Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 12 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$80,243
Violent Crime Index
85
Population
106,598 ✓ 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.
Boulder, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 42°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Median income trails Toms River by $11,769/yr
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $564k less ($356,100 vs $919,700)
58% less violent crime than Boulder
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $261/mo less ($1,592 vs $1,853)
Households earn $11,769 more per year on average
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
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Boulder
Key Differences at a Glance
Boulder
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 107.2 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Toms River
Median Income
$11,769
$92,012 vs $80,243/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
58% lower
134.3 vs 322.3 per 100k
Toms River
Median Home Value
$564k less
$356,100 vs $919,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 93.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 23.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Boulder is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 12 of 23 categories. Boulder 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 Boulder to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $356,100 median home), income ($80,243 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Toms River, NJ are about 1,635 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.