Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Ana, CA
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 16 of 23 categories
Santa Ana
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,210
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High
Population
311,379 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 42°F
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,000
Violent crime (493.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,885/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $268k less ($356,100 vs $624,000)
73% less violent crime than Santa Ana
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $293/mo less ($1,592 vs $1,885)
More college-educated — 34.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $7,802 more per year on average
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Toms River
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Toms River
Median Income
$7,802
$92,012 vs $84,210/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
73% lower
134.3 vs 493.1 per 100k
Toms River
Median Home Value
$268k less
$356,100 vs $624,000
Toms River
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Ana, CA | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $624,000⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,885⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,210 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.0% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.9% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 65.2% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Santa Ana Unified | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.5" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 311,379 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.8% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.6% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Ana's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Toms River is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 16 of 23 categories. Santa Ana 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 Santa Ana to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,000 vs $356,100 median home), income ($84,210 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Ana, CA and Toms River, NJ are about 2,429 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.