Reading receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Reading
Cincinnati
Opportunity
66 · Top 29%
vs63 · Top 35%
Growth
27 · Bottom 14%
vs65 · Top 25%
Climate
69 · Bottom 46%
vs69 · Bottom 46%
Physical resilience
89 · Top 12%
vs89 · Top 12%
Housing affordability
95 · Top 20%
vs74 · Bottom 39%
Access
94 · Top 41%
vs98 · Top 15%
Economic stability
66 · Top 39%
vs43 · Bottom 21%
Measured values
| Metric | Reading | Cincinnati | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,502 | 311,224 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $61,866 | $52,909 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $36,432 | $40,324 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,635/sq mi | 3,994/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $211,300 | $230,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $940 | $1,001 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 58.5% | 39.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.7% | 4.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.8% | 0.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.5% | 41.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.0% | 25.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1 | 984 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.1 | 3.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -66.7% | 268.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 87°F | 87°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 24°F | 24°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 43.4" | 43.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 17 mi | 11 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 19.7 min | 24.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 45.3 | 33.2 | 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
Reading
Elevated or high exposure: tornado.
Cincinnati
Elevated or high exposure: tornado.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Reading
72
Your Score
71
Area Score
Cincinnati
65
Your Score
65
Area Score
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Full profiles: Reading, OH · Cincinnati, OH · How this is calculated: methodology