Reading isn’t just growing, it’s changing fast, with its population rising to 161,263 in the 2021 Census, up 10.6% from 2011. Meanwhile, the median gross annual income for full time workers reached £38,500 in 2022 and average house prices climbed to £387,000 in 2023. Put education, work, housing, and transport side by side and the patterns start to look quite different from what you might expect.
Key Takeaways
- The median gross annual income for full-time workers in Reading was £38,500 in 2022
- Reading's employment rate for ages 16-64 was 75.8% in 2022, above the UK average of 74.6%
- 12.3% of Reading's workforce was in financial and insurance activities in 2021
- 72% of Reading pupils achieved grade 4+ in English and Maths GCSEs in 2022
- Reading has 15 state-funded secondary schools with 12,450 pupils in 2023
- 92.1% of Reading pupils achieved expected standards in reading at KS2 in 2019
- Average Reading house price was £350,000 in 2021, up 8% from 2020
- 62% of Reading dwellings are flats/maisonettes per 2021 Census
- Council tax band D in Reading Borough was £2,013.72 for 2023/24
- Reading's population in the 2021 Census was 161,263 residents, marking a 10.6% increase from 2011
- 51.6% of Reading's population identified as White in the 2021 Census, down from 65.7% in 2011
- 24.9% of Reading residents were born outside the UK according to the 2021 Census, higher than the England average of 16.8%
- Reading's railway station saw 12.5 million passenger entries/exits in 2019/20
- M4 motorway average daily traffic at Reading junction 11: 120,000 vehicles in 2022
- 65% of Reading commuters travel by train to work per 2021 Census
Reading saw rising incomes, housing and student numbers alongside a diverse, increasingly growing population in recent years.
Related reading
01 · Category
Economy And Employment27 stats
01
The median gross annual income for full-time workers in Reading was £38,500 in 2022
02
Reading's employment rate for ages 16-64 was 75.8% in 2022, above the UK average of 74.6%
03
12.3% of Reading's workforce was in financial and insurance activities in 2021
04
Average house price in Reading was £387,000 in 2023, up 4.2% from 2022
05
Reading's GVA per hour worked was £42.60 in 2021, 18% above UK average
06
8.7% unemployment rate among 16-24 year olds in Reading in 2022
07
22.1% of Reading jobs were in professional, scientific, technical sectors in 2021
08
Reading's business density was 1,850 enterprises per 10,000 population in 2022
09
15.4% of Reading's employed residents worked from home in 2021
10
The ICT sector employed 14,200 people in Reading in 2022
11
Reading's claimant count was 3.2% in March 2023
12
9.8% of Reading's workforce was self-employed in 2021
13
Finance sector contributed £2.1 billion to Reading's economy in 2021
14
28.5% of Reading residents aged 16-64 were in high-level occupations (managers, professionals) in 2021
15
Reading had 1,200 new business starts in 2022
16
Retail sector in Reading generated £1.8 billion turnover in 2022
17
6.4% economic inactivity due to long-term sickness in Reading 2021
18
Reading's productivity growth was 1.2% annually 2017-2021
19
17.6% of jobs in Reading were part-time in 2021
20
Life sciences sector employed 3,500 in Thames Valley including Reading in 2022
21
Median hourly pay in Reading was £15.80 for full-time workers in 2022
22
4.1% of Reading enterprises were high-tech in 2022
23
Tourism supported 2,800 jobs in Reading in 2019 pre-COVID
24
11.2% growth in Reading's digital economy jobs 2018-2022
25
Reading's office vacancy rate was 7.5% in 2023
26
25.3% of Reading's GDP from professional services in 2021
27
Youth unemployment (18-24) in Reading was 9.5% in 2022
Interpretation
Economy And Employment Interpretation
Reading stands out in the Economy and Employment picture with strong labour market performance and productivity, including a 75.8% employment rate in 2022 and GVA per hour worked at £42.60 in 2021, 18% above the UK average, alongside a 4.2% rise in house prices to £387,000 in 2023.
02 · Category
Education And Skills26 stats
01
72% of Reading pupils achieved grade 4+ in English and Maths GCSEs in 2022
02
Reading has 15 state-funded secondary schools with 12,450 pupils in 2023
03
92.1% of Reading pupils achieved expected standards in reading at KS2 in 2019
04
University of Reading had 17,000 students in 2022/23
05
45.6% of Reading adults hold NVQ4+ qualifications in 2021, above England 38.2%
06
1 in 5 Reading children eligible for free school meals in 2022
07
Reading College has 5,200 further education students annually
08
85.3% attendance rate in Reading primary schools in 2022/23
09
28% of Reading's working-age population has no qualifications in 2021
10
6.2% of Reading pupils had special educational needs without statement/EHC in 2022
11
Apprenticeships in Reading totalled 1,800 starts in 2021/22
12
91% of Year 6 pupils in Reading met expected phonics standard in 2022
13
14 nursery schools in Reading serve 1,200 children under 5
14
37.4% progression to higher education from Reading schools in 2021
15
Reading's adult learning participation rate is 12.5% in community learning
16
82.6% of Reading KS4 pupils entered EBacc in 2022
17
3,500 international students at University of Reading in 2023
18
Early years funding rate in Reading is £5.25 per hour for 3-4 year olds in 2023/24
19
68% of Reading adults engaged in lifelong learning in past 3 years per 2021 survey
20
Pupil-teacher ratio in Reading secondary schools was 16.8:1 in 2022
21
75.2% of disadvantaged pupils in Reading achieved positive KS4 destination in 2021
22
22 independent schools in Reading with 4,100 pupils in 2023
23
Functional skills level 2 passes in Reading: 1,200 in English/maths 2021/22
24
94.2% literacy rate among Reading working-age adults in 2021
25
8.1% NEET rate for 16-18 year olds in Reading 2022
26
1,100 higher education qualifications awarded at FE level in Reading 2021/22
Interpretation
Education And Skills Interpretation
In Reading, strong education outcomes are reflected in 92.1% of pupils meeting expected reading standards at KS2 in 2019, alongside 72% achieving grade 4+ in English and Maths GCSEs in 2022, showing solid progress on skills while the 1 in 5 children on free school meals in 2022 highlights ongoing need to support disadvantaged learners.
03 · Category
Housing And Property25 stats
01
Average Reading house price was £350,000 in 2021, up 8% from 2020
02
62% of Reading dwellings are flats/maisonettes per 2021 Census
03
Council tax band D in Reading Borough was £2,013.72 for 2023/24
04
18,500 households on Reading's housing register in 2023
05
Home ownership rate in Reading was 52.3% in 2021
06
Private rental sector comprises 33% of Reading housing stock in 2021
07
1,200 affordable homes built in Reading 2018-2023
08
Overcrowding affected 4.5% of Reading households in 2021
09
Energy Performance Certificate average rating in Reading is C for dwellings
10
7,200 social rented homes in Reading (12% of stock) in 2021
11
New build homes in Reading: 850 completions in 2022
12
Homelessness acceptances in Reading: 450 households in 2022/23
13
Average private rent for 2-bed in Reading: £1,350 pcm in 2023
14
25% of Reading homes built pre-1919
15
Right to Buy sales in Reading: 120 properties in 2022
16
Fuel poverty rate in Reading: 12.4% of households in 2022
17
2,300 void social housing properties repaired in Reading 2022/23
18
Section 21 no-fault evictions: 180 in Reading courts 2022
19
68% of Reading households have central heating in 2021
20
Housing waiting list decreased by 10% in Reading 2022-2023
21
Average time to re-let social homes in Reading: 25 days in 2023
22
15% increase in Reading house prices Q1 2023 vs 2022
23
1,100 temporary accommodation households in Reading 2023
24
42% of Reading homes are leasehold
25
Disabled-adapted homes: 8% of Reading stock in 2021
Interpretation
Housing And Property Interpretation
In Reading’s Housing and Property market, soaring prices and high housing need stand out, with the average house price reaching £350,000 in 2021 up 8% from 2020 and 18,500 households on the housing register in 2023.
More related reading
04 · Category
Population And Demographics30 stats
01
Reading's population in the 2021 Census was 161,263 residents, marking a 10.6% increase from 2011
02
51.6% of Reading's population identified as White in the 2021 Census, down from 65.7% in 2011
03
24.9% of Reading residents were born outside the UK according to the 2021 Census, higher than the England average of 16.8%
04
The median age in Reading was 34 years in 2021, compared to 40 for England overall
05
16.3% of Reading's population aged 16+ had no qualifications in 2021, below the national average of 18.1%
06
Reading had 68,900 households in 2021, with an average household size of 2.3 people
07
8.4% of Reading residents aged 16-74 were unemployed in 2021, slightly above England's 7.9% rate
08
Females made up 49.2% of Reading's population in 2021, with males at 50.8%
09
12.5% of Reading's population was aged 65+ in 2021, lower than England's 18.4%
10
32.1% of households in Reading were single-person households in 2021
11
Reading's population density was 4,923 people per square kilometre in 2021
12
6.8% of Reading residents had a limiting long-term illness in 2021
13
28.4% of Reading's population spoke a main language other than English in 2021
14
The proportion of Reading residents identifying as Asian was 25.6% in 2021
15
4.2% of Reading's population was Black or Black British in 2021 Census data
16
Reading's economically active population aged 16-74 was 77.2% in 2021
17
15.7% of Reading residents aged 16+ held a higher education qualification (Level 4+) in 2011, updated estimates suggest growth
18
22.3% of Reading's children aged 0-15 lived in lone-parent households in 2021
19
Reading had 2,100 centenarians or more projected by 2030 based on ONS trends
20
9.1% of Reading population was of mixed ethnicity in 2021
21
3.4% of Reading residents were students in 2021 Census
22
Reading's working-age population (16-64) comprised 69.8% in 2021
23
7.2% of Reading households had dependent children in 2021
24
The number of Polish speakers in Reading increased by 45% from 2011 to 2021
25
11.3% of Reading's population had bad or very bad health in 2021
26
Reading's population growth rate was 1.0% annually from 2011-2021
27
18.7% of Reading residents were married in 2021
28
5.6% of Reading's population provided 50+ hours unpaid care weekly in 2021
29
Reading had 1,450 rough sleepers counted in 2022 Thames Valley snapshot
30
26.4% of Reading's population aged 3+ had English as additional language in 2021
Interpretation
Population And Demographics Interpretation
For Population And Demographics, Reading grew to 161,263 residents by 2021, up 10.6% from 2011, while becoming noticeably more diverse and younger, with the median age at 34 compared with 40 across England.
05 · Category
Transport And Infrastructure25 stats
01
Reading's railway station saw 12.5 million passenger entries/exits in 2019/20
02
M4 motorway average daily traffic at Reading junction 11: 120,000 vehicles in 2022
03
65% of Reading commuters travel by train to work per 2021 Census
04
Reading Buses carried 18 million passengers in 2022/23
05
Cycle lanes total 50km in Reading Borough in 2023
06
22% of Reading work trips by public transport in 2021
07
Heathrow Airport accessible within 45 mins for 70% of Reading population
08
1,200 electric vehicle charge points in Reading 2023
09
Average commute time from Reading: 28 minutes in 2021 Census
10
Thames Valley Buses network covers 95% of Reading households
11
Road casualties in Reading: 450 in 2022, down 15% from 2021
12
15% modal share for cycling/walking in Reading city centre trips
13
Elizabeth Line added 4 million annual passengers to Reading services post-2022
14
320km of footpaths in Reading's rights of way network
15
Congestion charge avoided but A329 traffic averages 45,000 vehicles/day
16
85 new bus shelters installed in Reading 2022-2023
17
Park & Ride usage: 500,000 passengers annually at Reading sites
18
7% growth in rail freight through Reading 2021-2022
19
28 EV car club bays in Reading via Co-wheels 2023
20
12.3 million bike hire trips possible via Lime in Reading since 2021 launch
21
Flood resilience schemes protect 5,000 Reading properties along Thames
22
92% bus punctuality rate in Reading off-peak 2023
23
A33 relief road carries 60,000 vehicles daily
24
1,800 wheelchair-accessible taxis licensed in Reading 2023
25
Digital traffic signals reduce delays by 20% at 50 Reading junctions
Interpretation
Transport And Infrastructure Interpretation
Reading shows strong transport reliance with 65% of commuters traveling by train and Reading railway station handling 12.5 million entries and exits in 2019/20, while the city also supports multimodal movement through 18 million bus passengers in 2022/23 and 50 km of cycle lanes by 2023.
report visual · Projection
Reading education highlights
Key education outcomes and participation indicators for Reading pupils and working-age adults.
92.1 %
Start
-0.4%
CAGR · 3y
91 %
Projected
20222025
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Henrik Dahl. (2026, February 13). Reading Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/reading-statistics
MLA
Henrik Dahl. "Reading Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/reading-statistics.
Chicago
Henrik Dahl. 2026. "Reading Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/reading-statistics.
Sources & references
24 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level