01 · the cities
Reading
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.
full dispatch→Chattanooga
Chattanooga became the first city in the country to roll out gigabit fiber internet to every home (2010, via the municipal utility), which jump-started a tech and remote-work scene. Lookout Mountain rises right above town, with Ruby Falls' underground waterfall and Rock City's epic views. The Tennessee Riverwalk is gorgeous. The Choo Choo (old terminal turned hotel) is a fun stay.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,478/mo
$1,524/mo
Median home price
Median home price
$311k
$322k
$11k more than Reading
State income tax
State income tax
3.1%
0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,600/mo
$6,809/mo
Chattanooga has $209/mo more gross after rent at $100k
Gross left after rent reflects state income tax but not federal, based on $100k salary. Enter your salary to find your ideal city.
03 · the weather
Pleasant days/yr
Pleasant days/yr
157 days
167 days
10 more than Reading
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
2 days
16 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
32 days
5 days
days below 20°F per year
Chattanooga has 14 more days above 95°F each year than Reading. Reading drops below 20°F on 27 more days per year than Chattanooga.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
65 / 100
69 / 100
4.0 pts ahead of Reading
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
0 routes
8 routes
8 more direct routes than Reading
Metro size
Metro size
433k metro
580k metro
Reading has 1.3x more events per month than Chattanooga.
the verdict
2
Reading
categories won
6
Chattanooga
categories won
Chattanooga leads on money and weather and lifestyle and wins overall.
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