The median home value divided by the median household income, adjusted for inflation, and broken down for homeowners in various racial and ethnic groups.
This ratio provides a rough estimate of the affordability of homes in a community. A ratio less than 2 or 3 is considered affordable.
In 2014-18, homes in Berks County were generally affordable for all racial and ethnic groups. The ratios for Asian Americans, African Americans and Hispanics were 2.8, 2.2, 2.5 respectively and whites were 2.6. Housing was more affordable in Berks County across racial and ethnic groups than in the nation and Pennsylvania. Schuylkill and Lebanon counties were more affordable than Berks across racial and ethnic lines. Berks was more affordable than in Chester, Lancaster, Lehigh, and Montgomery counties across racial and ethnic lines.
Multiyear figures are from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. The bureau combined five years of responses to the survey to provide estimates for smaller geographic areas and increase the precision of its estimates. The survey provides data on characteristics of the population that used to be collected only during the decennial census.
The Census Bureau asks people to identify their race (white, African American, etc.) separate from their ethnicity (Hispanic or non-Hispanic).
There may be additional research available on this topic. Click on Reports and Resources to learn more.
Asian | Black or African American | Hispanic | White | |
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | 4.4 | 3.3 | 3.6 | 3.0 |
Pennsylvania | 3.4 | 2.7 | 3.2 | 2.6 |
Berks County | 2.8 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 2.6 |
Berks County Regions | ||||
Central | ||||
Northeast | ||||
South | ||||
Southeast | ||||
West | ||||
Reading city | ||||
Berks County Peers | ||||
Chester County | 3.0 | 3.1 | 4.3 | 3.2 |
Lancaster County | 2.9 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 2.9 |
Lebanon County | 2.6 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 2.6 |
Lehigh County | 3.6 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 2.7 |
Montgomery County | 3.4 | 3.3 | 3.8 | 3.1 |
Schuylkill County | 2.9 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 1.7 |
Asian | Black or African American | Hispanic | White | |
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | 4.4 | 3.3 | 3.6 | 3.0 |
Pennsylvania | 3.4 | 2.7 | 3.2 | 2.6 |
Berks County | 2.8 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 2.6 |
Berks County Regions | ||||
Central | ||||
Northeast | ||||
South | ||||
Southeast | ||||
West | ||||
Reading city | ||||
Berks County Peers | ||||
Chester County | 3.0 | 3.1 | 4.3 | 3.2 |
Lancaster County | 2.9 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 2.9 |
Lebanon County | 2.6 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 2.6 |
Lehigh County | 3.6 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 2.7 |
Montgomery County | 3.4 | 3.3 | 3.8 | 3.1 |
Schuylkill County | 2.9 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 1.7 |
INDICATORS | TREND | BERKS COUNTY |
---|---|
Vacant Housing Units | ![]() |
Homeownership Rates | ![]() |
Cost of Homeownership | ![]() |
Cost of Homeownership, by Race/Ethnicity | Not Applicable |
Cost of Rent | ![]() |
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity | Not Applicable |
Single-Family Home Sales | ![]() |
Median Single-Family Home Sale Price | ![]() |