Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norman, OK
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 12 of 23 categories
Norman
Oklahoma
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,849
Violent Crime Index
68
Population
127,701 ✓ 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.
Norman, OK
Pros
Rent averages $588/mo less ($1,004 vs $1,592)
Homes cost $131k less ($224,900 vs $356,100)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 45.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Toms River by $29,163/yr
Toms River, NJ
Pros
48% less violent crime than Norman
Households earn $29,163 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $356,100
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Norman
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Norman
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Norman
Median Home Value
$131k less
$224,900 vs $356,100
Norman
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 85.5°F
Toms River
Median Income
$29,163
$92,012 vs $62,849/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
48% lower
134.3 vs 260.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norman, OK | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $224,900 ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,004 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,849 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 93.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NORMAN | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.6" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.1" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,701 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 31.0 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.4% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norman's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Norman is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 12 of 23 categories. Norman wins 11 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 Norman to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($224,900 vs $356,100 median home), income ($62,849 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norman, OK and Toms River, NJ are about 1,305 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.