Bethlehem vs Reading
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania versus Reading, Pennsylvania: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Bethlehem edges out Reading on overall objective livability (48 vs 44 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Bethlehem | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $62k | $43k |
| Cost of Living | $50k | $46k |
| Home Value | $220k | $97k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $942 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.87% | 1.82% |
| Income Tax | 4.10% | 4.95% |
| Sales Tax | 6.34% | 6.34% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 12.81% | 11.17% |
| Unemployment | 5.6% | 11.3% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 31°F | 31°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 75°F | 76°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4 in | 49.3 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1 in | 27.2 in |
| Sunny Days | 223 days | 223 days |
| Summer Humidity | 63°F | 63°F |
| Comfortable Days | 83 days | 81 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 31.1 | 59.6 |
| Air Quality | 54 AQI | 55 AQI |
| School Quality | 93.9 | 63.2 |
| Violent Crime | 988/100k | 1818/100k |
| Property Crime | 914/100k | 1401/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 76,555 | 94,601 |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 31.1 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.54 | 0.73 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.94 | 0.92 |
| Political Leaning | Even | Even |
| White (%) | 55.0% | 21.0% |
| Black (%) | 8.6% | 8.3% |
| Hispanic (%) | 30.2% | 67.2% |
| Asian (%) | 3.1% | 1.0% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 3.1% | 2.6% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 23 min | 24 min |
| Walkability | 15.9/20 | 9.4/20 |
| Airport Distance | 52 mi | 48 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 85.0% | 79.4% |
| Amenities Nearby | 68.06 | 26.64 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Moderate |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Bethlehem or Reading more affordable?
- Reading has the lower cost of living: its index is $46k, compared with Bethlehem's $50k and Reading's $46k. Median rent is $1k in Bethlehem versus $942 in Reading.
- Is Bethlehem or Reading safer?
- Bethlehem has the lower violent crime rate. Bethlehem reports 988/100k and Reading reports 1818/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Bethlehem or Reading?
- The median home value is $220k in Bethlehem and $97k in Reading, so homes are more affordable in Reading.