Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hesperia, CA
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 14 of 23 categories
Hesperia
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,698
Violent Crime Index
137⚠ High
Population
99,878 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
14
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.
Hesperia, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 42°F
Rent averages $156/mo less ($1,436 vs $1,592)
Homes cost $19k less ($337,600 vs $356,100)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Cons
Median income trails Toms River by $24,314/yr
Violent crime (519.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 5.7%)
Longer commutes — 42.4 min average each way
Toms River, NJ
Pros
74% less violent crime than Hesperia
Households earn $24,314 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (5.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $356,100
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Hesperia
Key Differences at a Glance
Hesperia
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Hesperia
Median Home Value
$19k less
$337,600 vs $356,100
Hesperia
Summer Heat
11.3°F warmer
July avg high 96.8°F vs 85.5°F
Toms River
Median Income
$24,314
$92,012 vs $67,698/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
74% lower
134.3 vs 519.6 per 100k
Toms River
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
5.7% vs 9.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hesperia, CA | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $337,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,436⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,698 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.8%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 42.4 min⚠ High | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.4:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.9% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.0% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hesperia Unified | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.8°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.1" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,878 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.5% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.3% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 9.9% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hesperia's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Hesperia is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 14 of 23 categories. Hesperia wins 9 and Toms River wins 14. 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 Hesperia to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($337,600 vs $356,100 median home), income ($67,698 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hesperia, CA and Toms River, NJ are about 2,381 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.