Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dallas, TX
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Dallas leads 13 of 23 categories
Dallas
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,985
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
1,300,642 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
10
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.
Dallas, TX
Pros
Homes cost $85k less ($270,700 vs $356,100)
Rent averages $287/mo less ($1,305 vs $1,592)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.0%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 42°F
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Cons
Median income trails Toms River by $28,027/yr
Violent crime (658.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3351.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Toms River, NJ
Pros
80% less violent crime than Dallas
Households earn $28,027 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $356,100
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Dallas
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Dallas
Median Home Value
$85k less
$270,700 vs $356,100
Dallas
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.7% unemployment
Dallas
Summer Heat
11.4°F warmer
July avg high 96.9°F vs 85.5°F
Toms River
Median Income
$28,027
$92,012 vs $63,985/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
80% lower
134.3 vs 658.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dallas, TX | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $270,700 ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,305 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,985 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.5% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DALLAS ISD | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.7°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.9°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.4" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,300,642 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.9% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.4% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.0% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dallas's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Dallas is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dallas leads 13 of 23 categories. Dallas wins 13 and Toms River wins 10. 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 Dallas to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($270,700 vs $356,100 median home), income ($63,985 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dallas, TX and Toms River, NJ are about 1,346 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.