Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pittsburgh, PA
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,187
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
303,843 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
11
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.
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $184k less ($171,800 vs $356,100)
Rent averages $439/mo less ($1,153 vs $1,592)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cons
Median income trails Toms River by $31,825/yr
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Toms River, NJ
Pros
69% less violent crime than Pittsburgh
Households earn $31,825 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 42°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $356,100
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Pittsburgh
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$184k less
$171,800 vs $356,100
Toms River
Median Income
$31,825
$92,012 vs $60,187/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
69% lower
134.3 vs 427.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pittsburgh, PA | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $171,800 ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,153 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,187 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.5% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.7% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 93.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pittsburgh SD | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.6°F | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.0°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.3" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.1" | 23.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 303,843 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.4% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.6% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.1% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pittsburgh's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Pittsburgh wins 11 and Toms River wins 11. 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 Pittsburgh to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($171,800 vs $356,100 median home), income ($60,187 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pittsburgh, PA and Toms River, NJ are about 307 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.