Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 15 of 23 categories
Fontana
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,230 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71
Population
209,279 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
15
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.
Fontana, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 42°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $506,600
Toms River, NJ
Pros
50% less violent crime than Fontana
Homes cost $151k less ($356,100 vs $506,600)
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 34.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Fontana
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Fontana
Median Income
$1,218
$93,230 vs $92,012/yr
Fontana
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 85.5°F
Toms River
Violent Crime
50% lower
134.3 vs 270.2 per 100k
Toms River
Median Home Value
$151k less
$356,100 vs $506,600
Toms River
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 ✓ Higher | $92,012 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Fontana is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 15 of 23 categories. Fontana wins 8 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 Fontana to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $356,100 median home), income ($93,230 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and Toms River, NJ are about 2,397 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.