Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Moreno Valley, CA
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 16 of 23 categories
Moreno Valley
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,637
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
209,578 ✓ 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.
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
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 $421,400
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Median income trails Toms River by $9,375/yr
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.7%)
Toms River, NJ
Pros
51% less violent crime than Moreno Valley
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.7%)
Homes cost $65k less ($356,100 vs $421,400)
Rent averages $266/mo less ($1,592 vs $1,858)
More college-educated — 34.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Moreno Valley
Key Differences at a Glance
Moreno Valley
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Moreno Valley
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 85.5°F
Toms River
Median Income
$9,375
$92,012 vs $82,637/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
51% lower
134.3 vs 272.5 per 100k
Toms River
Median Home Value
$65k less
$356,100 vs $421,400
Toms River
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Moreno Valley, 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 | $421,400⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,858⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,637 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.6 min⚠ High | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.2:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.2% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.3% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Moreno Valley Unified | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.7" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,578 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.0% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.0% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Moreno Valley's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Moreno Valley is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 16 of 23 categories. Moreno Valley 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 Moreno Valley to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($421,400 vs $356,100 median home), income ($82,637 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Moreno Valley, CA and Toms River, NJ are about 2,388 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.