Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 13 of 23 categories
Bakersfield
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,827
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
404,321 ✓ 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.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Rent averages $309/mo less ($1,283 vs $1,592)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Homes cost $36k less ($320,600 vs $356,100)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 42°F
Cons
Violent crime (554.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Toms River by $18,185/yr
Property crime (2469.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 5.7%)
Toms River, NJ
Pros
76% less violent crime than Bakersfield
Households earn $18,185 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.7%)
More college-educated — 34.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 97°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Bakersfield
Pricier housing — median home is $356,100
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 102.2 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Bakersfield
Median Home Value
$36k less
$320,600 vs $356,100
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
11.9°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 85.5°F
Toms River
Median Income
$18,185
$92,012 vs $73,827/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
76% lower
134.3 vs 554.6 per 100k
Toms River
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Bakersfield is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 13 of 23 categories. Bakersfield 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 Bakersfield to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $356,100 median home), income ($73,827 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Toms River, NJ are about 2,448 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.