Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Menifee, CA
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 15 of 23 categories
Menifee
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,871
Violent Crime Index
48
Population
103,680 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
15
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.
Menifee, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.8 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 42°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $442,600
Higher rents — median is $1,946/mo
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 5.7%)
Longer commutes — 42.5 min average each way
Toms River, NJ
Pros
27% less violent crime than Menifee
Homes cost $87k less ($356,100 vs $442,600)
Rent averages $354/mo less ($1,592 vs $1,946)
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.7%)
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Menifee
Key Differences at a Glance
Menifee
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Menifee
Summer Heat
11.0°F warmer
July avg high 96.5°F vs 85.5°F
Toms River
Median Income
$4,141
$92,012 vs $87,871/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
27% lower
134.3 vs 182.8 per 100k
Toms River
Median Home Value
$87k less
$356,100 vs $442,600
Toms River
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Menifee, CA | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $442,600⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,946⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $87,871 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 42.5 min⚠ High | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 44 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 38 ✓ Safer | 53 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (64) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.8% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Menifee Union | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.7°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.5°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.9" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 103,680 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 37.3 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 80.5% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.7% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 17.1% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Menifee's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Menifee is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 15 of 23 categories. Menifee wins 8 and Toms River wins 15. 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 Menifee to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($442,600 vs $356,100 median home), income ($87,871 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Menifee, CA and Toms River, NJ are about 2,393 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.