.

Hiking opportunities and scenic overlooks around Reading

At City Park, residents can stroll through the rolling hills and trees along the paved walking path. Veteran’s Grove celebrates local members of the military with monuments. The playground features a musical station where kids can play the chimes and the xylophone and a splash pad in the summer. Antosy says that the five basketball courts are always busy, but people can play in the evenings thanks to ample lighting. Reading Iron Playground offers another space for kids to play alongside basketball courts. Hikers can head up Neversink Mountain along Upper Glen Trail, which leads to Witches Hat. This stone pavilion looks a bit like a Halloween witch hat and overlooks the city’s skyline.

Walkable amenities and restaurants along Penn Street

Southeast Community lacks public transportation throughout the neighborhood, but with the local grocery marts and bodegas on the corners of residential streets, residents can walk to these amenities. When driving, Penn Street connects to downtown Reading and its restaurants, as well as the Benjamin Franklin Highway. Reading doesn’t have its own airport, so residents will have to travel beyond the city when flying within the U.S. and beyond. All airports are about an hour away, with Lehigh Valley International Airport 43 miles away and Philadelphia International Airport 72 miles away. Reading Hospital is just 2.6 miles from Southeast Community via Penn Street.

Important to know about living in Reading

Southeast Community has a CAP Index Crime Score of 7 out of 10, compared to the national average of 4. The overall crime score is driven by higher-than-average scores for violent crime. Organizations like Berks Community Action Program and Olivet Boys and Girls Club are working to promote safety and support people throughout Berks County. Penn State Berks also received a grant $1.62 million grant in 2023 from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency for a new program focusing on supporting the county’s youth and preventing violence in the community.

Caroline Ernst
Written By
Caroline Ernst

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Schools

Source:
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 area? Reach out to Andy Perez, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

Lehigh Valley International

61 min drive

Bus

12th St. & Cotton St. Farside Wb

Bus

9th St. & Cotton St. Nearside Wb

Bus

11th St & Franklin St Farside Eb

Bus

9th St & Franklin St Farside Eb

Bus

9th St. & Muhlenberg St. Farside Nb

Bus

9th St. & Chestnut St. Farside Nb

Bus

10th St & Franklin St Farside Eb

Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Southeast Community US
Homicide 9 4
Sexual Assault 7 4
Assault with Weapon 9 4
Robbery 9 4
Burglary 6 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 6 4
Larceny 5 4
Crime Score 7 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Demographics and Home Trends

Home Trends

Median Price (12 Mo)
$127,450
Median Single Family Price
$132,000
Median Townhouse Price
$94,250
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$107
Number of Homes for Sale
4
Last 12 months Home Sales
38
Months of Supply
1.30
Median List Price
$130,450
Median Discount From 1st List Price
0%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
27%

Home Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
1,201
Median Year Built
1900
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,244
Significantly below the national average
1,935
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,107
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
1,306

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Andy Perez, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Average Home Value




Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Renters

Demographics

Total Population
5,191
Median Age
32
Population Density
54 ppl/acre
Population under 18
32.4%
Above the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
11.8%
Below the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$32,820
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$44,049

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
70.6%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
11.5%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
2.6%
% Population in Labor Force
58.5%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
44''
Average Winter Low Temperature
23°F
Average Summer High Temperature
86°F
Annual Snowfall
18''

Area Factors

Bikeable

Bike Score®

58 / 100

Very Walkable

Walk Score®

79 / 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.

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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.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Southeast Community