Reading receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Portland-South Portland
Reading
Opportunity
80 · Top 10%
vs71 · Top 22%
Growth
78 · Top 7%
vs67 · Top 24%
Climate
56 · Bottom 14%
vs69 · Top 42%
Physical resilience
87 · Top 7%
vs86 · Top 8%
Housing affordability
79 · Bottom 20%
vs97 · Top 39%
Access
56 · Bottom 17%
vs76 · Bottom 49%
Economic stability
75 · Top 19%
vs77 · Top 18%
Measured values
| Metric | Portland-South Portland | Reading | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 562,843 | 433,015 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $92,175 | $79,777 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $52,055 | $39,815 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 270/sq mi | 506/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $420,000 | $257,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,485 | $1,181 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 73.2% | 71.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 2.3% | 4.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.2% | 2.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 45.9% | 27.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 7.6% | 12.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 3,961 | 929 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 7.0 | 2.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 27.1% | 228.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 80°F | 87°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 16°F | 23°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 48.1" | 45.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 71 mi | 47 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 26.8 min | 27.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 43.7 | 39.9 | 2024 ACS 5-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.
Physical risk tradeoff
Portland-South Portland
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm, hurricane, coastal flooding.
Reading
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Portland-South Portland
73
Your Score
76
Area Score
Reading
77
Your Score
77
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area · Reading, PA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology