Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Midland, TX
VS
Reading, PA
🏆 Midland leads 14 of 22 categories
Midland
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
132,490 ✓ Larger
Reading
Pennsylvania
8
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.
Midland, TX
Pros
Households earn $47,596 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 8.1 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 39°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,400/mo
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Reading
Reading, PA
Pros
Homes cost $184k less ($96,900 vs $280,700)
Rent averages $458/mo less ($942 vs $1,400)
8% less violent crime than Midland
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Midland by $47,596/yr
Higher unemployment (11.3% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Midland
Median Income
$47,596
$90,448 vs $42,852/yr
Midland
Unemployment
8.1 pp lower
3.2% vs 11.3% unemployment
Midland
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 86.5°F
Reading
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 94.8 (100 = US avg)
Reading
Violent Crime
8% lower
337.2 vs 364.9 per 100k
Reading
Median Home Value
$184k less
$96,900 vs $280,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Midland, TX | Reading, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $280,700 | $96,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,400⚠ High | $942 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,448 ✓ Higher | $42,852 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 11.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 24.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.6% ✓ Higher | 4.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 88 | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.8:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| High School or Higher | 84.9% ✓ Higher | 71.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIDLAND ISD | Reading SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.3°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 49.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" ✓ Less | 27.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,490 ✓ Larger | 94,601 |
| Median Age | 31.4 ✓ Older | 31.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.9% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% | 28.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 10.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Midland's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Reading's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Reading is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Midland leads 14 of 22 categories. Midland wins 14 and Reading wins 8. 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 Midland to Reading or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($280,700 vs $96,900 median home), income ($90,448 vs $42,852), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Midland, TX and Reading, PA are about 1,562 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.