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Is South Toms River, NJ a Good Place to Live?
South Toms River is a small town of 3,662 in New Jersey, with a median household income of $96,688 and a 8.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.
Strengths: South Toms River stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-).
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether South Toms River is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All South Toms River city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 112.5South Toms River's overall cost of living index is 112.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in South Toms River costs roughly 12% more than the average American city.
| Metric | South Toms River, NJ | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $248,900 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,056 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.1% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $96,688 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Very SafeSouth Toms River's violent crime rate is 129.6 per 100,000 residents — 66% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
South Toms River is served primarily by Toms River Regional School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | South Toms River, NJ | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Toms River Regional School District | — |
| Elementary Schools | 12 | — |
| Middle Schools | 3 | — |
| High Schools | 3 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 13.8:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.5% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 89.4% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
South Toms River sees average highs of 41.6°F in January and 85.5°F in July, with 52.0 inches of annual precipitation and 10.2 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | South Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 41.6°F |
| Average High — July | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.2" |
Demographics
| Metric | South Toms River, NJ | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,662 | — |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 27.1 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 53.0% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 27.7% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 9.7% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 0.0% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 28.7% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 7.2% | 16.8% |