Head-to-Head · City Comparison
North Charleston, SC
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 12 of 23 categories
North Charleston
South Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,534
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High
Population
115,755 ✓ 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.
North Charleston, SC
Pros
Homes cost $113k less ($243,300 vs $356,100)
Rent averages $304/mo less ($1,288 vs $1,592)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.3%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 42°F
Cons
Median income trails Toms River by $33,478/yr
Violent crime (810.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3955.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Toms River, NJ
Pros
83% less violent crime than North Charleston
Households earn $33,478 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 34.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $356,100
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than North Charleston
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
North Charleston
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 98.2 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
North Charleston
Median Home Value
$113k less
$243,300 vs $356,100
North Charleston
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.7% unemployment
North Charleston
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 85.5°F
Toms River
Median Income
$33,478
$92,012 vs $58,534/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
83% lower
134.3 vs 810.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | North Charleston, SC | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.2 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $243,300 ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,288 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,534 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.6 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 213⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.6" | 52.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,755 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 33.8 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.7% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
North Charleston's cost of living index is 98.2 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
North Charleston is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 12 of 23 categories. North Charleston 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 North Charleston to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,300 vs $356,100 median home), income ($58,534 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
North Charleston, SC and Toms River, NJ are about 588 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.