Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Murrieta, CA
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 13 of 23 categories
Murrieta
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$106,925 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48
Population
111,899 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,012
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.
Murrieta, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (183.7 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $14,913 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 42°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $567,700
Higher rents — median is $2,150/mo
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 5.7%)
Longer commutes — 35.0 min average each way
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $212k less ($356,100 vs $567,700)
27% less violent crime than Murrieta
Rent averages $558/mo less ($1,592 vs $2,150)
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.7%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Murrieta by $14,913/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Murrieta
Key Differences at a Glance
Murrieta
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Murrieta
Median Income
$14,913
$106,925 vs $92,012/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
27% lower
134.3 vs 183.7 per 100k
Toms River
Median Home Value
$212k less
$356,100 vs $567,700
Toms River
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Murrieta, 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 | $567,700⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,150⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,925 ✓ Higher | $92,012 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.7%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.0 min⚠ High | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.2% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 47 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 53 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.4:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.9% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Murrieta Valley Unified | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.9" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,899 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.5% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Murrieta's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Murrieta is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 13 of 23 categories. Murrieta wins 10 and Toms River wins 13. 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 Murrieta to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($567,700 vs $356,100 median home), income ($106,925 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Murrieta, CA and Toms River, NJ are about 2,397 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.