Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 15 of 22 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
135,665 ✓ 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.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Rent averages $202/mo less ($1,390 vs $1,592)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Toms River by $32,073/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Property crime (2657.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Toms River, NJ
Pros
67% less violent crime than Elizabeth
Households earn $32,073 more per year on average
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
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
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
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 112.5 on the COL index
Toms River
Median Income
$32,073
$92,012 vs $59,939/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
67% lower
134.3 vs 408.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" | 23.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 35.7 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Toms River leads 15 of 22 categories. Elizabeth wins 7 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 Elizabeth to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $356,100 median home), income ($59,939 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and Toms River, NJ are about 46 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.