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Reading

  • C-
    Overall Grade
  • Town in Pennsylvania
  • 170 reviews
    C-
    Overall Niche Grade
    How are grades calculated?
    1. Public Schools
      D
    2. Crime & Safety
      C-
    3. Housing
      C-
    4. Nightlife
      A
    5. Good for Families
      C-
    6. Diversity
      A-
    7. Jobs
      C-
    8. Weather
      B-
    9. Cost of Living
      B
    10. Health & Fitness
      C-
    11. Outdoor Activities
      B+
    12. Commute
      A-
    View Full Report Card
    Reading is a town in Pennsylvania with a population of 88,275. Reading is in Berks County. Living in Reading offers residents an urban suburban mix feel and most residents rent their homes. In Reading there are a lot of restaurants and parks. Many families live in Reading and residents tend to be liberal.
    Population
    88,275

    Real Estate

    Median Home Value
    $69,500
    National
    $184,700
    Median Rent
    $770
    National
    $949
    Area Feel
    Urban Suburban Mix
    Rent vs. Own
    • Rent
      59%
    • Own
      41%
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    Reading Rankings

    Niche ranks thousands of places to live based on key statistics from the U.S. Census and and expert insights.

    Crime & Safety

    Crime & Safety
    C-
    Based on violent and property crime rates.
    Violent Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Assault
      370.8
      282.7
    • Murder
      21.5
      6.1
    • Rape
      59.9
      40.7
    • Robbery
      249.8
      135.5
    Property Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Burglary
      681.6
      500.1
    • Theft
      1,347.4
      2,042.8
    • Motor Vehicle Theft
      213.6
      284

    Residents

    Diversity
    A-
    Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
    Age
    • <10 years
      18%
    • 10-17 years
      12%
    • 18-24 years
      13%
    • 25-34 years
      15%
    • 35-44 years
      12%
    • 45-54 years
      12%
    • 55-64 years
      9%
    • 65+ years
      10%
    Education Levels
    National
    • Master's degree or higher
      3%
      12%
    • Bachelor's degree
      6%
      19%
    • Some college or associate's degree
      22%
      29%
    • High school diploma or equivalent
      35%
      28%
    • Less than high school diploma
      34%
      13%

    Working in Reading

    Jobs
    C-
    Based on employment rates, job and business growth, and cost of living.
    Median Household Income
    $28,755
    National
    $55,322
    Search for Jobs in Reading
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    Reading Reviews

    170 reviews
    All Categories
    I love Reading! I understand that Reading is known for many negative aspects, but I've lived here for about 17-18 years of my life and have created such beautiful memories! If you're all about furthering your own selfish ambitions, then you will never see the potential in all of the people around you. Essentially, if you're saying that Reading is garbage, you're saying its people are garbage, which would mean that you don't truly value life and people. Making progress in bettering the city of Reading would include acknowledging the importance of the lives of those in Reading. Everyone is truly valuable and has a God-given talent that can make the city thrive! It's all a matter of how you perceive things to be. We need to recognize how beautiful life is, no matter the current circumstances of the person. If we cannot love our neighbor, then that is the root of the problem. God has called us to love people and our Creator.
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    Police sirens are a person's lullaby around Reading, especially if you live in center city. Though things have calmed down a bit since I grew up, but the people are still the same. You look ahead when you walk, nod when you see someone you know, and you pass by. The closer you get to Muhlenberg, following 5th street, the nicer the community and the houses look a lot prettier. There isn't a lot to do in Reading, it's typical to what every other place would have, a movie theater, bowling alley, a skating rink, and a central market on Penn St where you could meet anyone there who could try and sell you some bootleg shoe to make a couple bucks.
    Reading, Pennsylvania is like many other cities across the United States. There are several aspects of Reading that are very good, but also many things that must be changed. I've grown up in the suburban area of Reading, which is known to be very safe compared to the dangerous inner city. Reading has many restaurants, many of my favorite in the West Reading area. There are a plethora of places to choose among, ranging from Puerto Rican cuisine to Mediterranean food. West Reading is full of small businesses that are widely supported by the community. Reading has various shopping centers, fast food restaurants, and wonderful fitness facilities. There are not many recreational activities, especially for a younger crowd. The inner city of Reading is known to be rather dangerous, as it has been ranked among the most dangerous cities in the US for many years. Despite the dangerous aspects, Reading is a city that takes a lot of pride in culture.