Population
440,072
2025
+2.7% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Berks County, PA: population growth, jobs and income
Berks County gained 1,693 residents between 2024 and 2025 (+0.4%).
Berks County had an estimated 440,072 residents in 2025, up 2.7% (11,421 more people) since 2020. That is faster than Pennsylvania as a whole (+0.5%), and the 9th fastest growth of 67 counties in Pennsylvania.
Data as of 2025 · updated
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In the Berks County report
One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Berks County, ranked against Pennsylvania and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:
- Median gross rent$1,181/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes4.9%2020–24
- New homes permitted, last 12 months6212025-10/2026-09
- Rent growth, 5 yearsIn the report
- Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
- IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
- Neighbouring-county comparison tableIn the report
What's inside: 5 pages
- 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
- 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
- 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
- 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
- 5 Every source and the methods
Headline numbers
Net domestic migration
−69
2025
−0.2 per 1,000 residents
+1,271 in total, 2021–2025
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. People moving in from other U.S. counties minus people moving out.
Unemployment rate
4.4%
2025
+0.1 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
New homes permitted
582
2025
+18.1% since 2021
1.3 per 1,000 residents
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Housing units authorized by building permits in the year.
Median household income
$79,777
2020–24
+20.6% since 2016–20
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24. American Community Survey 5-year estimate.
Private-sector employment
172,167
2023
+10.8% since 2018
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023. Paid employees of private employers in mid-March (County Business Patterns).
What the numbers say
Net domestic migration was negative in 2025: 69 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in.
Private employers had 172,167 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +10.8% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 4.4% in 2025, 0.1 points higher than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Builders were authorized to start 582 new homes in 2025, or 1.3 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $79,777 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +20.6% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 1,088th.
Part of the Reading, PA metro area.
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Berks County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 440,072 | +1,693 |
| 2024 | 438,379 | +3,318 |
| 2023 | 435,061 | +2,847 |
| 2022 | 432,214 | +2,543 |
| 2021 | 429,671 | +1,020 |
| 2020 | 428,651 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in Berks County
Berks County grew by 11,421 people since 2020; the largest part came from international migration (+9,494).
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | +312 | +589 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | +1,421 | +9,494 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | −69 | +1,271 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | +29 | +67 | |
| Total change | +1,693 | +11,421 |
Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.
How it ranks
| Measure | In Pennsylvania | Among U.S. counties |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth | 9th of 67 | 1,088th of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 44th of 67 | 1,941st of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 2nd of 67 | 622nd of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 14th of 67 | 593rd of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 26th of 67 | 2,045th of 3,108 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 32nd of 67 | 1,889th of 3,005 |
1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.
Get the county report — $99
The County Growth and Demographics Report for Berks County, PA as a PDF, from federal data: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. Pay once, no subscription.
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Neighbouring counties
Over 2020–25, Berks County's population change (+2.7%) was ahead of 4 of its 6 neighbouring counties, behind 1 (Chester County) and level with Lehigh County.
4 of its 6 neighbouring counties had a higher median household income than Berks County's $79,777 (2020–24).
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berks County, PA This county | 440,072 | +2.7% | −0.2 | 1.3 | $79,777 |
| Schuylkill County, PA | 145,085 | +1.5% | 8.7 | 1.5 | $68,313 |
| Lehigh County, PA | 384,383 | +2.7% | −1.8 | 1.0 | $80,079 |
| Chester County, PA | 557,116 | +4.2% | 0.3 | 2.5 | $127,208 |
| Lancaster County, PA | 563,159 | +1.9% | −2.3 | 2.3 | $86,959 |
| Lebanon County, PA | 146,380 | +2.2% | 5.9 | 3.7 | $78,425 |
| Montgomery County, PA | 877,643 | +2.4% | −0.1 | 2.5 | $113,915 |
Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.
Questions
Is Berks County growing?
Yes. Its population grew 2.7% between 2020 and 2025, about 11,421 more people (Census Bureau population estimates). Pennsylvania as a whole changed +0.5% over the same years. That ranks 9th of 67 counties in Pennsylvania for population growth.
How many people moved to Berks County?
On net, none in 2025: about 69 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
What is the unemployment rate in Berks County?
It averaged 4.4% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of Berks County?
About 440,072 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in Berks County?
Private employers there had 172,167 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +10.8% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).
What Beacon CRE covers in Pennsylvania
Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other Pennsylvania county pages carry the public federal growth figures.
Berks County data alerts
Email me when Berks County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Sources and method
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.
Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.