Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Worth, TX
VS
Reading, PA
🏆 Fort Worth leads 14 of 23 categories
Fort Worth
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$72,726 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
924,663 ✓ 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.
Fort Worth, TX
Pros
Households earn $29,874 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.0 pts lower (5.3%)
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 39°F
Cons
Violent crime (458.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2699.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Reading
Reading, PA
Pros
Homes cost $153k less ($96,900 vs $250,300)
Rent averages $371/mo less ($942 vs $1,313)
26% less violent crime than Fort Worth
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Worth
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 97°F
Cons
Median income trails Fort Worth by $29,874/yr
Higher unemployment (11.3% vs 5.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Worth
Median Income
$29,874
$72,726 vs $42,852/yr
Fort Worth
Unemployment
6.0 pp lower
5.3% vs 11.3% unemployment
Fort Worth
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 86.5°F
Reading
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Reading
Violent Crime
26% lower
337.2 vs 458.4 per 100k
Reading
Median Home Value
$153k less
$96,900 vs $250,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Worth, TX | Reading, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $250,300 | $96,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,313 | $942 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,726 ✓ Higher | $42,852 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 11.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 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 | 124⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% ✓ Higher | 71.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT WORTH ISD | Reading SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.3" ✓ Drier | 49.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.0" ✓ Less | 27.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 924,663 ✓ Larger | 94,601 |
| Median Age | 33.2 ✓ Older | 31.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.1% | 10.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Worth's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Reading's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Reading is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Worth leads 14 of 23 categories. Fort Worth 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 Fort Worth to Reading or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($250,300 vs $96,900 median home), income ($72,726 vs $42,852), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Worth, TX and Reading, PA are about 1,294 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.