Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pembroke Pines, FL
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
Pembroke Pines
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,657
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
170,472 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,012 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35
Population
92,827
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pembroke Pines, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 42°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.7%)
Cons
Median income trails Toms River by $14,355/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $379,900
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $14,355 more per year on average
Rent averages $195/mo less ($1,592 vs $1,787)
Homes cost $24k less ($356,100 vs $379,900)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Pembroke Pines
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Pembroke Pines
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.7% unemployment
Pembroke Pines
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 85.5°F
Toms River
Median Income
$14,355
$92,012 vs $77,657/yr
Toms River
Median Home Value
$24k less
$356,100 vs $379,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pembroke Pines, FL | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $379,900⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,787⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,657 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 43 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 35 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 53 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.1% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.9°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.0" | 52.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 170,472 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 42.9 ✓ Older | 42.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.0% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.9% ✓ More | 18.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pembroke Pines's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Pembroke Pines is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Pembroke Pines wins 10 and Toms River wins 10. 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 Pembroke Pines to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($379,900 vs $356,100 median home), income ($77,657 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pembroke Pines, FL and Toms River, NJ are about 1,029 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.