Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portsmouth, VA
VS
Reading, PA
🏆 Portsmouth leads 15 of 23 categories
Portsmouth
Virginia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$57,154 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384 ✓ 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.
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.7 pts lower (6.6%)
Households earn $14,302 more per year on average
More college-educated — 21.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 39°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Reading
Reading, PA
Pros
Homes cost $116k less ($96,900 vs $213,300)
55% less violent crime than Portsmouth
Rent averages $283/mo less ($942 vs $1,225)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Portsmouth
Cons
Median income trails Portsmouth by $14,302/yr
Higher unemployment (11.3% vs 6.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Portsmouth
Median Income
$14,302
$57,154 vs $42,852/yr
Portsmouth
Unemployment
4.7 pp lower
6.6% vs 11.3% unemployment
Reading
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Reading
Violent Crime
55% lower
337.2 vs 752.4 per 100k
Reading
Median Home Value
$116k less
$96,900 vs $213,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portsmouth, VA | Reading, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $213,300 | $96,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,225 | $942 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,154 ✓ Higher | $42,852 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 11.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter | 24.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% ✓ Higher | 4.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 192⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% ✓ Higher | 71.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portsmouth City Public Schools | Reading SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 49.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" ✓ Less | 27.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,384 ✓ Larger | 94,601 |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 31.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.1% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.1% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portsmouth's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Reading's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Reading is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portsmouth leads 15 of 23 categories. Portsmouth wins 15 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 Portsmouth to Reading or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,300 vs $96,900 median home), income ($57,154 vs $42,852), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portsmouth, VA and Reading, PA are about 242 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.