Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bridgeport, CT
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 17 of 23 categories
Bridgeport
Connecticut
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,440
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
148,470 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
17
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.
Bridgeport, CT
Pros
Homes cost $129k less ($227,200 vs $356,100)
Rent averages $223/mo less ($1,369 vs $1,592)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Cons
Median income trails Toms River by $37,572/yr
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 5.7%)
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Households earn $37,572 more per year on average
66% less violent crime than Bridgeport
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (5.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 34.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $356,100
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Bridgeport
Key Differences at a Glance
Bridgeport
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Bridgeport
Median Home Value
$129k less
$227,200 vs $356,100
Toms River
Median Income
$37,572
$92,012 vs $54,440/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
66% lower
134.3 vs 392.9 per 100k
Toms River
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
5.7% vs 9.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $227,200 ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,440 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 90 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.7% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.0% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bridgeport School District | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.4°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 23.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,470 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.2% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridgeport's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Bridgeport is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 17 of 23 categories. Bridgeport wins 6 and Toms River wins 17. 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 Bridgeport to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($227,200 vs $356,100 median home), income ($54,440 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bridgeport, CT and Toms River, NJ are about 97 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.