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Living in
Reading.
About
Life in Reading
Reading is a community of 10,490 people in Ohio. The median household income is $61,866, median rent runs about $940 per month, and median home values are around $211,300. The unemployment rate is 4.6%.
Reading at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
45.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.0%
Foreign-Born
2.4%
Broadband Internet
88.9%
of households
Population Growth
-1.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.4% foreign-born, most often from Jamaica
Who lives in Reading: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Reading, the largest foreign-born group is from Jamaica (19.2%), and 1.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
17.8%
of residents
65 and Older
18.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
20.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
42.7%
of households
Married Couples
38.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.02
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 9% below OH average
Rent, home values, and income in Reading
In Reading, rent runs 9% below the OH average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
42.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
26.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,701
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
58.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1956
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $229,007 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for OH
Unemployment in Reading and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Hamilton County, which includes Reading, is close to the OH average.
Unemployment rate
Reading: Hamilton County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Hamilton County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Reading is about 1% of Hamilton County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Reading Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area
Commute18.1 min avg
How Reading residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Reading, most residents drive alone to work (70%), and 85% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 17 mi
Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
Medium hub4.4M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 14% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Reading runs 14% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
283.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,119.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Reading Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 18 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
96.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Hamilton County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Hamilton County, which includes Reading, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 18 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $37,250 |
| 2024 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $627,000 |
| 2023 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $82,900 |
| 2022 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $203,250 |
| 2021 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $47,250 |
| 2020 | 28 | Thunderstorm Wind | $278,100 |
| 2019 | 36 | Flood | $230,600 |
| 2018 | 31 | Thunderstorm Wind | $137,100 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Hamilton County, county-wide
Reading is about 1% of Hamilton County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality54 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Hamilton County, which includes Reading, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
54
Good Days
125
per year
Moderate Days
227
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Hamilton County, county-wide
Reading is about 1% of Hamilton County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate85°F summers, 26°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Reading has warm summers (avg high 85°F) and cold winters (avg low 26°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
66°/43°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
85°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
68°/45°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
43°/26°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
44.3"
Annual Snowfall
16.0"
Hot Days/Year
27
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
102
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
132
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 41°F | 24°F | 2.86" |
| Feb | 45°F | 26°F | 2.79" |
| Mar | 55°F | 33°F | 3.94" |
| Apr | 67°F | 43°F | 4.37" |
| May | 75°F | 53°F | 4.70" |
| Jun | 83°F | 61°F | 4.61" |
| Jul | 87°F | 65°F | 4.39" |
| Aug | 86°F | 64°F | 3.39" |
| Sep | 80°F | 56°F | 3.07" |
| Oct | 68°F | 44°F | 3.05" |
| Nov | 55°F | 34°F | 2.91" |
| Dec | 45°F | 28°F | 3.32" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Reading
Uninsured
4.6%
of residents
No hospitals inside Reading's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Summit Behavioral Healthcare
Psychiatric · 3 mi away · Cincinnati
The Jewish Hospital-mercy Health
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3 mi away · Cincinnati
Blueridge Vista Health and Wellness
Psychiatric · 3.5 mi away · Cincinnati
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Reading
Reading's student/teacher ratio is 16.6:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 24.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
24.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Reading (within 15 miles)
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
7.8 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 29,882 students · in-state tuition $14,394 · 73% graduate · median earnings $60,832 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash College
1.9 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 4,354 students · in-state tuition $7,416 · 29% graduate · median earnings $60,832 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,207 students · in-state tuition $52,680 · 71% graduate · median earnings $69,118 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 2,043 students · in-state tuition $7,709 · 26% graduate · median earnings $63,814 (10 yrs after entry)
The Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences
8.2 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 713 students · in-state tuition $17,318 · 64% graduate · median earnings $73,495 (10 yrs after entry)
Good Samaritan College of Nursing and Health Science
7.5 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 2-year · 690 students · in-state tuition $15,356 · 77% graduate · median earnings $72,043 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: William Howard Taft National Historic Site, 8 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Reading
Reading has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being William Howard Taft National Historic Site (8 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
William Howard Taft National Historic Site
National Historic Site
8 mi awayDayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park
National Historical Park
43 mi awayCharles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
National Monument
44 mi awayHopewell Culture National Historical Park
National Historical Park
73 mi awayCamp Nelson National Monument
National Monument
99 mi awayPublic Libraries in Reading
Reading
8740 Reading Rd., Reading
Cities Near Reading
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Reading?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Reading FAQ
Is Reading, Ohio affordable?⌄
Reading's median rent is $940/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $61,866/year. Median home value is $211,300.
Is Reading, Ohio safe?⌄
Reading's violent crime rate was 284 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2120 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Reading, Ohio?⌄
Hamilton County, which includes Reading, has an unemployment rate of 4.6%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Reading, Ohio?⌄
The cost of living in Reading is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $940/month and median household income is $61,866/year. The median home value is $211,300. About 42% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Reading, Ohio?⌄
The average commute in Reading is 18 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from