Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dearborn, MI
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 14 of 22 categories
Dearborn
Michigan
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,600
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
108,414 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
14
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.
Dearborn, MI
Pros
Homes cost $167k less ($189,400 vs $356,100)
Rent averages $387/mo less ($1,205 vs $1,592)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Cons
Median income trails Toms River by $27,412/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.7%)
Toms River, NJ
Pros
54% less violent crime than Dearborn
Households earn $27,412 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 42°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $356,100
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Dearborn
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Dearborn
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Dearborn
Median Home Value
$167k less
$189,400 vs $356,100
Toms River
Median Income
$27,412
$92,012 vs $64,600/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
54% lower
134.3 vs 292.6 per 100k
Toms River
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dearborn, MI | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $189,400 ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,205 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,600 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.9% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 85.1% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dearborn City School District | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.0°F | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.0" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" | 23.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,414 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.1% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.6% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dearborn's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Dearborn is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Toms River leads 14 of 22 categories. Dearborn wins 8 and Toms River wins 14. 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 Dearborn to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($189,400 vs $356,100 median home), income ($64,600 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dearborn, MI and Toms River, NJ are about 496 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.