At a Glance
Median Income
$45,599
$21,394 per capita
Home Value
$109,800
Zillow: $256,603
Median Rent
$1,018/mo
32.7% of income on rent
Violent Crime
865/100K
2,904/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
11.7%
72.7% high school+
Unemployment
7.5%
23.1% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
43.8%
26.6% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
55°F
274 sunny days/yr
How Reading Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Reading's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Reading a Good Place to Live?
C+
2.5 / 5.0 — Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Reading residents earn a median household income of $45,599 , which is 39% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $21,394. The unemployment rate stands at 7.5% (108% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 23.1% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 8,917 business establishments, including 774 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Reading is $109,800 , 61% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $256,603. Median rent is $1,018/month, with 32.7% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 97.6 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1938.
Safety & Crime
Reading reports 865 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 128% above the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 2,904/100K. The murder rate is 10.2/100K.
Education
11.7% of adults in Reading hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(65% below the national average).
72.7% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.6/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Reading has an average annual temperature of 55°F (13°C).
Winters average 40°F in January while summers reach 76°F in July. The area gets 274 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 46.0 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.
Data Overview
People
Population94,836
Median Age31.7 yrs
Density9,638/mi²
Male / Female49% / 51%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans3.4%
Economy
C
Median Income$45,599
Per Capita$21,394
Unemployment7.5%
Poverty23.1%
County GDP$26,580M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,223
Housing
A+
Home Value$109,800
Rent$1,018
Ownership39.7%
Zillow$256,603
Housing Units36,076
Rent Burden32.7%
Crime
F
Violent865/100K
Property2,904/100K
Murder10.2/100K
Assault464/100K
Burglary970/100K
Health
Obesity43.8%
Diabetes16.0%
Smoking26.6%
Heart Disease8.6%
Premature Death7,368/100K
Climate
Avg Temp55°F
Sunny Days274/yr
Rain46.0 in/yr
AQI40 (Good)
Elevation276 ft
Education
D
Bachelor's+11.7%
High School+72.7%
Graduate+4.0%
School Score5.6/10
Community
2024 VoteR 56% / D 43%
Commute24 min
Broadband83.7%
Internet Speed203 Mbps
EV Stations19
Libraries25
Did You Know?
Reading was founded in 1748.
The median home in Reading was built in 1938.
The nearest airport is Reading Regional/Carl A Spaatz Field (3 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.445 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA.
19.9% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 203 Mbps.
There are 774 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 46 fatal vehicle crashes.
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