Reading vs Trenton
The short version
- Reading is cheaper overall: prices in its metro run 6% lower than in the Trenton area (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $121,300 in Reading and $160,700 in Trenton.
- Households earn more in Trenton ($52,537 vs $44,091 median).
Side by side
| Reading, PA | Trenton, NJ | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 95,832 | 91,506 |
| Growth since 2020 | +0.8% | +0.8% |
| People per square mile | 9,736 | 12,031 |
| Median age | 31.9 | 34.8 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11% | 16% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $44,091 | $52,537 |
| Median home value | $121,300 | $160,700 |
| Home value to income | 2.8× | 3.1× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,067 | $1,294 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 97.1 | 103.2 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 85.4 | 135.1 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $72,800 | $77,400 |
| Homeowners | 41% | 38% |
| Top state income tax | 3.07% | 10.75% |
| Combined sales tax | 6.34% | 6.6% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 24.1 | 26.9 |
| Work from home | 6% | 7% |
| Take public transit | 3% | 7% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 13.7% | 10.1% |
| Poverty rate | 28.7% | 21.6% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 39° / 23° | 40° / 24° |
| July high / low | 87° / 66° | 86° / 67° |
| Precipitation per year | 45 in | 46 in |
| Snowfall per year | 21 in | 27 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 24 | 22 |
| Nights below freezing | 107 | 97 |
| Comfortable months | 3 | 7 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Moderate | Relatively High |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 92.7 | 95.4 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 68% | 70% |
| Home prices, past year | +4.6% | +5.2% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +54% | +64.1% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Reading: May, August and October. Trenton: April to October.
Full monthly tables: Reading weather by month and Trenton weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $72,800 in Reading and $77,400 in Trenton. Moving from Reading to Trenton, you would need about $79,700 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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