Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clarksville, TN
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 12 of 22 categories
Clarksville
Tennessee
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,688
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
167,882 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
12
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.
Clarksville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $143k less ($213,200 vs $356,100)
Rent averages $473/mo less ($1,119 vs $1,592)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 42°F
Cons
Median income trails Toms River by $29,324/yr
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.7%)
Toms River, NJ
Pros
67% less violent crime than Clarksville
Households earn $29,324 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.7%)
More college-educated — 34.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $356,100
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Clarksville
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clarksville
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Clarksville
Median Home Value
$143k less
$213,200 vs $356,100
Clarksville
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 89.9°F vs 85.5°F
Toms River
Median Income
$29,324
$92,012 vs $62,688/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
67% lower
134.3 vs 410.0 per 100k
Toms River
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clarksville, TN | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,200 ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,119 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,688 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.9% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 93.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.8°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.9°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.5" | 52.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 167,882 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.0% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.9% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clarksville's cost of living index is 94.3 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Clarksville is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Toms River leads 12 of 22 categories. Clarksville wins 10 and Toms River wins 12. 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 Clarksville to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,200 vs $356,100 median home), income ($62,688 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clarksville, TN and Toms River, NJ are about 751 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.