City · Ohio
Reading, Ohio
Reading, city, in Hamilton County, Ohio. Reading had 10,491 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.1% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 10,600 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 10,502 (±46). GEOID 3965732.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
10,491
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 10,600 · ACS 2020-2024: 10,502 ±46
Median household income
$61,866
±$4,742 (90% margin)
Ohio: $71,389
Median home value
$211,300
±$10,366 (90% margin)
Ohio: $214,800
Median gross rent
$940
±$67 (90% margin)
Ohio: $1,034
Where is Reading and what county is it in?
Reading is a city in Hamilton County, Ohio. It covers 2.9 square miles of land, 3,669 residents per square mile in 2020.
Reading is in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 15 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Reading, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 10,491 people lived in Reading on July 1, 2025, down 1.1% since 2020, while Ohio grew 0.9%. The 2020 Census counted 10,600 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 10,502 (±46).
| Measure | Reading | Hamilton County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 10,502 ±46 | 830,774 | +149 |
| Households | 5,158 ±280 | 354,739 | +729 |
| Average household size | 2.02 ±0.11 | 2.29 | −0.30 |
| Housing units | 5,312 ±316 | 381,356 | +500 |
Reading's population since 2000
From 11,292 in 2000 to 10,491 in 2025: down 7.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Reading as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Reading?
The median resident of Reading is 45.3 years old; 17.8% are under 18 and 18.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 77.2%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 9.3%. 2.4% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Reading | Hamilton County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.3 ±3.7 | 36.9 | +6.6 |
| Under 18 years | 17.8% ±2.5 pts | 23.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 18.9% ±3.6 pts | 16.6% | – |
| Male | 47.2% ±3.1 pts | 48.6% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.7% ±3.0 pts | 4.8% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 77.2% ±5.7 pts | 62.3% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 9.3% ±3.7 pts | 23.9% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.9% ±0.7 pts | 2.7% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 8.6% ±3.7 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.4% ±1.1 pts | 6.3% | −4.3 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.5% ±1.3 pts | 8.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.9% ±3.5 pts | 5.5% | – |
| With a disability | 16.9% ±3.7 pts | 13.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.6% ±1.6 pts | 5.8% | −3.7 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 92.9% ±2.8 pts | 92.7% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 24.5% ±4.3 pts | 41.8% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 7.8% ±2.8 pts | 16.9% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 85.7% ±6.1 pts | 86.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.6% ±1.6 pts | 2.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Reading earn?
Half of Reading's 5,158 households earn less than $61,866 a year (±$4,742), against $72,470 in Hamilton County and $71,389 in Ohio. In 2015-2019 it was $69,087 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 12.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Reading | Hamilton County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $61,866 ±$4,742 | $72,470 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $74,688 ±$7,052 | $106,643 | – |
| Per capita income | $36,432 ±$3,252 | $45,936 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 12.0% ±4.8 pts | 15.0% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 16.1% ±10.2 pts | 19.8% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 12.6% ±6.1 pts | 12.2% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.1% ±4.7 pts | 95.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 88.9% ±5.3 pts | 91.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Reading?
Owners occupy 58.5% of Reading's occupied homes and renters 41.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $211,300 by its owner (±$10,366). The median renter pays $940 a month including utilities, and 36.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Reading | Hamilton County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $211,300 ±$10,366 | $241,900 | +$52,048 |
| Median gross rent | $940 ±$67 | $1,075 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 36.5% ±12.4 pts | 40.3% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,372 ±$80 | $1,673 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 58.5% ±6.9 pts | 59.3% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 41.5% ±6.9 pts | 40.7% | – |
| Housing units | 5,312 ±316 | 381,356 | +500 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±1.2 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.1% ±0.6 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 69.0% ±5.4 pts | 58.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±0.7 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±0.7 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 0.8% ±1.0 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 23.5% ±5.9 pts | 24.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 3.0% ±1.7 pts | 10.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Reading building?
Builders took permits for 1 new housing units in Reading in 2025 (1 in single-family houses), 0.1 per 1,000 residents against 2.8 across Ohio.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Reading work and get to work?
69.5% of Reading's workers drive alone and 19.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 18.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.6%.
| Measure | Reading | Hamilton County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 68.2% ±6.5 pts | 66.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.6% ±2.3 pts | 5.0% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 69.5% ±5.0 pts | 70.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.3% ±4.3 pts | 7.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.8% ±0.8 pts | 2.5% | – |
| Walked | 1.5% ±1.6 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Worked from home | 19.5% ±5.9 pts | 15.3% | +16.6 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 18.1 min ±1.7 | 22.8 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Reading?
3 census tracts lie mostly in Reading, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $44,282 (Tract 232.01) to $103,068 (Tract 232.10).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 232.10Hamilton County | 5,715 | $103,068 |
| Tract 232.22Hamilton County | 3,355 | $60,930 |
| Tract 232.01Hamilton County | 2,767 | $44,282 |
| Tract 236Hamilton County | 4,033 | $72,394 |
| Tract 274Hamilton County | 4,479 | $54,083 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Reading) · Census block assignment files
How does Reading compare with other places in Ohio?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Reading is the 3,107th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 171st-most populous of 923 in Ohio.
Reading ranks 1,217th of 1,699 places in Ohio with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 171st | 923 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 1,077th | 1,589 |
| Residents per square mile | 46th | 1,734 |
| Median household income | 1,217th | 1,699 |
| Per capita income | 853rd | 1,729 |
| Median home value | 725th | 1,707 |
| Median gross rent | 636th | 1,453 |
| Poverty rate | 503rd | 1,116 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 669th | 1,613 |
| Median age | 509th | 1,727 |
| Owner-occupied share | 1,568th | 1,732 |
| Work from home | 159th | 990 |
| Travel time to work | 1,611th | 1,731 |
Reading's figures with every place in Ohio (CSV)
Every place in Ohio, sortable · Compare Reading with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Reading?
13 of the 57 figures for Reading on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Reading are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Reading.