Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Macon-Bibb County, GA
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 12 of 22 categories
Macon-Bibb County
Georgia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,897
Violent Crime Index
394⚠ High
Population
156,554 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
12
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.
Macon-Bibb County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $201k less ($155,200 vs $356,100)
Rent averages $625/mo less ($967 vs $1,592)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 42°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Median income trails Toms River by $43,115/yr
Violent crime (1497.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3808.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.7%)
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Households earn $43,115 more per year on average
91% less violent crime than Macon-Bibb County
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.7%)
More college-educated — 34.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $356,100
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Macon-Bibb County
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Macon-Bibb County
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Macon-Bibb County
Median Home Value
$201k less
$155,200 vs $356,100
Macon-Bibb County
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 85.5°F
Toms River
Median Income
$43,115
$92,012 vs $48,897/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
91% lower
134.3 vs 1497.8 per 100k
Toms River
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Macon-Bibb County, GA | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,200 ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $967 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,897 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 309⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 394⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.9% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.5% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bibb County | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,554 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Macon-Bibb County's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Macon-Bibb County is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Toms River leads 12 of 22 categories. Macon-Bibb County 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 Macon-Bibb County to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,200 vs $356,100 median home), income ($48,897 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Macon-Bibb County, GA and Toms River, NJ are about 724 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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