Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Reading, PA
VS
Tyler, TX
🏆 Tyler leads 16 of 23 categories
Reading
Pennsylvania
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5
Median Household Income
$42,852
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
94,601
Tyler
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,056 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
106,440 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Reading, PA
Pros
Homes cost $108k less ($96,900 vs $205,200)
14% less violent crime than Tyler
Rent averages $171/mo less ($942 vs $1,113)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Cons
Median income trails Tyler by $20,204/yr
Higher unemployment (11.3% vs 5.3%)
Tyler, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.0 pts lower (5.3%)
Households earn $20,204 more per year on average
More college-educated — 31.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 39°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Reading
Violent Crime
14% lower
337.2 vs 391.2 per 100k
Reading
Median Home Value
$108k less
$96,900 vs $205,200
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 92.5 on the COL index
Tyler
Median Income
$20,204
$63,056 vs $42,852/yr
Tyler
Unemployment
6.0 pp lower
5.3% vs 11.3% unemployment
Tyler
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Reading, PA | Tyler, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.5 | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $96,900 ✓ Lower | $205,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 ✓ Lower | $1,113 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,852 | $63,056 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.3%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min | 20.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.2% | 6.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 81 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.7% | 31.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 71.6% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Reading SD | TYLER ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.6°F | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 47.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.2" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,601 | 106,440 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.1 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Reading's cost of living index is 92.5 vs Tyler's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Tyler is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tyler leads 16 of 23 categories. Reading wins 7 and Tyler wins 16. 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 Tyler or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($96,900 vs $205,200 median home), income ($42,852 vs $63,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Reading, PA and Tyler, TX are about 1,209 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.