Living in Reading, PA offers a unique blend of history, culture, and outdoor adventure. Known as the 'Pretzel City' for its rich pretzel-making heritage, Reading is a city with deep roots and a vibrant community. The Pagoda, a historic landmark perched atop Mount Penn, offers stunning views of the city and surrounding countryside, making it a popular spot for locals and visitors alike.
Reading’s dining scene reflects its diverse cultural heritage, with a variety of restaurants offering everything from Pennsylvania Dutch comfort food to international cuisine. The city’s annual World War II Weekend is a major event, attracting history enthusiasts from all over to experience reenactments, vintage aircraft, and educational exhibits. The GoggleWorks Center for the Arts is a creative hub, featuring galleries, studios, and workshops.
For outdoor enthusiasts, Reading offers plenty of opportunities for recreation. The nearby Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center and the Schuylkill River Trail provide miles of scenic trails for hiking, biking, and nature exploration. The city’s parks, including City Park and Gring’s Mill Recreation Area, offer facilities for sports, picnics, and family gatherings.
Reading is also known for its strong sense of community and cultural vibrancy. The Berks Jazz Fest is a highlight, bringing world-class musicians to the city for a week of performances and events. The city’s Farmers Market offers fresh produce and local goods, supporting the community’s agricultural roots.
For those considering a move to Pennsylvania, Reading offers a rich blend of history, culture, and outdoor activities. Whether you're drawn by its historical landmarks, cultural events, or natural beauty, living in Reading, PA provides a dynamic and fulfilling lifestyle.
Commute
An elevated score in the commute category points to excellent public transit accessibility and shorter-than-average work commute times in this area.
Cost Of Living
Taking into account the cost of goods and services like housing, groceries, transportation and utilities, the overall cost of living in this area is well below average.
Housing
High scores in the housing category are a distinguishing feature of this area, possibly driven by a favorable home affordability ratio, higher home values and appreciation rates.
Health & Safety
Good air quality as well as nearby health facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, fire and police stations all contribute to a higher than average health and safety score.
Crime
This area reports elevated crime rates per 100,000 individuals, potentially pointing some areas being unsafe for its residents. Stats are based on both property and violent crimes.
Employment
In the employment category, a low score could be attributed to low income levels and high unemployment in the area, suggesting potential difficulties in finding lucrative employment.
Schools
The low schools score could result from issues like below-average graduation rates, inadequate reading and math scores, and the unavailability of local elementary and high schools.
Located in the state of Pennsylvania, Reading is a medium-sized city with a population of 88,333 residents. Reading has a population density of 8,974 people per square mile. This would be considered well above the national population density level. More than a quarter of the residents of Reading identify themselves as Hispanic or Latino, and 53% of the population speak Spanish as their primary or secondary language. Reading could be a great place for young adults and students as the average age of 31 years old is below the nation’s average. Reading is very likely to be a great place to live for singles as only 36%, of the population (over fifteen) are classified as married. The average American spends about 26 minutes on their one way commute to work each day. Lower travel times can increase overall happiness and allow for more time to be spent with family and friends. While living in Reading, your commute times will be about average, with a one way commute time of 24 minutes.
If you’re considering relocating to any new city, it could be a very intimidating task. However, it could also be a good experience if you are willing to get to know the city before actually living in Reading, Pennsylvania. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is of utmost importance, ensuring a secure environment with low crime. Proximity to your workplace or school helps reduce commuting time and offers convenience. Access to amenities such as parks, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities enhances your daily life. Public transportation options contribute to easy mobility. A sense of community fosters a supportive and engaging environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere should align with your desired lifestyle, ensuring a fulfilling living experience. Considering these items will guide you towards finding the perfect neighborhood that fits all your needs. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like cost of living, health & safety, housing, you can easily compare the best places to live in Reading and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Reading to Pennsylvania and the national average.
Using data and statistics Reading has received a livability score of 78 out of 100. This score is ranked in the 93rd percentile when compared to all other cities. Based on this score, Reading would be considered a very livable city! This city is also ranked in the top 10 percentile of all cities across the USA. There are nine total categories that create the livability score. Reading scores well for amenities (B-) and housing (A-) There is at least one category that did not score well in Reading. The following was graded with a discouraging score: crime (F), education (D) and employment (F).
If you're considering living in Reading, it comes with numerous advantages, particularly in the form of an extensive selection of local amenities. These amenities play a pivotal role in elevating the quality of life within this vibrant community. From easily accessible grocery stores, to conveniently located fitness facilities, a diverse range of dining establishments and a multitude of shopping options, Reading provides a comprehensive array of resources for its residents. This ensures the effortless fulfillment of your daily needs and creates ample opportunities for relaxation and recreation. The convenience of these local offerings greatly contributes to the overall appeal of the area, making it an enticing destination for those in search of convenience, diversity, and a gratifying lifestyle. If you're contemplating a move, the abundance of local amenities could very well be a defining characteristic of this area. Among the enticing options for fun and exploration in Reading are: Reading Phillies First Energy Field, Pagoda, and Reading Public Museum.
A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Reading has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.
Assuming that Reading meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Reading. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Reading are simply unattainable. The median home price for Reading homes is $79,500, which is 52.6% lower than the Pennsylvania average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Reading, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 2.2, which is 29% lower than the Pennsylvania average.
| Statistic | Reading | Pennsylvania | National |
| Average one way commute | 24min | 26min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 59.8% | 76.5% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 17.2% | 8.5% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 6.3% | 5.6% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.3% | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 6.2% | 3.8% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 3.7% | 4.2% | 4.6% |
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