Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Knoxville, TN
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 13 of 22 categories
Knoxville
Tennessee
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857 ✓ 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.
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $172k less ($184,200 vs $356,100)
Rent averages $549/mo less ($1,043 vs $1,592)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Median income trails Toms River by $43,703/yr
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Households earn $43,703 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than Knoxville
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 20% higher than Knoxville
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Knoxville
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$172k less
$184,200 vs $356,100
Knoxville
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.7% unemployment
Toms River
Median Income
$43,703
$92,012 vs $48,309/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
82% lower
134.3 vs 740.3 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Knoxville, TN | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $184,200 ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,043 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,309 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Knox County | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.8" | 52.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.6" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,857 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.2% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Knoxville's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Toms River leads 13 of 22 categories. Knoxville wins 9 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 Knoxville to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,200 vs $356,100 median home), income ($48,309 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Knoxville, TN and Toms River, NJ are about 599 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.