Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Philadelphia, PA
VS
Reading, PA
🏆 Philadelphia leads 14 of 23 categories
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Reading
Pennsylvania
9
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.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Households earn $14,685 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (8.6%)
More college-educated — 33.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Reading
Longer commutes — 32.8 min average each way
Reading, PA
Pros
Homes cost $119k less ($96,900 vs $215,500)
63% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Rent averages $308/mo less ($942 vs $1,250)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cons
Median income trails Philadelphia by $14,685/yr
Higher unemployment (11.3% vs 8.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Philadelphia
Median Income
$14,685
$57,537 vs $42,852/yr
Philadelphia
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
8.6% vs 11.3% unemployment
Reading
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Reading
Violent Crime
63% lower
337.2 vs 908.7 per 100k
Reading
Median Home Value
$119k less
$96,900 vs $215,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Philadelphia, PA | Reading, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.5⚠ High | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $215,500 | $96,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $942 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,537 ✓ Higher | $42,852 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 11.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 4.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 230⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 239⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% ✓ Higher | 71.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Philadelphia City SD | Reading SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.7" | 49.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.1" ✓ Less | 27.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger | 94,601 |
| Median Age | 34.8 ✓ Older | 31.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.2% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Philadelphia's cost of living index is 103.5 vs Reading's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Reading is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Philadelphia leads 14 of 23 categories. Philadelphia wins 14 and Reading wins 9. 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 Philadelphia to Reading or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($215,500 vs $96,900 median home), income ($57,537 vs $42,852), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Philadelphia, PA and Reading, PA are about 48 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.