Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Reading, PA

    Is Reading a good place to live?

    Watch Reading

    Reading ranks #21 of 25 Pennsylvania cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (41/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 0.2% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $109,800
    +13.3% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,018
    per month
    Household income
    $45,599
    median
    Unemployment
    12.1%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Reading

    The median home value in Reading is $109,800 and median rent is $1,018 a month, against a median household income of $45,599. Homes cost about 2.4× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Reading crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Pennsylvania the 2025 rate was 229 violent and 1,360 property crimes per 100,000 people — #34 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Reading, PA

    Reading has about 94,836 residents, 12.1% unemployment and 8% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Reading with

    Reading vs PhiladelphiaReading vs PittsburghReading vs AllentownReading vs ErieReading vs BethlehemReading vs ScrantonReading vs LancasterReading vs Levittown

    More: Where to move in Pennsylvania · Best counties in Pennsylvania

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report