Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mesa, AZ
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Mesa leads 12 of 23 categories
Mesa
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,766
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
11
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.
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Rent averages $240/mo less ($1,352 vs $1,592)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 42°F
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Homes cost $28k less ($327,700 vs $356,100)
Cons
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Toms River by $18,246/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Toms River, NJ
Pros
72% less violent crime than Mesa
Households earn $18,246 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 106°F
More college-educated — 34.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Mesa
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Mesa
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Mesa
Median Home Value
$28k less
$327,700 vs $356,100
Mesa
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.7% unemployment
Mesa
Summer Heat
20.4°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 85.5°F
Toms River
Median Income
$18,246
$92,012 vs $73,766/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
72% lower
134.3 vs 482.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mesa, AZ | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $327,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,352⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,766 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 104⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mesa Unified District (4235) | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.8" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 503,390 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 36.8 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.2% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 16.9% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mesa's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Mesa is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mesa leads 12 of 23 categories. Mesa wins 12 and Toms River wins 11. 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 Mesa to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,700 vs $356,100 median home), income ($73,766 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mesa, AZ and Toms River, NJ are about 2,112 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.