Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, MO
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Kansas City leads 13 of 23 categories
Kansas City
Missouri
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,256
Violent Crime Index
407⚠ High
Population
505,958 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
10
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.
Kansas City, MO
Pros
Homes cost $147k less ($208,900 vs $356,100)
Rent averages $461/mo less ($1,131 vs $1,592)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Median income trails Toms River by $26,756/yr
Violent crime (1547.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4676.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Toms River, NJ
Pros
91% less violent crime than Kansas City
Households earn $26,756 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $356,100
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Kansas City
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$147k less
$208,900 vs $356,100
Kansas City
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.7% unemployment
Kansas City
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 85.5°F
Toms River
Median Income
$26,756
$92,012 vs $65,256/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
91% lower
134.3 vs 1547.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, MO | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $208,900 ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,131 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,256 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.2% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 407⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.1% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KANSAS CITY 33 | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 505,958 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Kansas City leads 13 of 23 categories. Kansas City wins 13 and Toms River wins 10. 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 Kansas City to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($208,900 vs $356,100 median home), income ($65,256 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, MO and Toms River, NJ are about 1,084 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.