Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Carlsbad leads 13 of 23 categories
Carlsbad
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52
Population
114,745 ✓ 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.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $42,127 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 42°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 86°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,070,500
Higher rents — median is $2,477/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $714k less ($356,100 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $885/mo less ($1,592 vs $2,477)
33% less violent crime than Carlsbad
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $42,127/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carlsbad
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.5 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Carlsbad
Median Income
$42,127
$134,139 vs $92,012/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
33% lower
134.3 vs 199.1 per 100k
Toms River
Median Home Value
$714k less
$356,100 vs $1,070,500
Toms River
Summer Heat
11.3°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $92,012 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 93.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 42.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 17.8% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Carlsbad is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 13 of 23 categories. Carlsbad 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 Carlsbad to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $356,100 median home), income ($134,139 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and Toms River, NJ are about 2,414 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.