Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Cajon, CA
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 15 of 23 categories
El Cajon
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,128
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
105,721 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
15
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.
El Cajon, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 42°F
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,500
Median income trails Toms River by $27,884/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 5.7%)
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $237k less ($356,100 vs $593,500)
69% less violent crime than El Cajon
Households earn $27,884 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (5.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 34.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
El Cajon
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.5 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Toms River
Median Income
$27,884
$92,012 vs $64,128/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
69% lower
134.3 vs 434.4 per 100k
Toms River
Median Home Value
$237k less
$356,100 vs $593,500
Toms River
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
5.7% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Cajon, CA | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $593,500⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,686⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,128 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.8:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cajon Valley Union | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.1°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.5" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,721 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.7% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Cajon's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
El Cajon is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 15 of 23 categories. El Cajon wins 8 and Toms River wins 15. 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 El Cajon to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,500 vs $356,100 median home), income ($64,128 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Cajon, CA and Toms River, NJ are about 2,406 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.