Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Fort Collins leads 12 of 23 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
168,758 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
11
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.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Median income trails Toms River by $13,035/yr
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Toms River, NJ
Pros
51% less violent crime than Fort Collins
Homes cost $141k less ($356,100 vs $497,400)
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $13,035 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Fort Collins
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Toms River
Median Income
$13,035
$92,012 vs $78,977/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
51% lower
134.3 vs 272.7 per 100k
Toms River
Median Home Value
$141k less
$356,100 vs $497,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 93.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 23.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 12 of 23 categories. Fort Collins wins 12 and Toms River wins 11. 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 Fort Collins to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $356,100 median home), income ($78,977 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Toms River, NJ are about 1,620 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.