Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jersey City, NJ
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 15 of 22 categories
Jersey City
New Jersey
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,151
Violent Crime Index
148⚠ High
Population
287,899 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
15
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.
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
More college-educated — 51.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $500,100
Violent crime (561.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,799/mo
Toms River, NJ
Pros
76% less violent crime than Jersey City
Homes cost $144k less ($356,100 vs $500,100)
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Rent averages $207/mo less ($1,592 vs $1,799)
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 112.5 on the COL index
Toms River
Median Income
$861
$92,012 vs $91,151/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
76% lower
134.3 vs 561.6 per 100k
Toms River
Median Home Value
$144k less
$356,100 vs $500,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jersey City, NJ | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $500,100⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,799⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,151 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 37.0 min⚠ High | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.9% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jersey City Public Schools | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 23.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 287,899 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 29.2% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jersey City's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Toms River leads 15 of 22 categories. Jersey City wins 7 and Toms River wins 15. 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 Jersey City to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($500,100 vs $356,100 median home), income ($91,151 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jersey City, NJ and Toms River, NJ are about 50 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.