Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Reading, PA
VS
Yonkers, NY
🏆 Yonkers leads 14 of 23 categories
Reading
Pennsylvania
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,852
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
94,601
Yonkers
New York
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,208 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
82 ✓ Safer
Population
209,780 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Reading, PA
Pros
Homes cost $360k less ($96,900 vs $456,500)
Rent averages $717/mo less ($942 vs $1,659)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Yonkers
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Yonkers by $35,356/yr
Higher unemployment (11.3% vs 6.6%)
Yonkers, NY
Pros
Households earn $35,356 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.7 pts lower (6.6%)
8% less violent crime than Reading
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $456,500
Higher rents — median is $1,659/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Reading
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Reading
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Reading
Median Home Value
$360k less
$96,900 vs $456,500
Yonkers
Median Income
$35,356
$78,208 vs $42,852/yr
Yonkers
Violent Crime
8% lower
311.8 vs 337.2 per 100k
Yonkers
Unemployment
4.7 pp lower
6.6% vs 11.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Reading, PA | Yonkers, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $96,900 ✓ Lower | $456,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 ✓ Lower | $1,659⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,852 | $78,208 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.3%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter | 34.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.2% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 81 | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 82 ✓ 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 (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.7% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 71.6% | 83.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Reading SD | YONKERS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.6°F | 39.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 85.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" ✓ Drier | 51.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.2" ✓ Less | 32.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,601 | 209,780 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.1 | 39.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 48.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Reading's cost of living index is 92.5 vs Yonkers's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Reading is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Yonkers leads 14 of 23 categories. Reading wins 9 and Yonkers wins 14. 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 Yonkers or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($96,900 vs $456,500 median home), income ($42,852 vs $78,208), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Reading, PA and Yonkers, NY are about 116 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.