The city of Reading’s industrial presence then and now
Renowned for the former Reading Railroad, one of the railroads used in the Monopoly board game, Reading maintains an industrial presence that dates back to the 18th century. The county seat of Berks County, the city was established in 1752 on land owned by the sons of William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania. Originally, Reading manufactured and supplied cannons during the Revolutionary War. However, its real industrial presence began in the late 1700s when production shifted to iron and steel, which was delivered to Philadelphia via the Schuylkill River. Eventually, demand for coal during World War II catapulted the formation of the Reading Railroad. Operating between 1923 and 1976, the railroad was eventually bought out by Conrail after the demand for coal dropped. This industrial history lives on today, as manufacturing makes Reading the largest economic and employment sector in Berks County.
Another groundbreaking innovation that put Reading on the map is the first multi-tenant shopping center, or outlet mall, in the world. This helped to increase tourism in the region in the 1970s, and outlets and malls continue to play a role in Reading’s economy today. In addition to shopping, the city is popular for its bakeries. In fact, Reading is oftentimes known as The Pretzel City due to its amount of local pretzel bakeries. The city produces one-third of the country’s pretzels, celebrated annually at The West Reading Craft Pretzel & Beer Fest. West Reading and Downtown Reading are also hubs for Latin American cuisine. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, of the 95,000 residents, 67% identify as Hispanic or Latino.
Reading is about 60 miles northwest of Philadelphia, 40 miles southwest of Allentown and around 125 away from New York City. The city is car-dependent, but there is a BARTA bus station downtown that provides an Amtrak connection. “The joke is that it’s hard to get out of Reading if you don’t have a car,” says Donna Reed, Reading City Council President. “But if I wanted to, I could drive to Philadelphia, D.C. New York City, Boston, the Jersey Shore ... Everything is reachable.”
Get your tickets and take a ride on the Reading Outer Station in Outer Muhlenburg Township.
The Schuylkill River runs along the western boundary of Northwest Reading.
The Unique Snacks and Pretzel Bakery is buzzing with customers in Outer Muhlenburg Township.
Latina Restaurant in Penn's Common is one of many local eateries enjoyed by locals.
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Scenic city views from the Pagoda on Mount Penn
Arguably the most well-known attraction in Reading is the Pagoda, an East Asian Eclectic landmark built in 1908 that sits 620 feet above the city on Mount Penn, providing a 30-mile panoramic view. Originally built as a luxury resort, this construction was modeled after the Pagoda of Nagoya Castle in Japan. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1972. “It’s bolted to the mountain, so it’s never going away,” Reed adds. “It’s a beloved landmark, but we’re trying to figure out what to do with it. We’re spending about $10 million on renovations right now, so it’s not open to the public.” A mile from the Pagoda is the William Penn Memorial Fire Tower, which sits almost 1,000 feet above land and provides an even wider 60-mile panoramic view of the city. In Downtown Reading, the Reading Public Museum focuses on arts and sciences, with a planetarium and an arboretum. The Reading Firefighters Museum is located within a former firehouse, with artifacts and displays of Reading’s firefighting history. In the northwestern section of the city, the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum highlights the area’s aviation history with vintage aircraft on display.
There are about 25 park spaces in Reading with playgrounds, from small pocket parks to larger outdoor recreational areas. City Park, located downtown, features a play area surrounded by paved trails and green space, 5 full-court basketball courts, tennis courts, memorial statues and the bandshell, which is a small-scale amphitheater. Angelica Creek Park is located on the south side near Alvernia University. The site includes Berks Nature Center, which is the county’s nonprofit for nature and preservation education. Parkgoers can explore the Teaching Garden and the Nature Play Zone, a fenced-in area for children. The park also features disc golf, a playground, 2 miles of walking trails and Angelica Creek, a refreshing water stream in the summer. In addition to parks, Reading is surrounded by natural preserves and walking trails. “The way we’re situated in the Schuylkill River Valley is like a beautiful picture postcard,” says Reed. “We have scenic mountain preserves on one side of the city and the river on the other.” Neversink Mountain offers hiking and scenic vistas at City Overlook and Witches Hat. The Schuylkill River Trail has over 75 miles of trail currently, which will soon be 120 miles once they're connected from Frackville to Philadelphia. International Mountain Bicycling Association named the Reading region as a Bronze Level International Mountain Biking Destination for its 125 miles of bicycling trails.
Southeast Communities Reading Pagoda sits on 10 acres of park and walking trails.
The Reading Public Museum complex includes a Planetarium.
The basketball court at City Park in Penn's Common is a favorite place for some exercise.
Stop for some ice cream in City Park after working up a sweat in Southeast Community.
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Downtown dining on Penn Street
In 1970, Vanity Fair opened the first multi-tenant shopping center in Reading, paving the way for outlet malls today. Originally, this shopping center sold excess or damaged clothing items, which made people flock to Reading in the ‘70s for discounts and deals. This foundational outlet mall is now the Berkshire Mall commercial area in West Reading, where there is a traditional mall with department stores like Boscov’s and other big-box names like Walmart. There are several smaller shopping plazas throughout Reading, and grocery store options include Weiss Markets, Giant and BJ’s Wholesale Club.
Downtown Reading is home to a few highly-rated restaurants, including Judy’s on Cherry, an elevated Mediterranean eatery. An Irish tavern-style establishment, Ugly Oyster is adorned with stained-glass windows and mahogany wood and offers more than 80 beers. The Peanut Bar turned 100 years old in 2024, a multi-generational restaurant where diners still throw peanuts on the floor. “Mike’s Tavern in North Reading is like our bar in ‘Cheers,’” says Reed, referring to the hit TV sitcom. “It’s a small bar with a melting pot of patrons.” There are also a variety of Latin American eateries throughout the downtown area. Residents can grab Colombian cuisine at Antojitos y Algo Mas and Cafe de Colombia, Puerto Rican dishes at Mofongo and El Reencuentro, and Dominican food at La Casa del Chimi and 4th & Penn St.
True to its industrial and manufacturing roots, Reading’s largest employer is East Penn Manufacturing Company. Other notable employers include Penske Truck Leasing, EnerSys, Boscov’s and Reading Hospital. Located in West Reading, this teaching hospital is a Level I Trauma Center with nearly 700 beds.
The Berkshire Mall offers a variety of stores both large and small in Wyomissing.
Go on a shopping spree at Berkshire Mall, just over 2 miles away from Glenside.
Take in a classic Irish Pub vibe at Ugly Oyster Drafthaus, near Southeast Community in Reading.
The Peanut Bar in Downtown Reading serves American favorites in a relaxed setting.
La Casa del Chimi serves traditional Dominican dishes for hungry Downtown Reading diners.
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Minor League sports and performances at Santander Arena
Reading has two minor league sports teams. The Reading Fightin Phils is a baseball team within the Eastern League, an affiliate of the Phillies since 1967. “They play at a new $45 million stadium with a new event center, clubhouses and locker rooms,” Reed says. “They really brought it up to major league standards.” The Reading Royals is a minor league hockey team that plays at Santander Arena, located downtown. This arena is also a concert venue that seats up to 8,800 people. Nearby, the Santander Performing Arts Center is a vintage theater that features musicals, comedy acts and other performances. The Reading Symphony Orchestra also performs musical acts in the downtown area. A couple of blocks away, GoggleWorks is an arts center that holds regular workshops and exhibits contemporary art.
Residents can look forward to different annual events, including the Holiday Parade, held at the end of November along Penn Street. This community festival features local marching bands, dance teams and floats. The West Reading Craft Pretzel & Beer Festival is held in West Reading in the Spring, featuring exactly what its title suggests. West Reading also hosts farmers markets on Sundays all year round.
FirstEnergy Stadium in Northwest Reading is the home of the minor league Fightin Phils.
The Reading Royals are a professional hockey team that plays at Santander Arena.
At Jim Dietrich Park, RiverFest is annually held in late august in Muhlenberg Township.
West Reading Fall Fest attracts thousands of locals to shop local vendors.
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The new Reading STEM Academy and Catholic institutions
The Reading School District (RSD), which receives a D-plus rating from Niche, serves about 16,000 students. In the 2024-2025 school year, 86% of students reported Hispanic heritage, and 27% of students were enrolled in English as a Second Language program. The majority of RSD students speak Spanish at home. The district includes 13 elementary schools, all of which receive a C-minus or D-plus rating, and 5 middle schools, all of which receive a D-plus or D rating. There is one area high school, Reading High School, which receives a C-minus. All RSD schools are Title I schools with programs that provide free lunches due to the 95% of students that are designated as low-income. In 2024, RSD completed the construction of a new STEM High School Academy, ready for enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year. This satellite campus will serve 700-1,000 students with a focus on STEM education, which will help the overcrowding of Reading High School and provide unique learning opportunities for students. The facility was projected to cost more than $70 million and features four floors with a media center, locker rooms, labs, a kitchen and gender-neutral restrooms. “The STEM Academy will help connect high schoolers with the local colleges,” Reed says. “The community is looking ahead and reinventing itself around the academy.”
Albright College is located on the north side. Founded in 1856, this college enrolls slightly more than 1,500 students. In South Reading, Alvernia University is a private institution that emphasizes the charitable teachings of the Bernadine Franciscan Sisters. Penn State Berks, one of the 19 branch campuses of Penn State, is located in West Reading. And Reading Area Community College is downtown.
There are several private Catholic schools throughout Reading. Saint Catharine of Siena School, Sacred Heart School and Saint Margaret School are all kindergarten through eighth-grade institutions. The latter shares a campus with Saint Margaret Roman Catholic Church, one of the many Catholic churches in Reading. Students can advance from one of these private schools to Berks Catholic High School, the only one of its kind in the city. According to BestPlaces, 28% of Reading residents practice Catholicism, with the next most popular faith being Lutheran. Another parish church is Saint Peter the Apostle Church, which holds mass within a historic Gothic Revival building with large stained-glass windows, rebuilt in 1900. Other houses of worship throughout Reading include the nondenominational Life Church, the Islamic Center of Reading and Chabad-Lubavitch of Berks County.
Reading Senior High School in Northeast Reading is fondly nicknamed The Castle on the Hill.
Albright College offers residents of College Heights many sports teams to cheer for.
Berks Catholic School in Southwest Reading received an A- from Niche.
St. Margaret School serves Prek - K-8 with a Catholic education in Reading.
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Car-dependent city near Interstate 176
Reading is a car-dependent community. U.S. Route 422, or Benjamin Franklin Highway, runs along the west side of the city, connecting residents to Interstate 176 on the south end. For those without a vehicle, the Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority (BARTA) services the area, with one main downtown bus stop. There is currently no passenger rail service out of Reading, but the newly developed Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority has plans for a train to run between Reading and Philadelphia. This will increase employment opportunities and decrease commuting times into the bigger city. The Reading Regional Airport only offers charter flights, including Boscov’s Travel to Orlando. Lehigh Valley International Airport is about 45 miles away in Allentown, where passengers can fly on Allegiant, American Airlines, Delta and United. Philadelphia International Airport is around 75 miles away.
Get to downtown Reading from Bethany on a Barta bus.
Commuters of Robeson enjoy the close proximity to Route-176 to get to Philadelphia.
The Reading Regional Airport just outside of Glenside is a convenient way to travel.
Kenhorst features convenient access to Route 422.
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Row homes and single-family Colonials throughout Reading
There are 25 neighborhoods in Reading, including Downtown Reading, which is the business district of Berks County. In the northernmost section of the city around Albright College, College Heights is the most expensive neighborhood with a median listing price of $282,500. In the southeastern side of the city near downtown, Southeast Community is the most affordable neighborhood with a median listing price of $125,000. In general, the median price for homes sold in 2024 was $250,000, which is 10% higher than in 2023. This sales price is 60% lower than the national average, slightly higher than the neighboring town of Kenhorst and lower than the neighboring Wyomissing. In 2024, homes were on the market for about three weeks.
Row homes are common in Reading, many originally built around 1900. While they maintain a charming Victorian style, most have seen interior updates and others have been completely remodeled. Some feature front stoops or spacious front porches, and most offer street parking. “Centre Park Historic District is a real staple in the city,” says Reed. “The row homes there really show our Victorian and Edwardian history.” Less common housing styles include townhouses built in 2024 and Colonial-inspired single-family homes near Albright College. These homes, built around 1930, often feature brick or stone facades, attached garages and driveways.
Students socialize after class at Albright College in College Heights.
Some of the residential streets in Downtown Reading are tree lined with wide sidewalks.
Tudor style homes can be found throughout College Heights.
Escape the summer heat in Southeast Community on covered front porches.
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Reading’s four seasons and city crime data
Residents in Reading can experience all four seasons. Summers are typically warm and humid, with highs between 70 and 84 degrees. Falls are typically a cool 60 degrees, with warmer weather in the late afternoons and colder 40-degree nights. Winters are very cold and snowy, with temperatures typically ranging from 15 to 32 degrees. The average annual snowfall is 18 inches, in comparison to the national average of 28 inches. Springs are usually cold, and temperatures rarely rise above 70 degrees until late May. The average annual rainfall is 45 inches per year, in comparison to the national average of 38 inches. There is a water runoff issue in Berks County, as most of the county’s drinking water comes from the local waterways. These waterways receive high amounts of polluted runoff from rain and snow. Because of this, Berks County watersheds have higher levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment. There is a countywide action plan in place to reduce these levels in 2025.
The crime rate in Reading is higher than the national average, according to Pennsylvania Crime Reporting and FBI Crime Data Reporter. In 2024, Reading’s violent crime rate was 3,006 crimes per 100,000 residents, in comparison to the national average of 364 crimes per 100,000 residents. Reading’s property crime rate in 2024 was 2,758 crimes per 100,000 residents, in comparison to the national average of 1,916 crimes per 100,000. In Reading, violent crimes decreased 24% from 2023, and property crimes also went down 15% from 2023.
On average, homes in Reading, PA sell after 24 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Reading, PA over the last 12 months is $245,130, up 9% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Tameka is a 25-year Downingtown resident and shares with you the affection Chester County’s residents feel for their beautiful home. After completing a Bachelors Degree in Business and Marketing at the University of Delaware, her career led me into corporate Marketing with companies like Microsoft, Softmart, Bank of New York, Deluxe/NEBS and many IT start-up companies. While she thrived in the fast paced environment, she knew something was missing: relationships. she saw real estate as an opportunity to utilize her Marketing savvy alongside her love for people and she has been a full time Realtor since 2006.
Other than being a Mom, helping her clients achieve their dreams for their own families is her greatest passion. More than 75% of her business each year is a result of referrals from previous clients. The “Tameka Method” is one-of-a-kind and she looks forward to working hard for your family to achieve your goals.
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.
