Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, CA
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 13 of 23 categories
Pasadena
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
137,554 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,012
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.
Pasadena, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 42°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.2%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Households earn $5,806 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $626k less ($356,100 vs $981,600)
72% less violent crime than Pasadena
Rent averages $508/mo less ($1,592 vs $2,100)
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Median income trails Pasadena by $5,806/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Pasadena
Median Income
$5,806
$97,818 vs $92,012/yr
Pasadena
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.2% vs 5.7% unemployment
Pasadena
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 89.1°F vs 85.5°F
Toms River
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Toms River
Violent Crime
72% lower
134.3 vs 480.4 per 100k
Toms River
Median Home Value
$626k less
$356,100 vs $981,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, CA | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $981,600⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,100⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,818 ✓ Higher | $92,012 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.2% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.5% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pasadena Unified | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.1°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.1" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,554 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 39.9 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.8% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Toms River is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 13 of 23 categories. Pasadena 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 Pasadena to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($981,600 vs $356,100 median home), income ($97,818 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, CA and Toms River, NJ are about 2,431 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.