What are the schools like in Reading, PA?

Reading is served primarily by Reading SD. The district operates 13 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.2:1.

What is the median household income in Reading?

The median household income in Reading, PA is $42,852 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 11.3%.

What is the weather like in Reading, PA?

Reading has an average high temperature of 38.6°F in January and 86.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 49.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 27.2 inches.

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

Q: Is Reading, PA affordable or expensive?

Reading's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Reading is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $96,900 and the median rent is $942 per month.

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

Reading has a violent crime rate of 337.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1434.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Reading, PA a Good Place to Live?

Reading is a mid-sized city of 94,601 in Pennsylvania, with a median household income of $42,852 and a 11.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% 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: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. 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: 92.5

Reading's overall cost of living index is 92.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Reading costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Reading, PA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$96,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$942	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	39.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$42,852	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Reading's violent crime rate is 337.2 per 100,000 residents — 11% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

337.2 /100k

Property Crime

1434.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Reading is served primarily by Reading SD. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Reading, PA	National Avg
School District	Reading SD	—
Elementary Schools	13	—
Middle Schools	5	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	11.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	71.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Reading sees average highs of 38.6°F in January and 86.5°F in July, with 49.3 inches of annual precipitation and 27.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Reading, PA
Average High — January	38.6°F
Average High — July	86.5°F
Annual Precipitation	49.3"
Annual Snowfall	27.2"

Demographics

Metric	Reading, PA	National Avg
Population	94,601	—
Median Age	31.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	11.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	24.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	37.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	11.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	44.9%	18.9%
Asian	1.3%	6.3%
Under 18	28.5%	22.2%
65 and over	10.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

West Reading, PA 1 mi Mount Penn, PA 2 mi Wyomissing, PA 2 mi Greenfields, PA 2 mi Kenhorst, PA 2 mi

ZIP Codes in Reading

Reading, PA is covered by 4 ZIP codes:

19601 19604 19602 19611

Reading vs Other Cities

Reading, PA vs West Reading, PA Reading, PA vs Mount Penn, PA Reading, PA vs Wyomissing, PA Reading, PA vs Greenfields, PA Reading, PA vs Kenhorst, PA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Reading, PA affordable or expensive?

Reading's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Reading roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $96,900 and median rent is $942/month.

What is the crime rate in Reading, PA?

Reading's violent crime rate is 337.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1434.6 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 SD. The district has 13 elementary, 5 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.2:1. 11.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Reading, PA a good place to live?

Reading, PA has a population of 94,601, a median household income of $42,852, and an unemployment rate of 11.3%. 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.

What is the weather like in Reading?

Reading averages 38.6°F in January and 86.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 49.3 inches with about 27.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Reading?

Reading, PA is covered by 4 ZIP codes: 19601, 19604, 19602, 19611.

What is the population of Reading?

The population of Reading, Pennsylvania is 94,601 with a median age of 31.1. 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 92 (100 = US average), median home $96,900, median household income $42,852, crime index 81 (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.