Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 12 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
126,356 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,012 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
92,827
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $194k less ($161,800 vs $356,100)
Rent averages $532/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,592)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (2.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 42°F
Cons
Median income trails Toms River by $32,758/yr
Toms River, NJ
Pros
68% less violent crime than Abilene
Households earn $32,758 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 34.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $356,100
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Abilene
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$194k less
$161,800 vs $356,100
Abilene
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
2.8% vs 5.7% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
10.9°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 85.5°F
Toms River
Median Income
$32,758
$92,012 vs $59,254/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
68% lower
134.3 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 12 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 11 and Toms River wins 12. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Abilene to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $356,100 median home), income ($59,254 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Toms River, NJ are about 1,510 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.