same $100k income, fresh start from Washington
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
cheaper each month than Washington
Move to Reading and the monthly math gets easier. Washington's rent is the headline; Reading's is a footnote.
a quick ledger.
$1,478/mo
37% cheaper than Washington(vs $2,352/mo)
3.07%
$452/mo less in state tax than Washington
vs 8.5% in Washington
$6,600/mo
$1,327 more than Washington
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$311k
50% cheaper than Washington
vs $626k in Washington
433k
vs 6.3M in Washington
field notes, weather & such.
157
pleasant days a year, in reading.
Washington has the edge here, logging 177 pleasant days a year. Cold snaps are part of the year: 32 days below 20° here, 11 in Washington.
Washington hosts 5.6× more events.
65/100
25% lower than Washington
vs 87/100 in Washington
Closest outdoor draw: French Creek State Park, 9.6 mi.
85/100
13% lower than Washington
vs 98/100 in Washington
0
100% fewer than Washington
vs 160 nonstops in Washington
cities that play in reading's register:
compare reading with:
