Compare

19611 vs 12308

Which is the better fit for you?

19611 — Reading, PA
61
Area Score
Top 46% nationally
12308 — Schenectady, NY
59
Area Score
Bottom 47% nationally

19611 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.

Signals

19611
12308
Opportunity
47 · Bottom 34%
vs
48 · Bottom 35%
Growth
32 · Bottom 20%
vs
28 · Bottom 15%
Climate
69 · Bottom 46%
vs
60 · Bottom 15%
Physical resilience
85 · Top 16%
vs
84 · Top 18%
Housing affordability
91 · Top 29%
vs
86 · Top 41%
Schools
45 · Bottom 41%
vs
40 · Bottom 35%
Access
77 · Bottom 18%
vs
99 · Top 15%
Economic stability
38 · Bottom 17%
vs
41 · Bottom 21%

Measured values

Metric1961112308Source period
Population10,98615,5112024 ACS 5-Year
Median household income$63,331$63,4342024 ACS 5-Year
Per capita income$37,285$37,7802024 ACS 5-Year
Population density5,401/sq mi6,765/sq mi2024 ACS 5-Year
Median home value$176,200$211,9002024 ACS 5-Year
Median gross rent$1,151$1,1932024 ACS 5-Year
Homeownership rate51.2%45.0%2024 ACS 5-Year
Unemployment rate6.7%4.8%June 2026
Employment change (year over year)2.9%-0.4%June 2026
Bachelor's degree or higher24.4%31.7%2024 ACS 5-Year
Poverty rate26.0%19.6%2024 ACS 5-Year
Housing units permitted (12 months)0012 months ending July 2026
Permits per 1,000 residents0.00.012 months ending July 2026
Average July high87°F84°F1991-2020 Normals
Average January low23°F16°F1991-2020 Normals
Annual precipitation45.2"40.7"1991-2020 Normals
Distance to major airport44 mi8 miNASR current cycle
Average commute21.0 min24.9 min2024 ACS 5-Year
Median age35.631.72024 ACS 5-Year
Public schools252024-25 school year
Students per teacher14.2912.432024-25 school year
Math proficiency24.3%34.0%2019-20 school year
Reading proficiency34.1%30.5%2019-20 school year
Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility80.1%76.1%2024-25 school year

A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.

Pennsylvania and New York do not give the same test. Each state writes its own assessment and sets its own passing score, so the two proficiency rows above are not directly comparable — the difference between them partly measures which standard is harder. Students per teacher and the school count are unaffected, and each profile ranks its own proficiency within its own state.

Physical risk tradeoff

19611

Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.

12308

No hazard reaches elevated exposure.

Your best match

Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.

19611
60
Your Score
61
Area Score
12308
61
Your Score
59
Area Score

Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.

Full profiles: 19611 — Reading, PA · 12308 — Schenectady, NY · How this is calculated: methodology

19611 vs 12308: Location Comparison | AreaProfile