Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Haven, CT
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 12 of 22 categories
New Haven
Connecticut
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,305
Violent Crime Index
141⚠ High
Population
135,736 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
12
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.
New Haven, CT
Pros
Homes cost $120k less ($236,500 vs $356,100)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Rent averages $190/mo less ($1,402 vs $1,592)
More college-educated — 38.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Toms River by $37,707/yr
Violent crime (534.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3587.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 5.7%)
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Households earn $37,707 more per year on average
75% less violent crime than New Haven
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $356,100
Cost of living runs 14% higher than New Haven
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
New Haven
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 98.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
New Haven
Median Home Value
$120k less
$236,500 vs $356,100
Toms River
Median Income
$37,707
$92,012 vs $54,305/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
75% lower
134.3 vs 534.8 per 100k
Toms River
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.8% unemployment
Toms River
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Haven, CT | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.6 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $236,500 ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,402⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,305 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.8%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.6% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 153⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 171⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.5% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 85.7% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | New Haven School District | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.1°F | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 23.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,736 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 31.0 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 28.6% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Haven's cost of living index is 98.6 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
New Haven is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Toms River leads 12 of 22 categories. New Haven wins 10 and Toms River wins 12. 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 New Haven to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,500 vs $356,100 median home), income ($54,305 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Haven, CT and Toms River, NJ are about 112 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.