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)

Town numbers

ZIP code49274

Area code517

Living in Reading

Housing in Reading

$162K Median sale price · Redfin, May 2026

The median sale price was $162,000 in May 2026.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Reading

—

Not graded

A grade needs all of the FBI's latest years (2023–2025). Reading's police department reported only 2024 and 2025, so we don't grade it yet. The figures below are still real.

Violent crime per 1,000

Reading 1.9

Michigan 4.3

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Reading 0.9

Michigan 13

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Reading

Full picture →

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.

Hillsdale

14%

Coldwater

10%

Jonesville

Ann Arbor

3%Work in townlive and work in Reading 15 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 282Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2021 · ACSWork & commute in Reading →

Health in Reading

Health Grade D

Healthier than 12% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Michigan

13worse than MI

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 19 are too close to call.

Conditions 2▼ 10 close Habits 1▼ 3 close Care 4▼ 3 close Mind 3▼ 2 close Everyday needs 3▼ 1 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

21.2%More smokersMI 14.6% · worse 21.1%More adults facing food insecurityMI 15.4% · worse 10.8%More adults with COPDMI 8.1% · worse

Care nearby

Hillsdale HospitalHillsdale · 7.8 mi · ER

Bowen Center AngolaAngola · 17.8 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Reading · CMS · HRSAHealth in Reading →

Natural hazards in Reading

Low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 28% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes🥶 Cold waves

0Does Reading flood?no paid flood claims on record 1Disasters that paid out herefederal disaster sent FEMA money to Reading

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Reading →

Climate in Reading

Full climate →

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.

33° / 19°Winter

57° / 36°Spring

80° / 58°Summer

60° / 41°Fall

How much snow does Reading get?About 44 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 12, with the last in spring around May 3.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.3° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Reading →

Schools in Reading

All Reading schools →

B⁻

School Grade B-

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.

DistrictReading Community SchoolsSchools2

Reynolds Elementary School C+Elementary · Grades K–6 · 404 students Reading High School CHigh · Grades 7–12 · 286 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within MI. Ratings are from neighbors.