Reading, Massachusetts
Among the top 4% of US places for safety & wellbeing.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade D, better than 11% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade D, better than 11% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade A+, better than 96% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade B+, better than 78% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade B, better than 66% of US places
- top 6% for airport distance
- top 12% for natural disaster risk
- bottom 2% for cost of living
Reading is a mid-size city in Massachusetts with about 25,000 residents. It grades A+ for safety & wellbeing and D for weather. Standout strengths include airport distance, natural disaster risk, and walkability. It rates lower on monthly owner costs and cost of living.
Climate
Warm summers · Cold winters · Wet · Heavy snow
very cold
cold
cool
comf.
warm
comf.
cool
cold
v.cold
58%46%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.3 in3.9 in
humid 94%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$155k96th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$82kbetter than 2% of US places
Home Value$713k96th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$2kbetter than 12% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$3kbetter than 5% of US places
Property Tax Rate1.26%better than 36% of US places
Income Tax9.00%better than 17% of US places
Sales Tax6.25%better than 81% of US places
Estimated total tax burden16.86%better than 13% of US places
Unemployment2.8%better than 61% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)28°F33rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)73°F30th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation50.0 in78th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall63.5 inbetter than 8% of US places
Sunny Days181 daysbetter than 9% of US places
Summer Humidity62°Fbetter than 64% of US places
Comfortable Days86 daysbetter than 61% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk32.4better than 88% of US places
Air Quality43 AQIbetter than 65% of US places
School Quality79.7better than 75% of US places
Violent Crime124/100kbetter than 84% of US places
Property Crime588/100kbetter than 67% of US places
Community
Population25,41594th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age44.263rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.2354th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9850th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningD+641st percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)86.0%52nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)0.4%50th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)4.4%54th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)6.4%93rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)2.7%48th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time32 minbetter than 18% of US places
Walkability10.1/20better than 86% of US places
Airport Distance13 mibetter than 94% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access94.0%better than 80% of US places
Amenities Nearby132.60better than 61% of US places
Park & Nature AccessModeratebetter than 36% of US places
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is Reading an affordable place to live?
- Reading is relatively expensive. Its cost-of-living index is $82k, better than 2% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Reading?
- The median home value in Reading is $713k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Reading?
- Median household income in Reading is $155k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Reading?
- Median gross rent in Reading is $2k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Reading safe?
- Reading is safer than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 124/100k (better than 84%). Property crime is 588/100k.
- What is the weather like in Reading?
- Reading averages 73°F in July and 28°F in January, with 50.0 in of annual precipitation and about 181 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Reading?
- Public-school quality in Reading is above average, scoring better than 75% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Reading?
- The average one-way commute in Reading is 32 min.
Other places in Suffolk County
Places near Reading
Compare Reading
Explore Massachusetts
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)