Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kirkland, WA
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 12 of 22 categories
Kirkland
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
Toms River
New Jersey
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,012
Violent Crime Index
35
Population
92,827 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kirkland, WA
Pros
55% less violent crime than Toms River
Households earn $43,596 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $582k less ($356,100 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $658/mo less ($1,592 vs $2,250)
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $43,596/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.7%)
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Median Income
$43,596
$135,608 vs $92,012/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
55% lower
60.6 vs 134.3 per 100k
Kirkland
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.7% unemployment
Toms River
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Toms River
Median Home Value
$582k less
$356,100 vs $937,700
Toms River
Summer Heat
9.0°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kirkland, WA | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $937,700⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,250⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $135,608 ✓ Higher | $92,012 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.5 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 35 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 96.6% ✓ Higher | 93.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.8" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,015 | 92,827 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.1% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirkland's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Toms River is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Toms River leads 12 of 22 categories. Kirkland wins 10 and Toms River wins 12. 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 Kirkland to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($937,700 vs $356,100 median home), income ($135,608 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kirkland, WA and Toms River, NJ are about 2,411 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.