Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
Reading, PA
🏆 Atlanta leads 14 of 23 categories
Atlanta
Georgia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,655 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838 ✓ Larger
Reading
Pennsylvania
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,852
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
94,601
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Atlanta, GA
Pros
Households earn $34,803 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.5 pts lower (5.8%)
More college-educated — 57.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 39°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $395,600
Higher rents — median is $1,512/mo
Violent crime (840.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3748.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Reading, PA
Pros
Homes cost $299k less ($96,900 vs $395,600)
Rent averages $570/mo less ($942 vs $1,512)
60% less violent crime than Atlanta
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Atlanta
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cons
Median income trails Atlanta by $34,803/yr
Higher unemployment (11.3% vs 5.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Atlanta
Median Income
$34,803
$77,655 vs $42,852/yr
Atlanta
Unemployment
5.5 pp lower
5.8% vs 11.3% unemployment
Atlanta
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 86.5°F
Reading
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Reading
Violent Crime
60% lower
337.2 vs 840.6 per 100k
Reading
Median Home Value
$299k less
$96,900 vs $395,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Reading, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High | $96,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High | $942 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 ✓ Higher | $42,852 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 11.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 4.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 204⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 71.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | Reading SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 49.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 27.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 ✓ Larger | 94,601 |
| Median Age | 33.6 ✓ Older | 31.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Reading's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Reading is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Atlanta leads 14 of 23 categories. Atlanta wins 14 and Reading wins 9. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Atlanta to Reading or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $96,900 median home), income ($77,655 vs $42,852), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and Reading, PA are about 652 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.