Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Fayetteville leads 14 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
Arkansas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,881
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
95,022 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
9
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.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
Rent averages $648/mo less ($944 vs $1,592)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Homes cost $65k less ($291,300 vs $356,100)
More college-educated — 50.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Median income trails Toms River by $35,131/yr
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Households earn $35,131 more per year on average
68% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Fayetteville
Pricier housing — median home is $356,100
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$65k less
$291,300 vs $356,100
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.7°F vs 85.5°F
Toms River
Median Income
$35,131
$92,012 vs $56,881/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
68% lower
134.3 vs 423.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 93.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 14 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 14 and Toms River wins 9. 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 Fayetteville to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $356,100 median home), income ($56,881 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and Toms River, NJ are about 1,118 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.