Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Shreveport, LA
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 13 of 23 categories
Shreveport
Louisiana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,967
Violent Crime Index
323⚠ High
Population
186,183 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
13
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.
Shreveport, LA
Pros
Homes cost $187k less ($168,900 vs $356,100)
Rent averages $647/mo less ($945 vs $1,592)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 42°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.1)
Cons
Median income trails Toms River by $46,045/yr
Violent crime (1228.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3990.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.7%)
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Households earn $46,045 more per year on average
89% less violent crime than Shreveport
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (5.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 34.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $356,100
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Shreveport
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Shreveport
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 87.1 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Shreveport
Median Home Value
$187k less
$168,900 vs $356,100
Shreveport
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 85.5°F
Toms River
Median Income
$46,045
$92,012 vs $45,967/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
89% lower
134.3 vs 1228.5 per 100k
Toms River
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
5.7% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Shreveport, LA | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.1 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,900 ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $945 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $45,967 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.7% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 270⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 323⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.2:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.6% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Caddo Parish | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.4°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.9" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,183 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 37.1 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.8% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 17.1% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Shreveport's cost of living index is 87.1 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Shreveport is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 13 of 23 categories. Shreveport wins 10 and Toms River wins 13. 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 Shreveport to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,900 vs $356,100 median home), income ($45,967 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Shreveport, LA and Toms River, NJ are about 1,207 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.