Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Roanoke, VA
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 12 of 23 categories
Roanoke
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
99,213 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
12
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.
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $194k less ($162,000 vs $356,100)
Rent averages $675/mo less ($917 vs $1,592)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 42°F
Cons
Median income trails Toms River by $40,489/yr
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.7%)
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Households earn $40,489 more per year on average
78% less violent crime than Roanoke
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.7%)
More college-educated — 34.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $356,100
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Roanoke
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Roanoke
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$194k less
$162,000 vs $356,100
Toms River
Median Income
$40,489
$92,012 vs $51,523/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
78% lower
134.3 vs 620.4 per 100k
Toms River
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Roanoke, VA | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $162,000 ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,523 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 175⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Roanoke City Public Schools | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.1°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.8" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,213 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 38.1 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.2% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 17.6% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Roanoke's cost of living index is 90.9 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 12 of 23 categories. Roanoke wins 11 and Toms River wins 12. 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 Roanoke to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($162,000 vs $356,100 median home), income ($51,523 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Roanoke, VA and Toms River, NJ are about 364 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.