Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Reading, PA
🏆 Kent leads 13 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
135,169 ✓ Larger
Reading
Pennsylvania
10
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.
Kent, WA
Pros
Households earn $44,114 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (7.6%)
More college-educated — 27.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 39°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Reading
Reading, PA
Pros
Homes cost $382k less ($96,900 vs $478,400)
Rent averages $800/mo less ($942 vs $1,742)
31% less violent crime than Kent
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cons
Median income trails Kent by $44,114/yr
Higher unemployment (11.3% vs 7.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kent
Median Income
$44,114
$86,966 vs $42,852/yr
Kent
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
7.6% vs 11.3% unemployment
Reading
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Reading
Violent Crime
31% lower
337.2 vs 489.7 per 100k
Reading
Median Home Value
$382k less
$96,900 vs $478,400
Reading
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Reading, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High | $96,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High | $942 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 ✓ Higher | $42,852 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 11.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% ✓ Higher | 4.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 71.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | Reading SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" ✓ Drier | 49.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 27.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 ✓ Larger | 94,601 |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 31.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent'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, Kent leads 13 of 23 categories. Kent wins 13 and Reading wins 10. 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 Kent to Reading or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $96,900 median home), income ($86,966 vs $42,852), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Reading, PA are about 2,321 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.