ReadingMI
A town of 947. Healthier than 88% of U.S. towns.
What makes Reading stand out
The thing Reading does most differently from other towns.
947 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Reading’s report card
Now in Reading
Be the first to start the conversation.
Weather
Forecast →Local news
All →- Lumen Christi vs U of D Jesuit - Boys Varsity Football 10/02/2026 | Live & On DemandNFHS Network · Sep 30
- James campaign stop planned for Reading Friday eveningWTVB · Jul 31
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Reading. Another town gets a different order.
Healthier than 12% of U.S. towns
Reading beats the Michigan average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 13.
| What stands out | Reading | MI |
|---|---|---|
| More smokers | 21.2% | 14.6% |
| More adults facing food insecurity | 21.1% | 15.4% |
| More adults with COPD | 10.8% | 8.1% |
Most working residents commute out of Reading
Most working residents leave Reading for work: only 3% work in town. The top destinations are Hillsdale (14%), Coldwater (10%) and Jonesville (7%). Half commute less than 15 miles.
Where working residents work
Low risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 28% of U.S. communities.
Snowy winters, pleasant summers
Reading has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 82°, a January night drops to 16°, and about 44 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
Typical low → high °F
Crime reported in Reading
Reading's reported crime rate is well below Michigan's. Violent crime is rare: 2 reported in 2025.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Reading’s public schools outperform 47% of Michigan districts
The public schools Reading’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 53% of Michigan’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reynolds Elementary School | K–6 | 404 | C+ |
| Reading High School | 7–12 | 286 | C |
1.4% of Reading is conserved land
0.0 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Barre Field | — | 11 |
| 2. Water Works Park | — | 1 |
Homes in Reading sell for about $162K
The median sale price was $162,000 in May 2026.
97% of working residents leave Reading for work
Where Reading’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2021
About Reading
City in Michigan, United States
Reading ( RED-ing) is a city in Hillsdale County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,095 at the 2020 census. Located along M-49, the city is surrounded by Reading Township, but the two are administered autonomously.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 1,094
- Area
- 1.0 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,191 ft
- ZIP code
- 49274
- Area code
- 517