Head-to-Head · City Comparison
High Point, NC
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 12 of 22 categories
High Point
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,582
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
114,120 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
12
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.
High Point, NC
Pros
Homes cost $160k less ($196,500 vs $356,100)
Rent averages $562/mo less ($1,030 vs $1,592)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 42°F
Cons
Median income trails Toms River by $33,430/yr
Violent crime (454.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2456.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Toms River, NJ
Pros
70% less violent crime than High Point
Households earn $33,430 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.7%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $356,100
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than High Point
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
High Point
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
High Point
Median Home Value
$160k less
$196,500 vs $356,100
High Point
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 85.5°F
Toms River
Median Income
$33,430
$92,012 vs $58,582/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
70% lower
134.3 vs 454.8 per 100k
Toms River
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | High Point, NC | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $196,500 ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,030 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,582 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.0% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 117⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.4% | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Guilford County Schools | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.7°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.3" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,120 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 37.7 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.1% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.7% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
High Point's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
High Point is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Toms River leads 12 of 22 categories. High Point wins 10 and Toms River wins 12. 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 High Point to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($196,500 vs $356,100 median home), income ($58,582 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
High Point, NC and Toms River, NJ are about 420 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.