Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Green Bay, WI
VS
Reading, PA
🏆 Green Bay leads 16 of 23 categories
Green Bay
Wisconsin
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,174 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High
Population
106,846 ✓ Larger
Reading
Pennsylvania
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5
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.
Green Bay, WI
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 7.2 pts lower (4.1%)
Households earn $16,322 more per year on average
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 25.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $78/mo less ($864 vs $942)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Violent crime (495.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Reading, PA
Pros
Homes cost $76k less ($96,900 vs $172,700)
32% less violent crime than Green Bay
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 25°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cons
Median income trails Green Bay by $16,322/yr
Higher unemployment (11.3% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Green Bay
Median Income
$16,322
$59,174 vs $42,852/yr
Green Bay
Unemployment
7.2 pp lower
4.1% vs 11.3% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 92.1 on the COL index
Reading
Violent Crime
32% lower
337.2 vs 495.1 per 100k
Reading
Median Home Value
$76k less
$96,900 vs $172,700
Reading
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 79.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Green Bay, WI | Reading, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper | 92.5 |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 | $96,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $864 ✓ Lower | $942 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,174 ✓ Higher | $42,852 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 11.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.0 min ✓ Shorter | 24.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ 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 | 130⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 62 ✓ Safer | 68 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% ✓ Higher | 71.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Green Bay Area Public School District | Reading SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 24.5°F | 38.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 79.8°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.2" ✓ Drier | 49.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.6" | 27.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,846 ✓ Larger | 94,601 |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 31.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.2% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Green Bay's cost of living index is 92.1 vs Reading's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Green Bay is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Green Bay leads 16 of 23 categories. Green Bay wins 16 and Reading wins 7. 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 Green Bay to Reading or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $96,900 median home), income ($59,174 vs $42,852), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Green Bay, WI and Reading, PA are about 679 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.