Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Simi Valley, CA
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Simi Valley leads 13 of 23 categories
Simi Valley
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,144 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
126,153 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,012
Violent Crime Index
35
Population
92,827
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Simi Valley, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.1 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $20,132 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 42°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $704,200
Higher rents — median is $2,402/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $348k less ($356,100 vs $704,200)
Rent averages $810/mo less ($1,592 vs $2,402)
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Simi Valley by $20,132/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Simi Valley
Median Income
$20,132
$112,144 vs $92,012/yr
Simi Valley
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.7% unemployment
Simi Valley
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 85.5°F
Toms River
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Toms River
Median Home Value
$348k less
$356,100 vs $704,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Simi Valley, 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 | $704,200⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,402⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $112,144 ✓ Higher | $92,012 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 38 ✓ Safer | 43 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 34 ✓ Safer | 35 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 53 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.9:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.0% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Simi Valley Unified | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.4" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,153 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 41.2 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.8% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Simi Valley'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, Simi Valley leads 13 of 23 categories. Simi Valley wins 13 and Toms River wins 10. 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 Simi Valley to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($704,200 vs $356,100 median home), income ($112,144 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Simi Valley, CA and Toms River, NJ are about 2,461 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.