States › Ohio › Reading

Is Reading, OH expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 23 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,27427% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$66,722about $5,560/month · 23% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$211,30036% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 71% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.2 years of household income. Commutes are short, about 18.1 minutes.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $50,960 a year. That is $25 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Ohio cities?

No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Ohio. It is number 150 of 288 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Reading
$1,274
$1,263
$1,067
$1,198
$1,215

How much do households earn in Reading?

Under $25k
17.5%
$25k–50k
23.0%
$50k–100k
37.2%
$100k–150k
14.8%
$150k+
3.0%

Share of households by yearly income. 17.8% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Reading

SizeReadingU.S. average
Studio$972$1,338
1 bedroom$908$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,142$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,313$1,698

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Reading overall?

Everyday prices in Ohio overall are 7% below the U.S. average (index 92.8, U.S. = 100).

Housing
73
Goods (food, clothes…)
94
Utilities
96
Other services
99
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Reading, so the Ohio figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Reading

🏛️ Property tax$2,701a year · 1.28% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$163a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Reading

Commute to work18.1 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree24.5%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home58.5%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line12%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment4.6%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Reading?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $192 a month less.

Renting
$1,274
Owning
$1,466

Owning assumes a typical $211,300 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $21,130 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Reading, OH?

Renting in Reading costs a median of about $1,274 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Ohio median is $1,261.

How much do I need to make to live in Reading?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $50,960 a year, or $25 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Reading cheap or expensive?

Reading is rated OK: rent takes 22.9% of the typical household income of $66,722. It ranks 150th cheapest of 288 Ohio cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Reading?

The median homeowner in Reading pays $2,701 a year in property taxes, about 1.28% of the median home value.

Is Reading more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Ohio are 7% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Reading?

The median home value in Reading is $211,300, about 3.2 times the typical yearly household income.

10,502 people live in Reading. Numbers are typical (middle) values.