Living in Reading
Reading is in Berkshire.
Reading. It is known for its strong high street, walking and green space.
Where is Reading?
- Type of place
- Settlement
- County
- Berkshire
- Local authority
- Reading
- Region
- South East
- Nation
- England
Reading is in the ceremonial county of Berkshire, but local services are run by Reading.
Reading at a glance
- Schools: Strong local school performance
- Safety: Insufficient local crime evidence
- Affordability: Expensive for the region
- Typical sale price: around £314k (median of 4,164 sales across the built-up area)
What Reading is known for
- Strong high street
- Walking & green space
Frequently asked questions
What is Reading like to live in?
It is known for its strong high street, walking and green space. Schools here perform strongly and everyday shops and services are on the doorstep. Police-recorded street crime was 96.4 incidents per 1,000 residents, Jul 2025–Jun 2026. We don't currently have sufficiently comparable evidence to say whether Reading is safer or less safe than similar places. Housing here is expensive for the region.
What is Reading known for?
Reading is known for strong high street, walking & green space.
Is Reading good for families?
Families in Reading have 31 rated schools within reach and easy access to parks and open countryside. Police-recorded street crime was 96.4 incidents per 1,000 residents, Jul 2025–Jun 2026. We don't currently have sufficiently comparable evidence to say whether Reading is safer or less safe than similar places.
Who is Reading likely to suit?
Reading may suit people who value 31 rated schools within reach, easy access to parks and open countryside and everyday shops and services on the doorstep. Whether it suits a particular household also depends on its budget and regular journeys.
What are the schools like in Reading?
Schools here perform strongly. Reading has 31 rated schools within reach.
Is Reading a safe place to live?
Police-recorded street crime was 96.4 incidents per 1,000 residents, Jul 2025–Jun 2026. We don't currently have sufficiently comparable evidence to say whether Reading is safer or less safe than similar places.
What are the main drawbacks of living in Reading?
The clearest evidence-led trade-off is that housing is expensive for the region. Individual streets and journeys can differ, so these should be checked separately.
How expensive is Reading?
Homes in Reading typically sell for around £314k, which is expensive for the region. Median of 4,164 recorded sales across postcodes in the built-up area (HM Land Registry Price Paid).
Where is Reading?
Reading is located in Berkshire, England.
See if Reading is a good match for you
Data last updated 2026-07-23.