Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Raleigh, NC
VS
Reading, PA
🏆 Raleigh leads 15 of 23 categories
Raleigh
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
465,517 ✓ 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.
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Households earn $35,779 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.8 pts lower (4.5%)
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $347,000
Higher rents — median is $1,371/mo
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Reading, PA
Pros
Homes cost $250k less ($96,900 vs $347,000)
Rent averages $429/mo less ($942 vs $1,371)
31% less violent crime than Raleigh
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Raleigh
Cons
Median income trails Raleigh by $35,779/yr
Higher unemployment (11.3% vs 4.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Raleigh
Median Income
$35,779
$78,631 vs $42,852/yr
Raleigh
Unemployment
6.8 pp lower
4.5% vs 11.3% unemployment
Raleigh
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 86.5°F
Reading
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Reading
Violent Crime
31% lower
337.2 vs 488.8 per 100k
Reading
Median Home Value
$250k less
$96,900 vs $347,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Raleigh, NC | Reading, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $347,000⚠ High | $96,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,371⚠ High | $942 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,631 ✓ Higher | $42,852 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 11.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter | 24.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 20.1% ✓ Higher | 4.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 131⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 134⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.7% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 71.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | Reading SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.7°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.1" ✓ Drier | 49.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.5" ✓ Less | 27.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 465,517 ✓ Larger | 94,601 |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 31.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.1% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.4% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Raleigh's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Reading's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Reading is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Raleigh leads 15 of 23 categories. Raleigh 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 Raleigh to Reading or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($347,000 vs $96,900 median home), income ($78,631 vs $42,852), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Raleigh, NC and Reading, PA are about 345 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.