Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
Reading, PA
🏆 Lakewood leads 12 of 23 categories
Lakewood
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149 ✓ 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.
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Households earn $39,934 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.9 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Reading
Reading, PA
Pros
Homes cost $397k less ($96,900 vs $494,100)
Rent averages $723/mo less ($942 vs $1,665)
57% less violent crime than Lakewood
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Lakewood by $39,934/yr
Higher unemployment (11.3% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakewood
Median Income
$39,934
$82,786 vs $42,852/yr
Lakewood
Unemployment
6.9 pp lower
4.4% vs 11.3% unemployment
Reading
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Reading
Violent Crime
57% lower
337.2 vs 787.2 per 100k
Reading
Median Home Value
$397k less
$96,900 vs $494,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Reading, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,100⚠ High | $96,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $942 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 ✓ Higher | $42,852 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 11.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 4.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 221⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 71.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Reading SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" ✓ Drier | 49.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 27.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 ✓ Larger | 94,601 |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 31.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Reading's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Reading is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lakewood leads 12 of 23 categories. Lakewood 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 Lakewood to Reading or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $96,900 median home), income ($82,786 vs $42,852), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and Reading, PA are about 1,538 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.