Harrisburg or Reading: which is better?
US metro area: head-to-head comparison
Harrisburg and Reading are even: 4 : 4 across 11 indicators.
- Money: Harrisburg 3:1
- Climate and risks: Reading 1:3
All indicators weigh the same. This is a score based on data, not advice on where to live: different people have different circumstances.
Harrisburg
Indicator
Reading
Money
Better: Harrisburg (3 : 1)Per capita income
higher is better
✓$66,173
20245% higher
✗$62,942
20245% lower
Typical rent
lower is better
✓$1,481
2026-09-305% lower
✗$1,551
2026-09-305% higher
Typical home value
lower is better
✓$306,578
2026-09-301% lower
✗$310,920
2026-09-301% higher
Price level
lower is better
✗98.7 100 = US average
20242% higher
✓97.1 100 = US average
20242% lower
Climate and risks
Better: Reading (1 : 3)Air: median AQI
lower is better
✗48 AQI
202412% higher
✓43 AQI
202410% lower
Days with unhealthy air
tie
2 days per year
2024
2 days per year
2024
Hot days (max ≥ +30 °C)
lower is better
✓48 days per year
2016-202521% lower
✗60 days per year
2016-202527% higher
Frost days (min ≤ −10 °C)
lower is better
✗11 days per year
2016-202554% higher
✓7 days per year
2016-202535% lower
Severe frost (min ≤ −20 °C)
tie
0.2 days per year
2016-2025
0.2 days per year
2016-2025
Ice days (max ≤ 0 °C)
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
20 days per year
2016-2025
13 days per year
2016-2025
Heating degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
2,863 °C·days per year
2016-2025
2,554 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Cooling degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
600 °C·days per year
2016-2025
732 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Rainy days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
107 days per year
2016-2025
106 days per year
2016-2025
Snowfall days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
6 days per year
2016-2025
5 days per year
2016-2025
Annual precipitation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
1,172 mm per year
2016-2025
1,200 mm per year
2016-2025
Daylight on December 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
9.3 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
9.3 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Daylight on June 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
15.1 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
15.1 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Air humidity
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
61 %
2021-2025
66 %
2021-2025
Muggy days (dew point ≥ +20 °C)
lower is better
✗29 days per year
2021-202551% higher
✓19 days per year
2021-202534% lower
Distance to the sea
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
105 km
2006-2025
71 km
2006-2025
Earthquakes M4.5+ within 100 km
tie
0.00 per year
2006-2025
0.00 per year
2006-2025
Urban environment
no winnerPopulation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
615,361 people
2024
439,117 people
2024
A winner is named only for indicators with a known “better / worse” direction. Population and other neutral indicators are shown without a winner. Outdated and missing values are not counted. Details for each place: Harrisburg, Reading.