Should I Move To
Reading, Pennsylvania is home to about 94,601 people. On cost of living, it lands in the affordable band — 7% below the national average. The median renter pays around $942 a month against a typical household income of $42,852. Our composite UrbRank Score lands at 53 out of 100 (grade C-), putting it at #371 nationally.
UrbRank Score · General
Each dimension scored 0-100 against every other US city.
Based on overall cost of living vs. other US cities.
Inverse of violent + property crime rate per 100,000 residents.
Temperate summers & winters, moderate precipitation.
Walk Score — how feasible daily errands are on foot.
Unemployment rate plus household income vs. national median.
Air quality index (EPA AQS data).
Share of residents 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
Reading's composite cost-of-living index lands at 93 (100 = US average), which puts it in the affordable band. At $942/mo against $42,852 in median household income, the typical renter spends about 26% of income on housing — right inside the standard 30%-of-income guideline. Median home value sits around $96,900.
Full cost-of-living breakdown →Climate is four-season — summer averages around 86°F, winter averages around 28°F. Precipitation totals about 44 inches a year. Walkability is exceptional — most residents can live without a car if they want to. Crime sits a notch better than the national norm — not crime-free, but a step above average. Air quality is moderate (AQI 53).
Verdict by lifestyle profile — same data, different priorities.
Reading reads as a moderate fit for families. It earns 58/100 (grade C) on the families profile. Strongest on walkability (90/100); weakest on job market (1/100).
Reading reads as a moderate fit for retirees. It earns 70/100 (grade B-) on the retirees profile. Strongest on walkability (90/100); weakest on job market (1/100).
Reading reads as a moderate fit for remote workers. It earns 66/100 (grade B-) on the remote workers profile. Strongest on walkability (90/100); weakest on job market (1/100).
Reading reads as a moderate fit for young professionals. It earns 55/100 (grade C) on the young professionals profile. Strongest on walkability (90/100); weakest on job market (1/100).
Reading, Pennsylvania pulls a 53/100 overall on the UrbRank Score (grade C-), currently ranked #371 nationally. The composite weights seven lifestyle dimensions: affordability, safety, climate, walkability, jobs, environment, and education.
Reading's cost-of-living index is 93 (with 100 as the US average), which lands in the affordable band — 7% below the national average. Median rent runs about $942/mo.
Four-season — summer averages around 86°F, winter averages around 28°F, with about 44 inches of precipitation a year.
Walk Score: 90/100. Walkability is exceptional — most residents can live without a car if they want to.
Reading has about 94,601 residents, 12% of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher with a median age of 31.
Use UrbRank's comparison tool to put Reading head-to-head against any other US city — housing, salaries, demographics, and quality-of-life metrics side by side. The leaderboard pages also show how Reading stacks up for families, retirees, remote workers, and young professionals specifically.
Every US city is scored 0-100 on seven dimensions using public data from the US Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, FBI Crime Data Explorer, EPA Air Quality System, NOAA NCEI, and Walk Score. Each dimension is a percentile rank against every other city — so a score of 80 means the city is in the top 20% nationally on that dimension.
The overall score is a weighted average. Five lifestyle profiles — general, families, retirees, remote workers, young professionals — weight the dimensions differently to reflect what each cares about. Families get more weight on safety and schools; young professionals get more weight on jobs and walkability; retirees get more weight on climate.
Compare Reading with other Pennsylvania cities scored on UrbRank.
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