Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Reading, PA
VS
St. George, UT
🏆 St. George leads 18 of 23 categories
Reading
Pennsylvania
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,852
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
94,601
St. George
Utah
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$69,333 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
96,174 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Reading, PA
Pros
Homes cost $318k less ($96,900 vs $415,200)
Rent averages $393/mo less ($942 vs $1,335)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 102°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than St. George
Cons
Median income trails St. George by $26,481/yr
Higher unemployment (11.3% vs 3.3%)
St. George, UT
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 8.0 pts lower (3.3%)
Households earn $26,481 more per year on average
38% less violent crime than Reading
Violent crime is well below the national average (210.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 32.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,200
Higher rents — median is $1,335/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 102°F
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Reading
Key Differences at a Glance
Reading
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
Reading
Median Home Value
$318k less
$96,900 vs $415,200
St. George
Median Income
$26,481
$69,333 vs $42,852/yr
St. George
Violent Crime
38% lower
210.0 vs 337.2 per 100k
St. George
Unemployment
8.0 pp lower
3.3% vs 11.3% unemployment
St. George
Summer Heat
15.4°F warmer
July avg high 101.9°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Reading, PA | St. George, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper | 96.1 |
| Median Home Value | $96,900 ✓ Lower | $415,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 ✓ Lower | $1,335⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,852 | $69,333 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.3%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min | 16.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.2% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 81 | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.7% | 32.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 71.6% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Reading SD | Washington District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.6°F | 54.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 101.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 9.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.2" | 1.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,601 | 96,174 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.1 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 67.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 25.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Reading's cost of living index is 92.5 vs St. George's 96.1 (US average = 100).
Reading is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. George leads 18 of 23 categories. Reading wins 5 and St. George wins 18. 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 St. George or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($96,900 vs $415,200 median home), income ($42,852 vs $69,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Reading, PA and St. George, UT are about 2,027 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.