Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gainesville, FL
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Gainesville leads 12 of 23 categories
Gainesville
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,783
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
142,414 ✓ 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.
Gainesville, FL
Pros
Homes cost $140k less ($216,600 vs $356,100)
Rent averages $441/mo less ($1,151 vs $1,592)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
More college-educated — 50.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 42°F
Cons
Median income trails Toms River by $48,229/yr
Violent crime (738.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2703.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Households earn $48,229 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than Gainesville
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $356,100
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Gainesville
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Gainesville
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 96.9 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Gainesville
Median Home Value
$140k less
$216,600 vs $356,100
Gainesville
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 85.5°F
Toms River
Median Income
$48,229
$92,012 vs $43,783/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
82% lower
134.3 vs 738.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gainesville, FL | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.9 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $216,600 ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,151 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,783 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (111) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.2:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.0% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% ✓ Higher | 93.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALACHUA | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.1°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 52.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,414 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 26.0 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 38.5% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.6% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gainesville's cost of living index is 96.9 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Gainesville is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Gainesville leads 12 of 23 categories. Gainesville 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 Gainesville to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($216,600 vs $356,100 median home), income ($43,783 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gainesville, FL and Toms River, NJ are about 849 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.