Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Alexandria leads 13 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58
Population
157,594 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,012
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.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.2%)
Households earn $21,167 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $300k less ($356,100 vs $655,700)
39% less violent crime than Alexandria
Rent averages $391/mo less ($1,592 vs $1,983)
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $21,167/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.2%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Alexandria
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Alexandria
Median Income
$21,167
$113,179 vs $92,012/yr
Alexandria
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.7% unemployment
Alexandria
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 85.5°F
Toms River
Violent Crime
39% lower
134.3 vs 219.1 per 100k
Toms River
Median Home Value
$300k less
$356,100 vs $655,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $92,012 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 93.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Alexandria is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Alexandria leads 13 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 13 and Toms River wins 10. 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 Alexandria to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $356,100 median home), income ($113,179 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Toms River, NJ are about 175 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.