Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sioux Falls, SD
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 14 of 23 categories
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,785
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
193,401 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
14
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.
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Rent averages $627/mo less ($965 vs $1,592)
Homes cost $106k less ($250,000 vs $356,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (2.3%)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.3)
Cons
Violent crime (526.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Toms River by $20,227/yr
Property crime (2915.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Toms River, NJ
Pros
75% less violent crime than Sioux Falls
Households earn $20,227 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 42°F vs 25°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $356,100
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Sioux Falls
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Home Value
$106k less
$250,000 vs $356,100
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
2.3% vs 5.7% unemployment
Toms River
Median Income
$20,227
$92,012 vs $71,785/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
75% lower
134.3 vs 526.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sioux Falls, SD | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $250,000 ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $965 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,785 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.3% ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 139⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 25.3°F | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 45.3" | 23.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 193,401 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.0% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sioux Falls's cost of living index is 90.3 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 14 of 23 categories. Sioux Falls wins 9 and Toms River wins 14. 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 Sioux Falls to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($250,000 vs $356,100 median home), income ($71,785 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sioux Falls, SD and Toms River, NJ are about 1,183 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.