Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 13 of 23 categories
Houston
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
13
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.
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $121k less ($235,000 vs $356,100)
Rent averages $357/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,592)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 42°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Toms River by $31,572/yr
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.7%)
Toms River, NJ
Pros
88% less violent crime than Houston
Households earn $31,572 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $356,100
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Houston
Key Differences at a Glance
Houston
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Houston
Median Home Value
$121k less
$235,000 vs $356,100
Houston
Summer Heat
7.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 85.5°F
Toms River
Median Income
$31,572
$92,012 vs $60,440/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
88% lower
134.3 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Toms River
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $235,000 ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" | 52.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Houston is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 13 of 23 categories. Houston wins 10 and Toms River wins 13. 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 Houston to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $356,100 median home), income ($60,440 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and Toms River, NJ are about 1,388 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.