Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newark, NJ
VS
Reading, PA
🏆 Reading leads 12 of 23 categories
Newark
New Jersey
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Reading
Pennsylvania
12
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.
Newark, NJ
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (10.7%)
Households earn $3,608 more per year on average
More college-educated — 17.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $312,300
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Reading
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Reading, PA
Pros
Homes cost $215k less ($96,900 vs $312,300)
42% less violent crime than Newark
Rent averages $331/mo less ($942 vs $1,273)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cons
Median income trails Newark by $3,608/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Newark
Median Income
$3,608
$46,460 vs $42,852/yr
Newark
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
10.7% vs 11.3% unemployment
Reading
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Reading
Violent Crime
42% lower
337.2 vs 581.2 per 100k
Reading
Median Home Value
$215k less
$96,900 vs $312,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newark, NJ | Reading, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $312,300⚠ High | $96,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,273 | $942 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,460 ✓ Higher | $42,852 |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 11.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.0 min⚠ High | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.6% ✓ Higher | 4.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.0% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| High School or Higher | 77.7% ✓ Higher | 71.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newark Public School District | Reading SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 49.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 27.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,355 ✓ Larger | 94,601 |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 31.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 23.9% | 39.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.9% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newark's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Reading's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Reading is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Reading leads 12 of 23 categories. Newark wins 11 and Reading wins 12. 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 Newark to Reading or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,300 vs $96,900 median home), income ($46,460 vs $42,852), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newark, NJ and Reading, PA are about 96 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.