Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Maria, CA
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 17 of 23 categories
Santa Maria
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,237
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
109,543 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
17
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 Maria, CA
Pros
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 42°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 86°F
Cons
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $438,100
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Median income trails Toms River by $10,775/yr
Toms River, NJ
Pros
80% less violent crime than Santa Maria
Homes cost $82k less ($356,100 vs $438,100)
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 34.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.7%)
Households earn $10,775 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
1% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Toms River
Median Income
$10,775
$92,012 vs $81,237/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
80% lower
134.3 vs 660.6 per 100k
Toms River
Median Home Value
$82k less
$356,100 vs $438,100
Toms River
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.3% unemployment
Toms River
Summer Heat
12.2°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 73.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Maria, CA | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.5⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $438,100⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,237 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 140⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (62) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.2:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.5% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.3% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Santa Maria-Bonita | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 73.3°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.3" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 109,543 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.2% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 31.0% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Maria's cost of living index is 113.5 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Toms River is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 17 of 23 categories. Santa Maria wins 6 and Toms River wins 17. 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 Maria to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,100 vs $356,100 median home), income ($81,237 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Maria, CA and Toms River, NJ are about 2,532 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.