Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sacramento, CA
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 12 of 22 categories
Sacramento
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,954
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600 ✓ 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.
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 42°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Cons
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $450,500
Median income trails Toms River by $13,058/yr
Property crime (2547.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Toms River, NJ
Pros
82% less violent crime than Sacramento
Homes cost $94k less ($356,100 vs $450,500)
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $13,058 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Sacramento
Key Differences at a Glance
Sacramento
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Sacramento
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 85.5°F
Toms River
Median Income
$13,058
$92,012 vs $78,954/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
82% lower
134.3 vs 754.9 per 100k
Toms River
Median Home Value
$94k less
$356,100 vs $450,500
Toms River
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sacramento, CA | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $450,500⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,592⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,954 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 199⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Sacramento City Unified | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.4" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 523,600 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.7% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sacramento's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Sacramento is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Toms River leads 12 of 22 categories. Sacramento wins 10 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 Sacramento to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($450,500 vs $356,100 median home), income ($78,954 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sacramento, CA and Toms River, NJ are about 2,501 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.