Reading is a small town of 1,207 in Michigan, with a median household income of $46,681
and a 4.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Reading stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. 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: 90.0
Reading's overall cost of living index is 90.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Reading costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Reading, MI
National Avg
Median Home Value
$86,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$764
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
66.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$46,681
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Reading's violent crime rate is 277.3 per 100,000 residents
— 27% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
277.3 /100k
Property Crime
184.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Reading is served primarily by Reading Community Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.0:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Reading, MI
National Avg
School District
Reading Community Schools
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
11.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
80.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Reading sees average highs of 30.6°F in January
and 82.5°F in July,
with 39.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 44.1 inches of snow per year.
Reading's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Reading roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $86,900 and median rent is $764/month.
Reading's violent crime rate is 277.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 184.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Reading are operated by Reading Community Schools.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.0:1. 11.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Reading, MI has a population of 1,207, a median household income of $46,681, and an unemployment rate of 4.3%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Reading averages 30.6°F in January and 82.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 39.5 inches
with about 44.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Reading, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 49274.
The population of Reading, Michigan is 1,207 with a median age of 33.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Reading: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $86,900, median household income $46,681, crime index 47 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. 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.
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