House prices in Reading
The median price paid for a home in Reading was £340,000 in the 12 months to September 2026, from 1,770 sales. House prices in Reading fell 1.4% in the year to September 2026, and are 6.9% higher than five years earlier. In the 12 months to September 2026, the median price in Reading was 8% lower than the median for South East (£370,000). The average private rent in Reading was £1,574 a month in August 2026, 1.4% up on a year earlier (ONS). Reading had 9.0 crimes per 100 people recorded by the police in the 12 months to August 2026.
Where Reading stands out
- Reading has the 29th highest share of premises able to get gigabit broadband of 318 local authorities in England and Wales: 96.4%.
- Rents in Reading had the 32nd smallest rent rise of 316 local authorities in England and Wales in the year to August 2026 (+1.4%).
- In the year ending June 2025, Reading had the 45th biggest net loss of people from moves within the UK of 318 local authorities in England and Wales: −10.2 per 1,000 residents.
House prices in Reading
The median price paid in Reading was £340,000 in the 12 months to September 2026, from 1,770 sales, or £4,315 per square metre of floor area.
By type of home
| Type | Median price | Sales | Per m² | 1 year | 5 years | South East |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detached | £612,500 | 174 | £4,911 | −3.5% | +3.8% | £590,000 |
| Semi-detached | £425,000 | 399 | £4,655 | −1.7% | +14.9% | £400,000 |
| Terraced | £340,000 | 678 | £4,292 | 0.0% | +13.3% | £320,000 |
| Flats | £225,000 | 519 | £3,860 | 0.0% | −0.9% | £213,000 |
Compared with South East and England
Median price
Price per m² of floor area
| Area | Median price | 1 year | 5 years | Per m² | Per m², 1 year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | £340,000 | −1.4% | +6.9% | £4,315 | −1.6% |
| South East | £370,000 | −1.3% | +4.2% | £4,310 | −1.2% |
| England | £285,000 | −1.4% | +5.6% | £3,333 | −0.6% |
By floor area, homes in Reading sold for a median £4,315 per m² in the 12 months to September 2026, about the same as the figure for South East (£4,310).
Reading has the 105th highest median price of 317 local authorities in England and Wales, and the 21st lowest of 64 local authorities in South East.
Its −1.4% change over the year is the 98th biggest price fall of 317 in England and Wales, and the 22nd biggest fall of 64 local authorities in South East.
Broadband and mobile in Reading
96.4% of premises in Reading can get gigabit broadband and 99.7% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more), by Ofcom's latest figures. 95.6% can get full fibre, and 0.0% get under 10 Mbit/s. Its gigabit coverage is the 29th highest of 318 local authorities in England and Wales.
Premises able to get gigabit broadband
99.0% of premises in Reading get good 4G indoors from all four mobile networks (England: 91.2%).
Rents in Reading
The average private rent in Reading was £1,574 a month in August 2026, 1.4% up on a year earlier. Rents in Reading are 35.2% higher than five years earlier (August 2026 against August 2021).
Reading has the 53rd highest average rent of 316 local authorities in England and Wales, and the 14th highest of 64 local authorities in South East.
People moving in and out in Reading
In the year ending June 2025, 16,941 people moved to Reading from elsewhere in the UK and 18,803 moved away, a net loss of 1,862 (10.2 per 1,000 residents).
Most moved in from
- Wokingham 1,958
- West Berkshire 812
- Slough 362
Most moved out to
- Wokingham 2,870
- West Berkshire 1,651
- South Oxfordshire 686
Moves within the UK only (ONS internal migration); people arriving from or leaving for abroad aren't counted.
How many homes sell in Reading
1,549 homes were sold in Reading in the 12 months to September 2026, 0.85 for every 100 people living there. In the 12 months to June 2026, sales in Reading were 0.4% down on the year before and 34.0% lower than five years earlier.
That is the 70th fewest sales per person of 317 local authorities in England and Wales, and the 6th fewest of 64 local authorities in South East.
Home sales per 100 people: sales recorded by HM Land Registry, less those not at full market value, against ONS's population estimate.
Crime in Reading
The police recorded 16,463 crimes in Reading in the 12 months to August 2026, 9.0 for every 100 people living or working there. Recorded crime in Reading rose 3.2% in the 12 months to August 2026 compared with the 12 months before, and is 14.0% lower than three years earlier.
| Kind of crime | Per 100 people |
|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 3.95 |
| Anti-social behaviour, damage, drugs and public order | 2.93 |
| Theft and vehicle crime | 1.54 |
| Burglary and robbery | 0.54 |
Reading has the 93rd highest crime rate of 302 local authorities in England and Wales with full figures, and the 12th highest of 64 local authorities in South East.
The figure for England leaves out Gloucestershire and Greater Manchester, whose police have not published every month.
Street crime from police.uk. People are those living there plus those coming in to work, so town and city centres aren't overstated.
Deprivation in Reading
Reading is the 147th most deprived of 296 local authorities in England on the English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (where 1 is the most deprived).
| Part of the index | Rank of 296 (1 = most deprived) |
|---|---|
| Overall | 147th |
| Income | 127th |
| Employment | 196th |
| Education and skills | 119th |
| Health | 146th |
| Crime | 94th |
| Barriers to housing and services | 94th |
| Living environment | 145th |
Questions about Reading
How much does a house cost in Reading?
The median price paid for a home in Reading was £340,000 in the 12 months to September 2026. By type: detached £612,500; semi-detached £425,000; terraced £340,000; flats £225,000.
Are house prices in Reading going up?
In the year to September 2026, the median price in Reading fell 1.4%, and over five years it rose 6.9%. Across South East prices fell 1.3% over the same year.
How much is rent in Reading?
The average private rent in Reading was £1,574 a month in August 2026. 1 bed £1,116; 2 bed £1,393; 3 bed £1,671; 4+ bed £2,353.
Is Reading a safe place to live?
Reading had 9.0 crimes per 100 people in the 12 months to August 2026, the 93rd highest of 302 local authorities in England and Wales with full figures. The figure for South East was 7.2. Crime varies a lot from street to street: look up a postcode on the map for its own figures.
Can you get full fibre broadband in Reading?
95.6% of premises in Reading can get full fibre and 96.4% can get gigabit broadband, by Ofcom's latest figures.
Nearby areas
- Wokingham 7 km
- Bracknell Forest 18 km
- West Berkshire 20 km
- Hart 21 km
- Windsor and Maidenhead 22 km
Sources: HM Land Registry Price Paid Data, ONS (private rents, population estimates, internal migration), police.uk, MHCLG English Indices of Deprivation 2025, Ofcom Connected Nations. Figures updated November 2026. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right; Office for National Statistics and police.uk data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.