Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Boca Raton leads 13 of 23 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45
Population
97,980 ✓ 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.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 42°F
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Households earn $3,558 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $241k less ($356,100 vs $597,100)
Rent averages $578/mo less ($1,592 vs $2,170)
21% less violent crime than Boca Raton
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Median income trails Boca Raton by $3,558/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Boca Raton
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Boca Raton
Median Income
$3,558
$95,570 vs $92,012/yr
Boca Raton
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 85.5°F
Toms River
Violent Crime
21% lower
134.3 vs 171.0 per 100k
Toms River
Median Home Value
$241k less
$356,100 vs $597,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 ✓ Higher | $92,012 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 93.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 52.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 42.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 18.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Boca Raton is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 13 of 23 categories. Boca Raton 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 Boca Raton to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $356,100 median home), income ($95,570 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and Toms River, NJ are about 1,001 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.