Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 17 of 23 categories
Carson
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
94,475 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Carson, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 42°F
Households earn $11,033 more per year on average
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 86°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,815/mo
Property crime (2930.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $260k less ($356,100 vs $616,000)
68% less violent crime than Carson
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.7%)
Rent averages $223/mo less ($1,592 vs $1,815)
More college-educated — 34.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Median income trails Carson by $11,033/yr
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$11,033
$103,045 vs $92,012/yr
Toms River
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Toms River
Violent Crime
68% lower
134.3 vs 420.0 per 100k
Toms River
Median Home Value
$260k less
$356,100 vs $616,000
Toms River
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.9% unemployment
Toms River
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $92,012 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 41.3 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Toms River is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 17 of 23 categories. Carson 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 Carson to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $356,100 median home), income ($103,045 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Toms River, NJ are about 2,446 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.