The Sands Team
Responds Quickly
Sands & Company Real Estate
(484) 755-3964
174 Total Sales
1 in Sixth Ward
$190,000 Price
Sixth Ward
Neighborhood in Reading, Pennsylvania
Berks County 19601
Entering Reading from the west, the Sixth Ward welcomes you to the city after you cross the Schuylkill River via the Buttonwood St. Bridge.
Now, the dense urban cityscape doesn’t necessarily take off right away. Instead, it gradually increases as you get closer to the city center. Old brick and stone masonry row houses and twin duplexes lining the street grid network rise to two or three floors. Some homes include parking spaces in rear alleys, but street-parked cars constrict the side streets off Buttonwood, the ward’s primary east-west thoroughfare. One of the main benefits of living in Sixth Ward is its proximity to the downtown area and West Reading across the river. Both zones feature numerous restaurants, boutiques and cultural venues that delight patrons. One of the area’s biggest employers, Tower Health, operates a hospital in West Reading, rendering emergency medical and preventative healthcare services for the community. Situated along the river, folks in Sixth District can escape the city environment for the comfort of nature.
Housing costs in the Sixth Ward are below average for the city due in part to the age and condition of the neighborhood’s properties. Home values average about $100,000, about half of the citywide average. For around $50,000, you can buy a 1,100-square-foot row house at a low rate under $50 per square foot. Realtors often market these properties as investment opportunities, indicating that buyers might need to spend more on repairs and updates after closing. Sales records show that recently remodeled homes sell at around $170,000 to $200,000.
Lauer’s Park Elementary School lies in the heart of the community. On its campus, students learn in the classroom and the GoggleWorks Garden, a small community grow space supported by a local community organization. Great Schools gives the school a 6/10 rating with exceptionally high marks for year-over-year student progress. After finishing 4th grade at Lauer’s Park, kids typically attend Southwest Middle School and Reading Senior High School.
The community includes various restaurants, taverns and corner store markets. Several businesses, such as Antojitos y Algo Mas and El Fogon de Jule, highlight the neighborhood’s local Hispanic community. Fine Fare Supermarket also increases the community’s visibility by displaying Latin American and Caribbean national flags above its front entrance. You can explore other culinary flavors and cultures in the community, too. Beckett’s specializes in fried chicken, ribs and other soul food staples, while the Magic Wok fires up classic Chinese-American fare, including stir-fried noodles and General Tso’s chicken.
South of the neighborhood, residents can easily walk to catch a movie at the R/C Reading Theater, which includes a large-format IMAX screen. A block from there, folks can learn how to shape wet clay into vases or paint happy little trees at the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts. If you’re short on ideas of what to paint at a class there, you can find inspiration for scenic nature landscapes nearby. From Riverfront Drive, you can hop onto the Schuylkill River Trail to find an isolated spot to swim or enjoy a picnic by the water.
Lisa Tiger, a local Realtor with Century 21 Gold, says Reading’s proximity to Philadelphia and New York City is a bonus, as both cities are just a few hours’ drive away. Though local young people in recent generations have typically left their homes to go to college or jobs in bigger cities, Tiger said recent workforce trends permitting remote work make it possible for people to come back or settle in Reading while making a more cosmopolitan salary. “it’s a great location with a real community setting,” she says. “And you’re close to the cities if you need to get to them.”
Written By
Christopher Suarez
Photography Contributed By
Jay Ratchford
Video By
Kristen Wilson
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Agents Specializing in this Area
-
The Sands Team
-
Taj Simmons
Taj Simmons
Responds QuicklyEXP Realty, LLC
(484) 755-3889
151 Total Sales
1 in Sixth Ward
$160,000 Price
-
Johanna Castaneda
JC
Johanna Castaneda
Responds QuicklyColdwell Banker Realty
(484) 878-4298
92 Total Sales
3 in Sixth Ward
$55K - $143K Price Range
-
Autumn Sanger
Autumn Sanger
Responds QuicklyCompass RE
(717) 454-2133
63 Total Sales
2 in Sixth Ward
$43K - $100K Price Range
-
Scott Jaraczewski
Scott Jaraczewski
Responds QuicklyIron Valley Real Estate of Berks
(484) 755-3522
216 Total Sales
2 in Sixth Ward
$34K - $143K Price Range
-
Rebecca Quell
Rebecca Quell
Responds QuicklyKeller Williams Platinum Realty - Wyomissing
(484) 878-3526
70 Total Sales
1 in Sixth Ward
$220,000 Price
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
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- 8th
- Public
- Pre-K to 5th
- Public
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Parks in this Area
Centre Park
Second & Oley Playground
Barbey's Park
Riverfront Park
- Baseball/Softball
- Basketball
- Skateboard
Baer Park
- Baseball/Softball
- Basketball
- Playground
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Sixth Ward | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 9 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 6 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 8 | 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
On average, homes in Sixth Ward, Reading sell after 25 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Sixth Ward, Reading over the last 12 months is $154,811, up 10% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Home Trends
Median Price (12 Mo)
$162,500
Median Single Family Price
$165,000
Median Townhouse Price
$189,900
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$111
Number of Homes for Sale
3
Last 12 months Home Sales
18
Months of Supply
2.00
Median List Price
$165,000
Median Discount From 1st List Price
0%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
8%
Home Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
804
Median Year Built
1900
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,488
Significantly below the national average
1,936
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,808
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
1,306
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
3,866
Median Age
35
Population Density
28 ppl/acre
Population under 18
28.7%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
15.2%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$32,392
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$41,311
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
70.9%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
7.3%
Significantly below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
2.3%
% Population in Labor Force
56.7%
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®
82
/ 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.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Reading City Center
Cost friendly rowhouses and a slower pace in urban Reading
Greenwich
A small Reading city neighborhood where revitalization is taking shape
Downtown Reading
20th-century rowhouses within walking distance of shops, dining and attractions
West Reading
An old-fashioned vibe with easy access to all of life’s modern conveniences.
Northwest Reading
A Reading city neighborhood with touches of charm
Outlet Area
A multicultural neighborhood in the heart of Reading
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