Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 18 of 23 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,016
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High
Population
104,713 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
18
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.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Rent averages $146/mo less ($1,446 vs $1,592)
Cons
Violent crime (599.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Toms River by $17,996/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 5.7%)
Toms River, NJ
Pros
78% less violent crime than Brockton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.7%)
Households earn $17,996 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 34.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Brockton
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Toms River
Median Income
$17,996
$92,012 vs $74,016/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
78% lower
134.3 vs 599.2 per 100k
Toms River
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.7% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 23.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Brockton is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 18 of 23 categories. Brockton wins 5 and Toms River wins 18. 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 Brockton to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $356,100 median home), income ($74,016 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Toms River, NJ are about 219 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.