Head-to-Head · City Comparison
South Gate, CA
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 18 of 23 categories
South Gate
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High
Population
92,381
Toms River
New Jersey
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,012 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
92,827 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
South Gate, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 42°F
Rent averages $192/mo less ($1,400 vs $1,592)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $578,900
Median income trails Toms River by $24,824/yr
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Toms River, NJ
Pros
74% less violent crime than South Gate
Homes cost $223k less ($356,100 vs $578,900)
Households earn $24,824 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 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
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Toms River
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Toms River
Median Income
$24,824
$92,012 vs $67,188/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
74% lower
134.3 vs 525.6 per 100k
Toms River
Median Home Value
$223k less
$356,100 vs $578,900
Toms River
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.9% unemployment
Toms River
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 82.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | South Gate, CA | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $578,900⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,188 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 152⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 171⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (72) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.0:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.5% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 58.8% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Westbrook Academy District | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.0°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,381 | 92,827 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.8% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
South Gate's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Toms River is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 18 of 23 categories. South Gate wins 5 and Toms River wins 18. 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 Gate to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($578,900 vs $356,100 median home), income ($67,188 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
South Gate, CA and Toms River, NJ are about 2,440 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.