Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Reading, PA
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 Springfield leads 12 of 23 categories
Reading
Pennsylvania
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,852
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
94,601
Springfield
Massachusetts
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$47,677 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Reading, PA
Pros
Homes cost $102k less ($96,900 vs $198,500)
62% less violent crime than Springfield
Rent averages $105/mo less ($942 vs $1,047)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Springfield
Cons
Median income trails Springfield by $4,825/yr
Higher unemployment (11.3% vs 8.7%)
Springfield, MA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (8.7%)
Households earn $4,825 more per year on average
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 20.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Reading
Key Differences at a Glance
Reading
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Reading
Violent Crime
62% lower
337.2 vs 891.4 per 100k
Reading
Median Home Value
$102k less
$96,900 vs $198,500
Springfield
Median Income
$4,825
$47,677 vs $42,852/yr
Springfield
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
8.7% vs 11.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Reading, PA | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $96,900 ✓ Lower | $198,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 ✓ Lower | $1,047 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,852 | $47,677 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.3%⚠ High | 8.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.2% | 7.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 81 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.2:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.7% | 20.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 71.6% | 79.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Reading SD | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.6°F ✓ Warmer | 34.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 84.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.2" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,601 | 155,305 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.1 | 33.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 47.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 24.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Reading's cost of living index is 92.5 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Reading is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 12 of 23 categories. Reading wins 11 and Springfield wins 12. 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 Reading to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($96,900 vs $198,500 median home), income ($42,852 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Reading, PA and Springfield, MA are about 215 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.