Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Colorado Springs, CO
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Colorado Springs leads 12 of 23 categories
Colorado Springs
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,026
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
479,612 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
11
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.
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 41.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $128/mo less ($1,464 vs $1,592)
Cons
Violent crime (715.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Toms River by $12,986/yr
Property crime (3448.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $383,000
Toms River, NJ
Pros
81% less violent crime than Colorado Springs
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $12,986 more per year on average
Homes cost $27k less ($356,100 vs $383,000)
Cons
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Colorado Springs
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Colorado Springs
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Toms River
Median Income
$12,986
$92,012 vs $79,026/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
81% lower
134.3 vs 715.6 per 100k
Toms River
Median Home Value
$27k less
$356,100 vs $383,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $383,000⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,026 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 179⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.1% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 93.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.0" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.2" | 23.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 479,612 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.1% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Colorado Springs's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Colorado Springs is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Colorado Springs leads 12 of 23 categories. Colorado Springs wins 12 and Toms River wins 11. 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 Colorado Springs to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,000 vs $356,100 median home), income ($79,026 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Colorado Springs, CO and Toms River, NJ are about 1,625 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.