Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Miami, FL
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 14 of 23 categories
Miami
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,858
Violent Crime Index
125⚠ High
Population
443,665 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
14
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.
Miami, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 74°F vs 42°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.0%)
Rent averages $98/mo less ($1,494 vs $1,592)
Cons
Median income trails Toms River by $37,154/yr
Violent crime (473.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $433,900
Property crime (2995.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Households earn $37,154 more per year on average
72% less violent crime than Miami
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $78k less ($356,100 vs $433,900)
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 5.0%)
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Miami
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Miami
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.7% unemployment
Toms River
Median Income
$37,154
$92,012 vs $54,858/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
72% lower
134.3 vs 473.3 per 100k
Toms River
Median Home Value
$78k less
$356,100 vs $433,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Miami, FL | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $433,900⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,494⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,858 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.2 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 132⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 143⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.2% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.8% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIAMI-DADE | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 73.6°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.8°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 57.2" | 52.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 443,665 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 39.7 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 30.1% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Miami's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Miami is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 14 of 23 categories. Miami wins 9 and Toms River wins 14. 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 Miami to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($433,900 vs $356,100 median home), income ($54,858 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Miami, FL and Toms River, NJ are about 1,042 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.