Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Milwaukee, WI
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 16 of 23 categories
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,733
Violent Crime Index
377⚠ High
Population
573,299 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
16
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.
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $198k less ($157,800 vs $356,100)
Rent averages $610/mo less ($982 vs $1,592)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Toms River by $42,279/yr
Violent crime (1430.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2700.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Households earn $42,279 more per year on average
91% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 34.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 42°F vs 30°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $356,100
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Milwaukee
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Milwaukee
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 95.5 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$198k less
$157,800 vs $356,100
Toms River
Median Income
$42,279
$92,012 vs $49,733/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
91% lower
134.3 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Milwaukee, WI | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.5 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $157,800 ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $982 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,733 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 277⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 377⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.1% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Milwaukee School District | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.7°F | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.8" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 39.5" | 23.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 573,299 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.2% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.7% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Milwaukee's cost of living index is 95.5 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Milwaukee is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 16 of 23 categories. Milwaukee wins 7 and Toms River wins 16. 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 Milwaukee to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($157,800 vs $356,100 median home), income ($49,733 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Milwaukee, WI and Toms River, NJ are about 743 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.