Head-to-Head · City Comparison
South Bend, IN
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 14 of 23 categories
South Bend
Indiana
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,056
Violent Crime Index
254⚠ High
Population
103,084 ✓ 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.
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $242k less ($113,800 vs $356,100)
Rent averages $657/mo less ($935 vs $1,592)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Toms River by $42,956/yr
Violent crime (965.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 65" of snow per year
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Households earn $42,956 more per year on average
86% less violent crime than South Bend
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 34.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 42°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $356,100
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than South Bend
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
South Bend
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Home Value
$242k less
$113,800 vs $356,100
Toms River
Median Income
$42,956
$92,012 vs $49,056/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
86% lower
134.3 vs 965.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | South Bend, IN | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $113,800 ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $935 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,056 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 191⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 254⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.8% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | South Bend Community School Corp | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.8°F | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.0°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.9" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.5" | 23.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 103,084 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.5% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.9% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
South Bend's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 14 of 23 categories. South Bend 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 South Bend to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($113,800 vs $356,100 median home), income ($49,056 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
South Bend, IN and Toms River, NJ are about 642 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.