Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 15 of 23 categories
Fort Wayne
Indiana
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233
Violent Crime Index
81
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
15
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 Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $204k less ($152,500 vs $356,100)
Rent averages $688/mo less ($904 vs $1,592)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Median income trails Toms River by $33,779/yr
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Households earn $33,779 more per year on average
56% less violent crime than Fort Wayne
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 34.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 42°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $356,100
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Fort Wayne
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$204k less
$152,500 vs $356,100
Toms River
Median Income
$33,779
$92,012 vs $58,233/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
56% lower
134.3 vs 307.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 23.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 15 of 23 categories. Fort Wayne 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 Fort Wayne to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $356,100 median home), income ($58,233 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Toms River, NJ are about 580 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.