Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Paterson, NJ
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 15 of 22 categories
Paterson
New Jersey
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,092
Violent Crime Index
258⚠ High
Population
157,864 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
15
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.
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Rent averages $200/mo less ($1,392 vs $1,592)
Homes cost $42k less ($314,100 vs $356,100)
Cons
Median income trails Toms River by $39,920/yr
Violent crime (978.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (10.5% vs 5.7%)
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Households earn $39,920 more per year on average
86% less violent crime than Paterson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 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
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
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Paterson
Median Home Value
$42k less
$314,100 vs $356,100
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 112.5 on the COL index
Toms River
Median Income
$39,920
$92,012 vs $52,092/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
86% lower
134.3 vs 978.6 per 100k
Toms River
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
5.7% vs 10.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Paterson, 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 | $314,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,392⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,092 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.5%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 3.6% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 199⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 258⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.6% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.6% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paterson Public School District | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.4" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 23.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,864 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 26.3% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Paterson'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 15 of 22 categories. Paterson wins 7 and Toms River wins 15. 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 Paterson to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,100 vs $356,100 median home), income ($52,092 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Paterson, NJ and Toms River, NJ are about 64 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.