Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 14 of 22 categories
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,895
Violent Crime Index
69
Population
136,929 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
14
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.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Homes cost $188k less ($167,900 vs $356,100)
Rent averages $706/mo less ($886 vs $1,592)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.9%)
Cons
Median income trails Toms River by $25,117/yr
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Toms River, NJ
Pros
49% less violent crime than Cedar Rapids
Households earn $25,117 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 42°F vs 28°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $356,100
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Cedar Rapids
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$188k less
$167,900 vs $356,100
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.7% unemployment
Toms River
Median Income
$25,117
$92,012 vs $66,895/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
49% lower
134.3 vs 261.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 93.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 23.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Toms River leads 14 of 22 categories. Cedar Rapids wins 8 and Toms River wins 14. 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 Cedar Rapids to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $356,100 median home), income ($66,895 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and Toms River, NJ are about 921 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.