Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alafaya, FL
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Alafaya leads 10 of 19 categories
Alafaya
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,251 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,531
Toms River
New Jersey
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,012
Violent Crime Index
35
Population
92,827 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alafaya, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 42°F
More college-educated — 47.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $176/mo less ($1,592 vs $1,768)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Alafaya
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alafaya
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 101.1 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Alafaya
Median Income
$1,239
$93,251 vs $92,012/yr
Alafaya
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.7% unemployment
Alafaya
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 85.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alafaya, FL | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $361,800⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,251 ✓ Higher | $92,012 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.2% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 43 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 35 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 53 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.9% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.5% ✓ Higher | 93.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ORANGE | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.2°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.2" | 52.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,531 | 92,827 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.4% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alafaya's cost of living index is 101.1 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Alafaya is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Alafaya leads 10 of 19 categories. Alafaya wins 10 and Toms River wins 9. 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 Alafaya to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($361,800 vs $356,100 median home), income ($93,251 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alafaya, FL and Toms River, NJ are about 887 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.