Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 17 of 23 categories
Downey
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
113,052 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Downey, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 42°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,814/mo
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $323k less ($356,100 vs $679,000)
71% less violent crime than Downey
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $222/mo less ($1,592 vs $1,814)
More college-educated — 34.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $7,776 more per year on average
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Toms River
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Toms River
Median Income
$7,776
$92,012 vs $84,236/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
71% lower
134.3 vs 460.5 per 100k
Toms River
Median Home Value
$323k less
$356,100 vs $679,000
Toms River
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, CA | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $679,000⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Toms River is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 17 of 23 categories. Downey wins 6 and Toms River wins 17. 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 Downey to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $356,100 median home), income ($84,236 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Toms River, NJ are about 2,437 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.