Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 12 of 23 categories
Fargo
North Dakota
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,432
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
127,319 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
12
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.
Fargo, ND
Pros
Rent averages $692/mo less ($900 vs $1,592)
Homes cost $101k less ($254,900 vs $356,100)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.6%)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Toms River by $27,580/yr
Violent crime (498.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3696.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Toms River, NJ
Pros
73% less violent crime than Fargo
Households earn $27,580 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 42°F vs 17°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $356,100
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Fargo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Home Value
$101k less
$254,900 vs $356,100
Fargo
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.7% unemployment
Toms River
Median Income
$27,580
$92,012 vs $64,432/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
73% lower
134.3 vs 498.2 per 100k
Toms River
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $254,900 ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 93.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 23.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 12 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 11 and Toms River wins 12. 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 Fargo to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $356,100 median home), income ($64,432 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Toms River, NJ are about 1,226 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.