on $100k a year, leaving Columbus
changea dispatch from
reading
PA
40.33°N
75.93°W
Reading is the Pagoda lit up on Mount Penn (a Japanese-style pavilion built in 1908 that's become the city symbol), old factory bones, and the surrounding Berks County farmland. The downtown food and art scene is growing into the old factory bones, with breweries and galleries opening steadily. Pretzels, scrapple, and Pennsylvania Dutch baking are everywhere. Cheaper than nearby Lancaster.
the verdict
below Columbus's monthly cost
On paper, Reading and Columbus are twins. In practice they live very differently.
a quick ledger.
$1,478/mo
2% cheaper than Columbus(vs $1,511/mo)
3.07%
$77/mo less in state tax than Columbus
vs 3.99% in Columbus
$6,600/mo
$110 more than Columbus
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$311k
11% cheaper than Columbus
vs $350k in Columbus
433k
vs 2.2M in Columbus
field notes, weather & such.
157
pleasant days a year, in reading.
Columbus actually gets more: 171 pleasant days a year.
Columbus hosts 4.0× more events.
65/100
14% higher than Columbus
vs 57/100 in Columbus
Closest outdoor draw: French Creek State Park, 9.6 mi.
85/100
0% lower than Columbus
vs 85/100 in Columbus
0
100% fewer than Columbus
vs 32 nonstops in Columbus
neighbors of reading on the map of tradeoffs:
compare reading with:
