What are the schools like in Reading, MA?

Reading is served primarily by Reading. The district operates 5 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.9:1.

What is the median household income in Reading?

The median household income in Reading, MA is $154,662 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.8%.

What is the weather like in Reading, MA?

Reading has an average high temperature of 37.6°F in January and 83.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 50.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 63.5 inches.

Reading, MA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Reading, MA affordable or expensive?

Reading's cost of living index is 112, where 100 represents the national average. This means Reading is 12% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $713,200 and the median rent is $1,650 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Reading, MA?

Reading has a violent crime rate of 38.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 533.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Reading, MA a Good Place to Live?

Reading is a small city of 25,415 in Massachusetts, with a median household income of $154,662 and a 2.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.

Strengths: Reading stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices, longer commutes. Whether Reading is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Reading city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 111.6

Reading's overall cost of living index is 111.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Reading costs roughly 12% more than the average American city.

Metric	Reading, MA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$713,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,650	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	83.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$154,662	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Reading's violent crime rate is 38.7 per 100,000 residents — 90% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

38.7 /100k

Property Crime

533.4 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Reading is served primarily by Reading. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Reading, MA	National Avg
School District	Reading	—
Elementary Schools	5	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	64.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Reading sees average highs of 37.6°F in January and 83.8°F in July, with 50.0 inches of annual precipitation and 63.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Reading, MA
Average High — January	37.6°F
Average High — July	83.8°F
Annual Precipitation	50.0"
Annual Snowfall	63.5"

Demographics

Metric	Reading, MA	National Avg
Population	25,415	—
Median Age	44.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	31.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	87.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.5%	18.9%
Asian	6.4%	6.3%
Under 18	23.8%	22.2%
65 and over	20.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Wakefield, MA 3 mi Lynnfield, MA 3 mi Wilmington, MA 4 mi Woburn, MA 4 mi Stoneham, MA 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Reading

Reading, MA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

01867

Reading vs Other Cities

Reading, MA vs Wakefield, MA Reading, MA vs Lynnfield, MA Reading, MA vs Wilmington, MA Reading, MA vs Woburn, MA Reading, MA vs Stoneham, MA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Reading, MA affordable or expensive?

Reading's cost of living index is 112, where 100 is the national average. That puts Reading roughly 12% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $713,200 and median rent is $1,650/month.

What is the crime rate in Reading, MA?

Reading's violent crime rate is 38.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 533.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Reading?

Public schools in Reading are operated by Reading. The district has 5 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.9:1. 64.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Reading, MA a good place to live?

Reading, MA has a population of 25,415, a median household income of $154,662, and an unemployment rate of 2.8%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Reading?

Reading averages 37.6°F in January and 83.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 50.0 inches with about 63.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Reading?

Reading, MA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 01867.

What is the population of Reading?

The population of Reading, Massachusetts is 25,415 with a median age of 44.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Reading?

Key numbers for living in Reading: cost of living index 112 (100 = US average), median home $713,200, median household income $154,662, crime index 16 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Reading side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.