Photo: BigCheddah · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Reading is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns
Reading differs from Pennsylvania on 15 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 14 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Reading. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Reading
Every town around Reading scores healthier
All seven graded neighbors are ahead of Reading’s D−, from Muhlenberg Township (B−) to Wyomissing (A). Around town ↓
More Reading adults get no exercise
2 in 5 adults get no exercise outside work (37.9%), vs 23.8% across Pennsylvania. There are 55 miles of trails across 36 parks and preserves in town, a place to start. Habits ↓
1 in 4 working-age adults in Reading has no health insurance
24.2% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 5.8% across Pennsylvania. Checkups ↓
More Reading adults live with a disability
2 in 5 adults live with a disability (42.3%, vs 31.3% across Pennsylvania). The biggest difference is vision loss: 11.8% vs 5.1%. Disability ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Pennsylvania figure falls outside Reading’s likely range.
What’s behind Reading’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Reading is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns, #1,026 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. All seven of Reading’s estimates fall in the lowest 11% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is fair or poor health: 32.6% of adults, against 18.7% across Pennsylvania and 19.4% nationally.
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Reading’s median household income is $44,091; among the 3,705 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($33K–$55K), it’s healthier than 13%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Reading compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.3% (U.S. 7.9%).
Reading and the towns around it
Reading’s Health Grade ranks 8th of 8 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | D− | 42.6% | 15.9% | 20.6% | CDC place |
| Cumru Township | B+ | 33.5% | 10.9% | 15% | ZIP codes |
| West Reading | B | 35.7% | 11.3% | 14.4% | CDC place |
| Grill | — | — | — | — | |
| Kenhorst | B | 35.3% | 10.9% | 15.6% | CDC place |
| Wyomissing | A | 30.4% | 11% | 11.3% | CDC place |
| Muhlenberg Township | B− | 35.5% | 11.9% | 16.3% | ZIP codes |
| Lower Alsace Township | B+ | 34.2% | 10.9% | 15.3% | ZIP 19606 |
Grill: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Everyday habits, side by side with Pennsylvania
Share of adults, with the Pennsylvania figure marked.
55 miles of trails across 36 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Reading adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Pennsylvania.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Reading adults live with a disability (Pennsylvania 31.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Out of every 100 Reading adults…
Reading runs below PA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 4. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of Reading residents are 65 or older, vs 20% across Pennsylvania. Cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Reading
1 community health center in Reading, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Reading; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
How Reading adults are doing
On 1 of 2 measures, Reading runs above Pennsylvania.
A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Every CDC estimate for Reading
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Reading is better than Pennsylvania on 1 and worse on 14; on the rest, the Pennsylvania figure falls inside Reading’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Reading | PA | U.S. | vs PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 32.6%29.6–35.6 | 18.7% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.6%16.5–20.7 | 13.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.3%18.3–22.4 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.6%35.2–50.5 | 33.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 15.9%13.9–18.1 | 11.6% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 34.1%30.2–38.2 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.2%28.4–36.3 | 33.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.4%24.1–30.9 | 30.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.6%10.2–13.2 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.3%4.8–5.9 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.7%6.9–8.5 | 7.4% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.5%7.6–9.5 | 7.7% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.4%4.1–4.8 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 25.2%21–29.5 | 14.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.6%18.1–23.2 | 15.8% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 37.9%32.9–43.1 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 16.2%13.2–19.8 | 18.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 46.5%39.6–53.7 | 37.9% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 24.2%21.7–26.9 | 5.8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 77%72.9–80.7 | 78.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 46.7%42.7–50.5 | 64.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 78.1%74.8–81.1 | 85.3% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.7%73.5–79.5 | 79.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 53.4%47.8–59 | 67.5% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.3%63.8–79.8 | 77.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.3%19.7–27.2 | 23% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 42.3%37.7–47 | 31.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 20.3%18.2–22.5 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 22.4%20.2–24.8 | 14.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.5%7.6–9.5 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 11.8%10.8–12.8 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13.7%12.4–15 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.7%7.1–8.3 | 3.7% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Pennsylvania figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Reading
Is Reading a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Reading is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #1,026 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 13%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Reading?
CDC estimates 42.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.2% and 50.5%, against 33.8% across Pennsylvania and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Reading?
Reading Hospital in West Reading, 1.3 miles in a straight line from Reading’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Reading have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 24.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 21.7–26.9%), against 5.8% across Pennsylvania.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Reading more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Reading.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Pennsylvania figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.