Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 16 of 22 categories
Clifton
New Jersey
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44
Population
89,451
Toms River
New Jersey
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,012
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
92,827 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $428,000
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 5.7%)
Toms River, NJ
Pros
19% less violent crime than Clifton
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $72k less ($356,100 vs $428,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.7%)
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Median Income
$2,167
$94,179 vs $92,012/yr
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 112.5 on the COL index
Toms River
Violent Crime
19% lower
134.3 vs 165.8 per 100k
Toms River
Median Home Value
$72k less
$356,100 vs $428,000
Toms River
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 ✓ Higher | $92,012 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 23.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 92,827 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Toms River leads 16 of 22 categories. Clifton wins 6 and Toms River wins 16. 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 Clifton to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $356,100 median home), income ($94,179 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Toms River, NJ are about 60 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.