Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oklahoma City, OK
VS
Reading, PA
🏆 Oklahoma City leads 16 of 23 categories
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,251 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
681,088 ✓ 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.
Oklahoma City, OK
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.8 pts lower (4.5%)
Households earn $21,399 more per year on average
More college-educated — 33.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 39°F
Cons
Violent crime (676.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Reading, PA
Pros
Homes cost $100k less ($96,900 vs $196,700)
50% less violent crime than Oklahoma City
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Cons
Median income trails Oklahoma City by $21,399/yr
Higher unemployment (11.3% vs 4.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Oklahoma City
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 92.5 (100 = US avg)
Oklahoma City
Median Income
$21,399
$64,251 vs $42,852/yr
Oklahoma City
Unemployment
6.8 pp lower
4.5% vs 11.3% unemployment
Oklahoma City
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 86.5°F
Reading
Violent Crime
50% lower
337.2 vs 676.0 per 100k
Reading
Median Home Value
$100k less
$96,900 vs $196,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oklahoma City, OK | Reading, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 92.5 |
| Median Home Value | $196,700 | $96,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,012 | $942 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,251 ✓ Higher | $42,852 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 11.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 24.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.5% ✓ Higher | 4.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 162⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.2% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% ✓ Higher | 71.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | OKLAHOMA CITY | Reading SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" ✓ Drier | 49.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.7" ✓ Less | 27.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 681,088 ✓ Larger | 94,601 |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 31.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.1% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oklahoma City's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Reading's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Oklahoma City is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Oklahoma City leads 16 of 23 categories. Oklahoma City 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 Oklahoma City to Reading or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($196,700 vs $96,900 median home), income ($64,251 vs $42,852), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oklahoma City, OK and Reading, PA are about 1,221 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.