Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Riverside, CA
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 16 of 23 categories
Riverside
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,448
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
16
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.
Riverside, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 42°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $485,500
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2832.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Toms River by $8,564/yr
Toms River, NJ
Pros
77% less violent crime than Riverside
Homes cost $129k less ($356,100 vs $485,500)
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 34.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $8,564 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 95°F
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Riverside
Key Differences at a Glance
Riverside
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Riverside
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 85.5°F
Toms River
Median Income
$8,564
$92,012 vs $83,448/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
77% lower
134.3 vs 589.7 per 100k
Toms River
Median Home Value
$129k less
$356,100 vs $485,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Riverside, CA | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $485,500⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,448 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.3:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Riverside Unified | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.0" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 316,076 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.5% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Riverside's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Riverside is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 16 of 23 categories. Riverside wins 7 and Toms River wins 16. 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 Riverside to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($485,500 vs $356,100 median home), income ($83,448 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Riverside, CA and Toms River, NJ are about 2,398 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.