Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norwalk, CT
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 13 of 23 categories
Norwalk
Connecticut
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$97,879 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
91,050
Toms River
New Jersey
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,012
Violent Crime Index
35
Population
92,827 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Norwalk, CT
Pros
37% less violent crime than Toms River
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 42.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Households earn $5,867 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $491,800
Higher rents — median is $1,861/mo
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $136k less ($356,100 vs $491,800)
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $269/mo less ($1,592 vs $1,861)
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Norwalk
Median income trails Norwalk by $5,867/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Norwalk
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Norwalk
Median Income
$5,867
$97,879 vs $92,012/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
37% lower
85.0 vs 134.3 per 100k
Toms River
Median Home Value
$136k less
$356,100 vs $491,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norwalk, CT | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $491,800⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,861⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,879 ✓ Higher | $92,012 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 42 ✓ Safer | 43 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 35 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.6% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norwalk School District | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.0°F | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.0" | 23.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,050 | 92,827 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.0 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norwalk's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Norwalk is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 13 of 23 categories. Norwalk wins 10 and Toms River wins 13. 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 Norwalk to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($491,800 vs $356,100 median home), income ($97,879 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norwalk, CT and Toms River, NJ are about 86 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.