The Town FilesReading, Michigan
City in Hillsdale County · population 1,094 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $107,800
- Household income
- $49,342
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 44 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 43.8
Reading is a city of 1,094 people in Hillsdale County, Michigan. The median home is worth $107,800, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 79% of Michigan towns, better for retirees than 72% of Michigan towns, hipper than 71% of Michigan towns.
How Reading ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Reading is worth $107,800, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $49,342, which is more affordable than 89% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $835 a month. 58.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Reading | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $107,800 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $835 | $955 |
| Median household income | $49,342 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 58.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.3% | — |
Who lives in Reading
| People | Reading | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.8 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.6% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.0% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.6% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 9.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 2.7% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 21.3 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.6% | 88.8% |
Weather in Reading
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 15.1°F. About 39.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 44.1 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 148 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Reading since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 11, 1965 about 5.1 miles from the town center and killed 9. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 26 deaths and 545 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 24, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 21, 2006.
Severe weather in Hillsdale County since 1996
Hillsdale County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for other, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| September 23, 2003 | Other | EM-3189: Power Outage |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Hillsdale County
Hillsdale County had 12,854 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,536 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Reading itself the ACS puts it at 6.1%.
Public schools in Reading
2 public schools with 701 students, about 17.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reynolds Elementary School | K-6 | 398 | 17.3 |
| Reading High School | 7-12 | 303 | 17.8 |
Towns near Reading
- Reading, MI1.8 mi · 1,732 people · home $187,500
- Cambria, MI5.2 mi · 2,552 people · home $190,500
- Camden, MI5.9 mi · 2,070 people · home $161,600
- Algansee, MI6.7 mi · 2,033 people · home $232,400
- Hillsdale, MI6.9 mi · 2,002 people · home $295,500
- Woodbridge, MI7.1 mi · 1,322 people · home $159,600
- Allen, MI7.3 mi · 1,602 people · home $174,400
- California, MI7.9 mi · 1,181 people · home $119,400
Reading questions
Is Reading, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Reading scores better for retirees than 72% of Michigan towns and quieter than 56%. 15.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.8).
How much does a house cost in Reading?
The median owner-occupied home in Reading is valued at $107,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,342, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $835 a month.
What is the weather like in Reading?
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 15.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.5 inches of precipitation a year and 44.1 inches of snow.
Does Reading get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Reading since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 11, 1965. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)