Best Life Index › States › Pennsylvania › Cities › Reading

Pennsylvania city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Reading?

What it costs to live in Reading, and how it compares with other Pennsylvania cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

40

35th best value in Pennsylvania

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Pennsylvania cities.

Overall livability

21

43rd overall in Pennsylvania

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Reading is home to about 94,161 people. A typical home runs $83,100 and a household earns around $38,700, a price-to-income ratio of 2.1. Among Pennsylvania's largest cities, it ranks 35th for value and 43rd overall.

Reading at a glance

Median home price

$83,100

11th in PA of 44

Median rent

$843/mo

Median household income

$38,700

Home price to income

2.1x

Unemployment

11.9%

42nd in PA of 44

School rating

1/10

44th in PA of 44

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in PA of 44

Walk score

10/100

See your real take-home pay in Pennsylvania

Enter your salary and see your paycheck after Pennsylvania taxes.

Calculate my take-home pay ›

‹ See all top Pennsylvania cities ranked  ยท  Pennsylvania state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Pennsylvania only. Updated 2026.