Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Spokane, WA
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 15 of 23 categories
Spokane
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,316
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
227,922 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
15
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.
Spokane, WA
Pros
Rent averages $532/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,592)
Homes cost $69k less ($286,900 vs $356,100)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Cons
Median income trails Toms River by $28,696/yr
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4840.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Toms River, NJ
Pros
80% less violent crime than Spokane
Households earn $28,696 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.7%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $356,100
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Spokane
Key Differences at a Glance
Spokane
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 101.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Spokane
Median Home Value
$69k less
$286,900 vs $356,100
Toms River
Median Income
$28,696
$92,012 vs $63,316/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
80% lower
134.3 vs 674.9 per 100k
Toms River
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Spokane, WA | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $286,900 ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,316 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.0% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 199⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 231⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.7% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Spokane School District | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.8°F | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.4" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 45.4" | 23.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 227,922 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Spokane's cost of living index is 101.0 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Spokane is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 15 of 23 categories. Spokane wins 8 and Toms River wins 15. 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 Spokane to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($286,900 vs $356,100 median home), income ($63,316 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Spokane, WA and Toms River, NJ are about 2,189 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.