Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jacksonville, FL
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 13 of 23 categories
Jacksonville
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,138
Violent Crime Index
164⚠ High
Population
950,203 ✓ 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.
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
Homes cost $113k less ($243,000 vs $356,100)
Rent averages $311/mo less ($1,281 vs $1,592)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.8%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 42°F
Cons
Median income trails Toms River by $27,874/yr
Violent crime (623.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2494.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Toms River, NJ
Pros
78% less violent crime than Jacksonville
Households earn $27,874 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 34.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 92°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
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Jacksonville
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Jacksonville
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 99.2 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Jacksonville
Median Home Value
$113k less
$243,000 vs $356,100
Jacksonville
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.7% unemployment
Jacksonville
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 85.5°F
Toms River
Median Income
$27,874
$92,012 vs $64,138/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
78% lower
134.3 vs 623.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jacksonville, FL | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 99.2 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $243,000 ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,281 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,138 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DUVAL | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.1" | 52.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 950,203 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.0% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jacksonville's cost of living index is 99.2 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Jacksonville is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 13 of 23 categories. Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,000 vs $356,100 median home), income ($64,138 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jacksonville, FL and Toms River, NJ are about 789 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.