Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sandy Springs, GA
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Sandy Springs leads 12 of 23 categories
Sandy Springs
Georgia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,303 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
37
Population
107,221 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
11
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.
Sandy Springs, GA
Pros
More college-educated — 68.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (139.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.7%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 42°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $556,300
Higher rents — median is $1,670/mo
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $200k less ($356,100 vs $556,300)
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $78/mo less ($1,592 vs $1,670)
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Sandy Springs
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.7%)
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Sandy Springs
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Sandy Springs
Median Income
$1,291
$93,303 vs $92,012/yr
Sandy Springs
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.7% unemployment
Sandy Springs
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 85.5°F
Toms River
Median Home Value
$200k less
$356,100 vs $556,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sandy Springs, GA | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $556,300⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,670⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,303 ✓ Higher | $92,012 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 37 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 68.2% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 97.0% ✓ Higher | 93.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fulton County | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.5" | 52.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,221 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.8% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sandy Springs's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Sandy Springs is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy Springs leads 12 of 23 categories. Sandy Springs wins 12 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 Sandy Springs to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($556,300 vs $356,100 median home), income ($93,303 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sandy Springs, GA and Toms River, NJ are about 700 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.