City profile · Kansas · Census ACS 2023

Reading, KS

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Reading - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

195
Residents
$65,938
Median income
$47,700
Median home
$877
Median rent (state)

Reading - the verdict

Nationally, Reading sits in the 44th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

44th
percentile, household income
0th
percentile, home value
2nd
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Reading, KS

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 195 residents in Reading, a small town within Kansas. Reading households earn a median of $65,938 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 0.0%. Typical homes in Reading are valued around $47,700, and the median resident age is 35.9 years. Educational attainment runs 13.6% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 65.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Living costs in Kansas run below the national norm: the state registers 90.1 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $877 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $217 across Kansas, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 47.6 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Low).

Population

195 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Kansas

Median Household Income

$65,938 /yr

Poverty 0.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.1 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Kansas average

How does Reading compare to other US cities?

Where Reading sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 44% higher than other cities
Home value 0% pricier than other cities
Median rent 2% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Reading's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Kansas, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

44thIncome percentile

44th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Reading's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$47,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 100% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Reading $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Reading, KS Reading, KS's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Reading, KS-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Reading, KS median $65,938/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Reading, KS's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Reading, KS. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 13.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 0.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 65.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
195
Median Income
$65,938
Median Home Value
$47,700
Median Age
35.9
Poverty Rate
0.0%
Labor force participation
65.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
13.6%

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
178 residents180 residents182 residents184 residents 202020212022202320242025 181 residents 183 residents ▲ +1.1%
Reading's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
93.9%
Carpool
3.1%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.0%
Work from Home
2.0%

Based on 98 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Kansas - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$110
avg/month
Natural Gas
$65
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$217
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Kansas state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Kansas state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Reading sits in

Cost of Living Index
90.1
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$877/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
47.6 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Kansas

Dennis
195 people
Ford
195 people
Dwight
194 people
Dorrance
193 people
Moscow
197 people
Wilsey
192 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Reading's 195 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

McGrath, AK
195 people
Homewood Canyon, CA
195 people
Penfield, IL
195 people
Serena, IL
195 people
Hillsdale, IN
195 people
Campbell, MN
195 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Reading's $65,938 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Plainview, CA
$65,938 median income
Farragut, IA
$65,938 median income
Marble Rock, IA
$65,938 median income
Jonesport, ME
$65,938 median income
Amherst, MA
$65,938 median income
Hammon, OK
$65,938 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Reading, KS Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Reading, KS - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 88.2% 11.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.0% White 88.2% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 11.8% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Reading compares to nearby Kansas cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Reading (this city) 195 $65,938
Dennis 195 $90,188
Ford 195 $75,313
Dwight 194 $56,750
Census ACS 5-year FIPS KS OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Reading, KS?

What is the population of Reading, KS? +

The population of Reading, KS stands at 195 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Reading, KS? +

Reading households earn a median of $65,938 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Reading? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Reading; the closest available measure is the Kansas state average, a cost of living index of 90.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Kansas vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Reading, KS? +

Homes in Reading carry a median value of $47,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.