Home › PA › Reading, PA Cost of living in Reading, PA Livability score 65 · cost-of-living index 96.5 (US = 100)
How Reading compares Where Reading falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 96 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 96 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $312k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $312k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $179 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $179 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 6.3% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 6.3% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 1.86% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 1.86% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 390 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 390 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 21.5 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 21.5 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 85° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 85° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 22° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 22° Map of Reading Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps
Cost of living Metric Value Scope US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 96.5 metro-area #107 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 98.3 metro-area #138 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.49 metro-area #107 of 200 Median household income $74,617 metro-area #81 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $41,692 metro-area #80 of 200
Who lives here Metric Value Scope US rank Median age 39.9 years metro-area #138 of 200 Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 27.2% metro-area #157 of 200 Foreign-born residents 8.8% metro-area #90 of 200 Homes that are owner-occupied 71.0% metro-area #30 of 200
Economy Metric Value Scope US rank Unemployment rate 5.38% metro-area #119 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +3.1% metro-area #115 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value Scope US rank Median home price $312,348 metro-area #85 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 4.2× metro-area #65 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +2.6% metro-area #70 of 200 Price per square foot $179 metro-area #88 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 1,750 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,505 metro-area #82 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 658 Median days on market 6 metro-area #5 of 200
Taxes Metric Value Scope US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 10.6% state #115 of 200 Combined sales tax 6.34% state #32 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 3.07% Capital gains tax 3.07% state #53 of 200 High earners No special surtax Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits Effective property tax rate 1.86% metro-area #182 of 200 Median property tax paid $4,202 metro-area #159 of 200
Health & childcare Metric Value Scope US rank Life expectancy at birth 77.8 years metro-area #69 of 200 Healthcare (annual, single adult) $7,000 state #129 of 200 Uninsured (share of residents) 7.5% metro-area #85 of 200 Primary care providers per 100k 63 metro-area #159 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $12,000 state #110 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value Scope US rank Annual registration $65 state #29 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) None state #1 of 200 Emissions testing Required Emissions detail Required in major metro counties DMV & license offices 4 Avg commute to work 25 min metro-area #116 of 200 Commute by driving alone 75.3% metro-area #100 of 200 Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 32.7% metro-area #116 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value Scope US rank Electricity 21.5¢/kWh state #147 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $193 state #141 of 200 Gasoline $3.55/gal state #150 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $82 state #167 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $65 state #14 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $78 state #77 of 200
Insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Home insurance (annual) $1,200 state #8 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,600 state #51 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Main natural hazards Lower natural-disaster risk; standard home coverage usually sufficient. FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 92.7 — Relatively Moderate metro-area #125 of 200 Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $650 state #41 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 state #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value Scope US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 43 metro-area #70 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 800 metro-area #49 of 200 Homes with air conditioning (state) 91% state #115 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 5,700 metro-area #141 of 200 Days per year ≥ 90°F 15 metro-area #69 of 200 Days per year ≥ 100°F 0 metro-area #5 of 200 Avg summer high (state) 85°F metro-area #59 of 200 Avg winter low 22°F metro-area #130 of 200 Annual precipitation 44.1" metro-area #116 of 200 Annual snowfall 23.1" metro-area #127 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 56% metro-area #132 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 6b Frost window 04-20 → 10-20
Safety Metric Value Scope US rank Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 390 state #91 of 200 Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 1,400 state #11 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value Scope US rank Grocery stores 15 metro-area #197 of 200 Parks 37 Hiking areas 9 Golf courses 7 Shooting ranges 5 Lakes 5
Permits Metric Value Scope US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 3 state #87 of 200 Permit detail Moderate
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
Salaries by occupation in Reading Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
Occupation Median pay Dentists $159,960 Financial Managers $135,800 Pharmacists $132,750 Human Resources Managers $125,440 Physician Assistants $122,060 Marketing Managers $114,280 Lawyers $110,600 Construction Managers $106,190 Software Developers $104,330 General & Operations Managers $98,750 Physical Therapists $98,620 Data Scientists $98,350 Civil Engineers $97,120 Registered Nurses $91,410 Mechanical Engineers $85,420 Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $83,470 Dental Hygienists $77,580 Elementary School Teachers $76,810 Accountants & Auditors $75,870 Electricians $73,610 Web Developers $71,520 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $60,880 Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $55,870 Carpenters $50,670 Welders, Cutters & Solderers $49,920 Real Estate Sales Agents $47,090 Graphic Designers $46,990 Medical Assistants $41,600
Cities in the Reading area
What your paycheck is really worth, city by city — cost of living, taxes,
housing and pay across 200 US metros and 3,220 towns.
QuiltMap LLC Affiliate disclosure: some links on this site are affiliate links —
we may earn a commission when you use them, at no extra cost to you.
Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts from Google Maps public listings.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.
© 2026 SalaryCompareTool. All rights reserved.
A QuiltMap LLC company.
