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
Hazleton
Opportunity
39 · Bottom 16%
vs38 · Bottom 15%
Growth
33 · Bottom 21%
vs44 · Bottom 38%
Climate
69 · Bottom 45%
vs63 · Bottom 29%
Physical resilience
85 · Top 17%
vs72 · Top 33%
Housing affordability
75 · Bottom 41%
vs73 · Bottom 38%
Schools
14 · Bottom 5%
vs13 · Bottom 4%
Access
77 · Bottom 18%
vs62 · Bottom 8%
Economic stability
39 · Bottom 16%
vs38 · Bottom 15%
Measured values
| Metric | Reading | Hazleton | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 95,242 | 30,111 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $44,091 | $46,177 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $21,406 | $22,188 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 9,676/sq mi | 5,042/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $121,300 | $151,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,067 | $1,089 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 40.6% | 51.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 6.7% | 7.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 2.9% | 2.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.4% | 10.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 28.7% | 25.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 0 | 15 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.0 | 0.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 87°F | 85°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 23°F | 20°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 45.2" | 38.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 45 mi | 67 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 26.2 min | 22.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 31.9 | 37.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 21 | 3 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 14.73 | 16.53 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 7.4% | 9.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 17.6% | 24.6% | 2019-20 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.
Physical risk tradeoff
Reading
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Hazleton
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Full profiles: Reading, PA · Hazleton, PA · How this is calculated: methodology