Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hayward, CA
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 16 of 21 categories
Hayward
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,371 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
160,602 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Hayward, CA
Pros
Households earn $13,359 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 42°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 86°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $775,700
Higher rents — median is $2,260/mo
Violent crime (477.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $420k less ($356,100 vs $775,700)
72% less violent crime than Hayward
Rent averages $668/mo less ($1,592 vs $2,260)
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
Cons
Median income trails Hayward by $13,359/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hayward
Median Income
$13,359
$105,371 vs $92,012/yr
Toms River
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Toms River
Violent Crime
72% lower
134.3 vs 477.1 per 100k
Toms River
Median Home Value
$420k less
$356,100 vs $775,700
Toms River
Summer Heat
10.8°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 74.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hayward, CA | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $775,700⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,260⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,371 ✓ Higher | $92,012 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.3:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.5% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hayward Unified | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.7°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.0" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 160,602 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 37.6 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.5% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hayward's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Toms River is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Toms River leads 16 of 21 categories. Hayward wins 5 and Toms River wins 16. 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 Hayward to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($775,700 vs $356,100 median home), income ($105,371 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hayward, CA and Toms River, NJ are about 2,554 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.