Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 13 of 23 categories
Elk Grove
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50
Population
176,105 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,012
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.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $23,852 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 42°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 5.7%)
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $204k less ($356,100 vs $560,500)
29% less violent crime than Elk Grove
Rent averages $484/mo less ($1,592 vs $2,076)
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 93°F
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $23,852/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Elk Grove
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Elk Grove
Median Income
$23,852
$115,864 vs $92,012/yr
Elk Grove
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 85.5°F
Toms River
Violent Crime
29% lower
134.3 vs 189.9 per 100k
Toms River
Median Home Value
$204k less
$356,100 vs $560,500
Toms River
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $92,012 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 38.7 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Elk Grove is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 13 of 23 categories. Elk Grove wins 10 and Toms River wins 13. 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 Elk Grove to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $356,100 median home), income ($115,864 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Toms River, NJ are about 2,499 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.