Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Huntsville, AL
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Huntsville
Alabama
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,874
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
215,025 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
11
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.
Huntsville, AL
Pros
Rent averages $572/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,592)
Homes cost $120k less ($236,300 vs $356,100)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Toms River by $24,138/yr
Violent crime (483.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Toms River, NJ
Pros
72% less violent crime than Huntsville
Households earn $24,138 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $356,100
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Huntsville
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Huntsville
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Huntsville
Median Home Value
$120k less
$236,300 vs $356,100
Huntsville
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.7% unemployment
Toms River
Median Income
$24,138
$92,012 vs $67,874/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
72% lower
134.3 vs 483.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Huntsville, AL | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $236,300 ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,874 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Huntsville City | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.2" | 52.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.4" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 215,025 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Huntsville's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Huntsville is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Huntsville wins 11 and Toms River wins 11. 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 Huntsville to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,300 vs $356,100 median home), income ($67,874 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Huntsville, AL and Toms River, NJ are about 766 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.