Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nashville-Davidson, TN
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Nashville-Davidson leads 12 of 22 categories
Nashville-Davidson
Tennessee
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,328
Violent Crime Index
296⚠ High
Population
684,103 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
10
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.
Nashville-Davidson, TN
Pros
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.6%)
Rent averages $200/mo less ($1,392 vs $1,592)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 45.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 42°F
Cons
Violent crime (1124.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Toms River by $20,684/yr
Property crime (4509.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Toms River, NJ
Pros
88% less violent crime than Nashville-Davidson
Households earn $20,684 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Nashville-Davidson
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Nashville-Davidson
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Nashville-Davidson
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.7% unemployment
Nashville-Davidson
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 89.3°F vs 85.5°F
Toms River
Median Income
$20,684
$92,012 vs $71,328/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
88% lower
134.3 vs 1124.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nashville-Davidson, TN | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $351,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,392⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,328 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 15.5% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 296⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.5% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Davidson County | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.7" | 52.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.7" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 684,103 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nashville-Davidson's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Nashville-Davidson is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Nashville-Davidson leads 12 of 22 categories. Nashville-Davidson wins 12 and Toms River wins 10. 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 Nashville-Davidson to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($351,400 vs $356,100 median home), income ($71,328 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nashville-Davidson, TN and Toms River, NJ are about 733 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.