Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Reading, PA
🏆 Reading leads 12 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Reading
Pennsylvania
12
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.
Boston, MA
Pros
Households earn $46,360 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.7 pts lower (6.6%)
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Higher rents — median is $1,981/mo
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Reading
Reading, PA
Pros
Homes cost $588k less ($96,900 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $1039/mo less ($942 vs $1,981)
46% less violent crime than Boston
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cons
Median income trails Boston by $46,360/yr
Higher unemployment (11.3% vs 6.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Boston
Median Income
$46,360
$89,212 vs $42,852/yr
Boston
Unemployment
4.7 pp lower
6.6% vs 11.3% unemployment
Reading
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Reading
Violent Crime
46% lower
337.2 vs 627.9 per 100k
Reading
Median Home Value
$588k less
$96,900 vs $684,900
Reading
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Reading, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $96,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $942 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 ✓ Higher | $42,852 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 11.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 4.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% ✓ Higher | 71.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Reading SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 38.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" ✓ Drier | 49.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 27.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 94,601 |
| Median Age | 32.9 ✓ Older | 31.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 39.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Reading's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Reading is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Reading leads 12 of 23 categories. Boston wins 11 and Reading wins 12. 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 Boston to Reading or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $96,900 median home), income ($89,212 vs $42,852), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Reading, PA are about 290 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.