Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bridgeport, CT
VS
Reading, PA
🏆 Bridgeport leads 12 of 23 categories
Bridgeport
Connecticut
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,440 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
148,470 ✓ Larger
Reading
Pennsylvania
11
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.
Bridgeport, CT
Pros
Households earn $11,588 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (9.5%)
More college-educated — 24.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,369/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Reading
Longer commutes — 28.9 min average each way
Reading, PA
Pros
Homes cost $130k less ($96,900 vs $227,200)
Rent averages $427/mo less ($942 vs $1,369)
14% less violent crime than Bridgeport
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Bridgeport
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cons
Median income trails Bridgeport by $11,588/yr
Higher unemployment (11.3% vs 9.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bridgeport
Median Income
$11,588
$54,440 vs $42,852/yr
Bridgeport
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
9.5% vs 11.3% unemployment
Reading
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Reading
Violent Crime
14% lower
337.2 vs 392.9 per 100k
Reading
Median Home Value
$130k less
$96,900 vs $227,200
Reading
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 83.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Reading, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $227,200 | $96,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High | $942 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,440 ✓ Higher | $42,852 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 11.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.9 min⚠ High | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% ✓ Higher | 4.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 90 | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.7% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| High School or Higher | 80.0% ✓ Higher | 71.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bridgeport School District | Reading SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 38.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.4°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" ✓ Drier | 49.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 27.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,470 ✓ Larger | 94,601 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 31.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.2% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridgeport's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Reading's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Reading is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bridgeport leads 12 of 23 categories. Bridgeport wins 12 and Reading wins 11. 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 Bridgeport to Reading or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($227,200 vs $96,900 median home), income ($54,440 vs $42,852), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bridgeport, CT and Reading, PA are about 154 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.