City profile · Massachusetts · Census ACS 2023

Reading, MA

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.

25,448
Residents
$163,725
Median income
$741,100
Median home
$2,941
Median rent (state)

Reading - the verdict

Nationally, Reading sits in the 96th percentile for household income and the 82nd percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

96th
percentile, household income
94th
percentile, home value
97th
percentile, median rent
82nd
percentile, safety
📝 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, MA

Massachusetts's Reading is a small city, with 25,448 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Reading brings in $163,725 a year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 1.8%. Typical homes in Reading are valued around $741,100, and the median resident age is 44.1 years. Educational attainment runs 65.1% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 66.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Reading reports a comparatively low crime rate: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 572.1 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, below the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 50.6°F with 50.0 inches of precipitation per year and 63.5 inches of snowfall.

Massachusetts carries a cost-of-living premium: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Massachusetts at 105.8 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Above Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $2,941 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $330 across Massachusetts, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 93.5 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

25,448 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Massachusetts

Median Household Income

$163,725 /yr

Poverty 1.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

105.8 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Massachusetts average

How does Reading compare to other US cities?

Here's how Reading stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 96% higher than other cities
Home value 94% pricier than other cities
Median rent 97% pricier than other cities
Safety 82% safer than other cities

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

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Massachusetts, Reading ranks #38 of 149 Massachusetts cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

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 Massachusetts, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

96thIncome percentile
82ndSafety percentile

96th percentile nationally for median household income · 82nd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Reading's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Reading's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 61 Avg. percentile National median
Reading's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Reading's home value compares nationally

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

$741,100 6th percentile more affordable than 6% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. $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, MA Reading, MA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Reading, MA-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, MA median $163,725/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, MA'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, MA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 65.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 1.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 66.2%

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

Population
25,448
Median Income
$163,725
Median Home Value
$741,100
Median Age
44.1
Poverty Rate
1.8%
Labor force participation
66.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
65.1%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
572.1
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
38.7
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
533.4
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
50.6°F
Annual Precipitation
50.0"
Annual Snowfall
63.5"

Schools

Total Schools
9
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
59.6%
Carpool
6.3%
Public Transit
5.1%
Walk
1.2%
Work from Home
27.7%

Based on 13,323 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$160
avg/month
Natural Gas
$110
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$60
avg/month
Total Utilities
$330
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts 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
105.8
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,941/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
93.5 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Massachusetts

Dedham
25,109 people
Burlington
26,223 people
Belmont
27,009 people
Wakefield
27,284 people
Wilmington
23,195 people
Stoneham
22,986 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Reading's 25,448 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Reedley, CA
25,446 people
Avon Lake, OH
25,456 people
Bailey's Crossroads, VA
25,458 people
West Whittier-Los Nietos, CA
25,459 people
Mill Creek East, WA
25,461 people
West Chicago, IL
25,434 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Reading's $163,725 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Annetta North, TX
$163,750 median income
Fairmount, CO
$163,785 median income
Oakton, VA
$163,662 median income
Erie, CO
$163,644 median income
Edna, CA
$163,608 median income
El Dorado Hills, CA
$163,544 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Reading, MA 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, MA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 87.1% 6.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.6% White 87.1% Black or African American 0.3% Asian 6.2% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.8% Two or more races 5.6% 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 Massachusetts 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) 25,448 $163,725
Dedham 25,109 $124,375
Burlington 26,223 $142,207
Belmont 27,009 $178,188
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MA FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Reading, MA?

What is the population of Reading, MA? +

The population of Reading, MA stands at 25,448 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Reading households earn a median of $163,725 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 Massachusetts state average, a cost of living index of 105.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Massachusetts vary by metro area.

Is Reading, MA safe? +

Reading has a total crime rate of 572.1 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

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

Homes in Reading carry a median value of $741,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Reading? +

Climate normals put Reading's yearly average temperature at 50.6°F, 50.0 inches of precipitation, and 63.5 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, 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.