Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 12 of 23 categories
Billings
Montana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High
Population
117,093 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
12
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.
Billings, MT
Pros
Rent averages $528/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,592)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Homes cost $71k less ($285,300 vs $356,100)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.6%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.6)
Cons
Violent crime (746.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Toms River by $22,320/yr
Property crime (3083.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 57" of snow per year
Toms River, NJ
Pros
82% less violent crime than Billings
Households earn $22,320 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 42°F vs 36°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Billings
Pricier housing — median home is $356,100
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Home Value
$71k less
$285,300 vs $356,100
Billings
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.7% unemployment
Toms River
Median Income
$22,320
$92,012 vs $69,692/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
82% lower
134.3 vs 746.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 93.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 23.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 37.7 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Billings is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 12 of 23 categories. Billings wins 11 and Toms River wins 12. 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 Billings to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $356,100 median home), income ($69,692 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Toms River, NJ are about 1,770 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.