Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gilbert, AZ
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Gilbert leads 17 of 23 categories
Gilbert
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$115,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
267,267 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,012
Violent Crime Index
35
Population
92,827
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
Households earn $23,167 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 42°F
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Higher rents — median is $1,839/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $98k less ($356,100 vs $454,300)
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $247/mo less ($1,592 vs $1,839)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 104°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Gilbert by $23,167/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Gilbert
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Gilbert
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 102.5 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Gilbert
Median Income
$23,167
$115,179 vs $92,012/yr
Gilbert
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.7% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
18.7°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 85.5°F
Toms River
Median Home Value
$98k less
$356,100 vs $454,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gilbert, AZ | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,839⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,179 ✓ Higher | $92,012 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.5% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 39 ✓ Safer | 43 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 | 35 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 53 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 93.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gilbert Unified District (4239) | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.8" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 267,267 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gilbert's cost of living index is 102.5 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Gilbert is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 17 of 23 categories. Gilbert wins 17 and Toms River wins 6. 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 Gilbert to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $356,100 median home), income ($115,179 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gilbert, AZ and Toms River, NJ are about 2,116 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.