Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hoover, AL
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Hoover leads 15 of 23 categories
Hoover
Alabama
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,765 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
91,995
Toms River
New Jersey
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,012
Violent Crime Index
35
Population
92,827 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hoover, AL
Pros
42% less violent crime than Toms River
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 60.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.9%)
Rent averages $240/mo less ($1,352 vs $1,592)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 92°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Hoover
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hoover
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Hoover
Median Income
$9,753
$101,765 vs $92,012/yr
Hoover
Violent Crime
42% lower
78.0 vs 134.3 per 100k
Hoover
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.7% unemployment
Hoover
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 85.5°F
Toms River
Median Home Value
$10k less
$356,100 vs $366,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hoover, AL | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $366,200⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,352⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $101,765 ✓ Higher | $92,012 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 43 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 35 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 96.7% ✓ Higher | 93.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hoover City | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.8°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 59.0" | 52.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,995 | 92,827 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.3 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.5% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 16.1% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hoover's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Hoover is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hoover leads 15 of 23 categories. Hoover wins 15 and Toms River wins 8. 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 Hoover to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($366,200 vs $356,100 median home), income ($101,765 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hoover, AL and Toms River, NJ are about 834 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.