Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buckeye, AZ
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Buckeye leads 14 of 23 categories
Buckeye
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,188 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44
Population
95,042 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
9
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.
Buckeye, AZ
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (166.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.0%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 42°F
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Toms River, NJ
Pros
19% less violent crime than Buckeye
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 107°F
More college-educated — 34.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Buckeye
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Buckeye
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Buckeye
Median Income
$2,176
$94,188 vs $92,012/yr
Buckeye
Median Home Value
$14k less
$341,700 vs $356,100
Buckeye
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.7% unemployment
Buckeye
Summer Heat
21.0°F warmer
July avg high 106.5°F vs 85.5°F
Toms River
Violent Crime
19% lower
134.3 vs 166.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buckeye, AZ | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $341,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,188 ✓ Higher | $92,012 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.5 min⚠ High | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 41 ✓ Safer | 43 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 37 ✓ Safer | 53 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (72) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.2:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.9% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Litchfield Elementary District (4281) | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.1°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 106.5°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,042 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 85.3% ✓ Higher | 80.6% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buckeye's cost of living index is 100.0 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Buckeye is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Buckeye leads 14 of 23 categories. Buckeye wins 14 and Toms River wins 9. 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 Buckeye to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($341,700 vs $356,100 median home), income ($94,188 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buckeye, AZ and Toms River, NJ are about 2,160 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.