Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Everett, WA
VS
Reading, PA
🏆 Everett leads 14 of 23 categories
Everett
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,806 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
110,847 ✓ Larger
Reading
Pennsylvania
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,852
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
94,601
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Everett, WA
Pros
Households earn $34,954 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.5 pts lower (5.8%)
21% less violent crime than Reading
Violent crime is well below the national average (265.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 26.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $471,200
Higher rents — median is $1,611/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Reading
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Reading, PA
Pros
Homes cost $374k less ($96,900 vs $471,200)
Rent averages $669/mo less ($942 vs $1,611)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Everett
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Everett by $34,954/yr
Higher unemployment (11.3% vs 5.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Everett
Median Income
$34,954
$77,806 vs $42,852/yr
Everett
Violent Crime
21% lower
265.1 vs 337.2 per 100k
Everett
Unemployment
5.5 pp lower
5.8% vs 11.3% unemployment
Reading
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Reading
Median Home Value
$374k less
$96,900 vs $471,200
Reading
Summer Heat
11.7°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 74.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Everett, WA | Reading, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $471,200⚠ High | $96,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,611⚠ High | $942 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,806 ✓ Higher | $42,852 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 11.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 4.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.9% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 71.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Everett School District | Reading SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.8°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" ✓ Drier | 49.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" ✓ Less | 27.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 110,847 ✓ Larger | 94,601 |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 31.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.5% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Everett's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Reading's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Reading is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Everett leads 14 of 23 categories. Everett 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 Everett to Reading or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($471,200 vs $96,900 median home), income ($77,806 vs $42,852), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Everett, WA and Reading, PA are about 2,317 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.