Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, NC
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Concord leads 14 of 23 categories
Concord
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,480
Violent Crime Index
42
Population
105,335 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
9
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.
Concord, NC
Pros
Rent averages $333/mo less ($1,259 vs $1,592)
Homes cost $68k less ($288,100 vs $356,100)
Violent crime is well below the national average (159.0 vs 380/100k)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Toms River by $8,532/yr
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $8,532 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $356,100
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Concord
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 97.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Concord
Median Home Value
$68k less
$288,100 vs $356,100
Concord
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.7% unemployment
Concord
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 85.5°F
Toms River
Median Income
$8,532
$92,012 vs $83,480/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
16% lower
134.3 vs 159.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, NC | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $288,100 ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,259 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,480 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 46 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 | 53 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.8% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cabarrus County Schools | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.8°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.0" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.3" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,335 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 37.3 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.4% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Concord is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Concord leads 14 of 23 categories. Concord wins 14 and Toms River wins 9. 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 Concord to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($288,100 vs $356,100 median home), income ($83,480 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, NC and Toms River, NJ are about 475 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.