Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newark, NJ
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 16 of 22 categories
Newark
New Jersey
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
307,355 ✓ 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.
Newark, NJ
Pros
Rent averages $319/mo less ($1,273 vs $1,592)
Homes cost $44k less ($312,300 vs $356,100)
Cons
Median income trails Toms River by $45,552/yr
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (10.7% vs 5.7%)
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Households earn $45,552 more per year on average
77% less violent crime than Newark
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.0 pts lower (5.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 34.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Pricier housing — median home is $356,100
Key Differences at a Glance
Newark
Median Home Value
$44k less
$312,300 vs $356,100
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 112.5 on the COL index
Toms River
Median Income
$45,552
$92,012 vs $46,460/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
77% lower
134.3 vs 581.2 per 100k
Toms River
Unemployment
5.0 pp lower
5.7% vs 10.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newark, NJ | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $312,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,273 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,460 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.7%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.0 min⚠ High | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.6% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.0% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.7% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newark Public School District | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 23.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,355 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 23.9% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.9% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newark's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Toms River leads 16 of 22 categories. Newark wins 6 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 Newark to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,300 vs $356,100 median home), income ($46,460 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newark, NJ and Toms River, NJ are about 50 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.