Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chandler, AZ
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Chandler leads 15 of 23 categories
Chandler
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$99,374 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
275,618 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,012
Violent Crime Index
35
Population
92,827
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chandler, AZ
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (133.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 42°F
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
More college-educated — 46.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,900
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Higher rents — median is $1,675/mo
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $68k less ($356,100 vs $423,900)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 106°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Rent averages $83/mo less ($1,592 vs $1,675)
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Chandler
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.8%)
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Chandler
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 101.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Chandler
Median Income
$7,362
$99,374 vs $92,012/yr
Chandler
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.7% unemployment
Chandler
Summer Heat
20.4°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 85.5°F
Toms River
Median Home Value
$68k less
$356,100 vs $423,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chandler, AZ | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $423,900⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,675⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,374 ✓ Higher | $92,012 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 | 35 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.2% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 93.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chandler Unified District #80 (4242) | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.7" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 275,618 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.6% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chandler's cost of living index is 101.4 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Chandler is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chandler leads 15 of 23 categories. Chandler wins 15 and Toms River wins 8. 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 Chandler to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($423,900 vs $356,100 median home), income ($99,374 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chandler, AZ and Toms River, NJ are about 2,123 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.