Compare towns
Reading vs Baltimore vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Baltimore has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Reading | Baltimore | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699 |
361Lowest |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
51.2±10.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Baltimore and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
8.9%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$107,500±$16kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Baltimore and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$219,400±$27kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Reading and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Union and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$4,329 39% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.7%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Baltimore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.