Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portland, OR
VS
Reading, PA
🏆 Portland leads 13 of 23 categories
Portland
Oregon
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Reading
Pennsylvania
10
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.
Portland, OR
Pros
Households earn $43,024 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.7 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 39°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Higher rents — median is $1,530/mo
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Reading
Reading, PA
Pros
Homes cost $426k less ($96,900 vs $523,100)
Rent averages $588/mo less ($942 vs $1,530)
53% less violent crime than Portland
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cons
Median income trails Portland by $43,024/yr
Higher unemployment (11.3% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Portland
Median Income
$43,024
$85,876 vs $42,852/yr
Portland
Unemployment
5.7 pp lower
5.6% vs 11.3% unemployment
Reading
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Reading
Violent Crime
53% lower
337.2 vs 720.1 per 100k
Reading
Median Home Value
$426k less
$96,900 vs $523,100
Reading
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | Reading, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $523,100⚠ High | $96,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,530⚠ High | $942 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,876 ✓ Higher | $42,852 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 11.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.0% ✓ Higher | 4.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 219⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 263⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.0:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.5% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 71.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portland SD 1J | Reading SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.9°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.9" ✓ Drier | 49.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 27.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 646,101 ✓ Larger | 94,601 |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 31.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.3% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portland's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Reading's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Reading is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portland leads 13 of 23 categories. Portland wins 13 and Reading wins 10. 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 Portland to Reading or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($523,100 vs $96,900 median home), income ($85,876 vs $42,852), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portland, OR and Reading, PA are about 2,357 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.