Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 13 of 23 categories
Aurora
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,943
Violent Crime Index
70
Population
181,405 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
13
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.
Aurora, IL
Pros
Homes cost $115k less ($241,600 vs $356,100)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Rent averages $130/mo less ($1,462 vs $1,592)
Cons
Median income trails Toms River by $6,069/yr
Toms River, NJ
Pros
50% less violent crime than Aurora
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 42°F vs 31°F
Households earn $6,069 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $356,100
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Aurora
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Aurora
Median Home Value
$115k less
$241,600 vs $356,100
Toms River
Median Income
$6,069
$92,012 vs $85,943/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
50% lower
134.3 vs 266.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" | 23.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Aurora is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 13 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 10 and Toms River wins 13. 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 Aurora to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $356,100 median home), income ($85,943 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Toms River, NJ are about 746 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.