Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Diego, CA
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 14 of 23 categories
San Diego
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$98,657 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
1,383,987 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,012
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.
San Diego, CA
Pros
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 42°F
More college-educated — 48.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $6,645 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 86°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $783,300
Higher rents — median is $2,080/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $427k less ($356,100 vs $783,300)
67% less violent crime than San Diego
Rent averages $488/mo less ($1,592 vs $2,080)
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Median income trails San Diego by $6,645/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
San Diego
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.5 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
San Diego
Median Income
$6,645
$98,657 vs $92,012/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
67% lower
134.3 vs 412.2 per 100k
Toms River
Median Home Value
$427k less
$356,100 vs $783,300
Toms River
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 79.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Diego, CA | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $783,300⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,080⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,657 ✓ Higher | $92,012 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.0 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.7% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Diego Unified | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 79.8°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,383,987 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.6% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Diego's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
San Diego is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 14 of 23 categories. San Diego wins 9 and Toms River wins 14. 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 San Diego to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($783,300 vs $356,100 median home), income ($98,657 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Diego, CA and Toms River, NJ are about 2,415 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.