Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pearland, TX
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Pearland leads 13 of 22 categories
Pearland
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,012
Violent Crime Index
35
Population
92,827
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pearland, TX
Pros
29% less violent crime than Toms River
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $19,111 more per year on average
Homes cost $45k less ($311,100 vs $356,100)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Toms River, NJ
Pros
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
Median income trails Pearland by $19,111/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $356,100
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Pearland
Key Differences at a Glance
Pearland
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Pearland
Median Income
$19,111
$111,123 vs $92,012/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
29% lower
95.9 vs 134.3 per 100k
Pearland
Median Home Value
$45k less
$311,100 vs $356,100
Pearland
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.7% unemployment
Pearland
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 85.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pearland, TX | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $311,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,622⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $111,123 ✓ Higher | $92,012 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.3% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 43 | 43 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 25 ✓ Safer | 35 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 94.8% ✓ Higher | 93.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PEARLAND ISD | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 64.6°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.3" | 52.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 124,478 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 36.2 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.6% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.0% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.7% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pearland's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Pearland is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Pearland leads 13 of 22 categories. Pearland wins 13 and Toms River wins 9. 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 Pearland to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($311,100 vs $356,100 median home), income ($111,123 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pearland, TX and Toms River, NJ are about 1,394 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.