Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Arlington leads 14 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
235,845 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
9
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.
Arlington, VA
Pros
Households earn $45,375 more per year on average
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (2.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $477k less ($356,100 vs $833,300)
47% less violent crime than Arlington
Rent averages $635/mo less ($1,592 vs $2,227)
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $45,375/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 2.8%)
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Median Income
$45,375
$137,387 vs $92,012/yr
Arlington
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
2.8% vs 5.7% unemployment
Arlington
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 85.5°F
Toms River
Violent Crime
47% lower
134.3 vs 254.4 per 100k
Toms River
Median Home Value
$477k less
$356,100 vs $833,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, 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 | $833,300⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $92,012 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 93.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County 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 | 47.2" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 14 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 14 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 Arlington to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $356,100 median home), income ($137,387 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Toms River, NJ are about 174 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.