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Thursday, August 6, 2026

Reading vs Bethlehem

Reading, PA compared with Bethlehem, PA · 35 miles apart

Reading has 95,832 residents to Bethlehem’s 79,644. Reading comes out ahead on median rent, price to income. Bethlehem does better on median household income, homeownership, average commute.

Reading, PA Bethlehem, PA
Population 95,832 79,644
Density (per sq mi) 9,736 4,167
Median household income $44,091 $68,879
Median home value $121,300 $260,400
Median rent $1,067 $1,382
Homeownership 40.6% 49.9%
Average commute 24.1 min 22.1 min
Median age 31.9 36.1
Bachelor's degree + 11.4% 36%
Poverty rate 28.7% 15.7%
Unemployment 13.7% 6.6%
Price to income 2.8× 3.8×
Clear days a year 19
Days above 90°F 16

Highlighted where one city is clearly better on that measure. Population, density, home value and median age carry no highlight — a higher number there is good or bad depending on what you want.

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