Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Los Angeles, CA
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 17 of 23 categories
Los Angeles
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 42°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 86°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Toms River by $15,768/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $467k less ($356,100 vs $822,600)
82% less violent crime than Los Angeles
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.7%)
Households earn $15,768 more per year on average
Rent averages $199/mo less ($1,592 vs $1,791)
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Toms River
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Toms River
Median Income
$15,768
$92,012 vs $76,244/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
82% lower
134.3 vs 728.5 per 100k
Toms River
Median Home Value
$467k less
$356,100 vs $822,600
Toms River
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.7% unemployment
Toms River
Summer Heat
7.5°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 78.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $822,600⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,791⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,244 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 143⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Los Angeles Unified | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.0°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.6% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Toms River is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 17 of 23 categories. Los Angeles wins 6 and Toms River wins 17. 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 Los Angeles to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($822,600 vs $356,100 median home), income ($76,244 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Los Angeles, CA and Toms River, NJ are about 2,449 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.