Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 17 of 23 categories
Federal Way
Washington
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
99,614 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 86°F
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 42°F
Cons
Violent crime (545.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Median income trails Toms River by $11,652/yr
Toms River, NJ
Pros
75% less violent crime than Federal Way
Homes cost $98k less ($356,100 vs $454,300)
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $11,652 more per year on average
More college-educated — 34.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Toms River
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Toms River
Median Income
$11,652
$92,012 vs $80,360/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
75% lower
134.3 vs 545.4 per 100k
Toms River
Median Home Value
$98k less
$356,100 vs $454,300
Toms River
Summer Heat
8.7°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Toms River is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 17 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 6 and Toms River wins 17. 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 Federal Way to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $356,100 median home), income ($80,360 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Toms River, NJ are about 2,419 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.