Head-to-Head · City Comparison
St. George, UT
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 St. George leads 14 of 23 categories
St. George
Utah
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,333
Violent Crime Index
55
Population
96,174 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
9
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.
St. George, UT
Pros
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (3.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (210.0 vs 380/100k)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Rent averages $257/mo less ($1,335 vs $1,592)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 42°F
Cons
Median income trails Toms River by $22,679/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $415,200
Hot summers — July highs average 102°F
Toms River, NJ
Pros
36% less violent crime than St. George
Households earn $22,679 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $59k less ($356,100 vs $415,200)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 102°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 16% higher than St. George
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
St. George
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
St. George
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.7% unemployment
St. George
Summer Heat
16.4°F warmer
July avg high 101.9°F vs 85.5°F
Toms River
Median Income
$22,679
$92,012 vs $69,333/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
36% lower
134.3 vs 210.0 per 100k
Toms River
Median Home Value
$59k less
$356,100 vs $415,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | St. George, UT | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $415,200⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,335⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,333 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 52 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 55 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 53 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.1:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.6% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 93.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Washington District | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.0°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 101.9°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.3" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,174 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.7% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 22.6% ✓ More | 18.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
St. George's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
St. George is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. George leads 14 of 23 categories. St. George wins 14 and Toms River wins 9. 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 St. George to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($415,200 vs $356,100 median home), income ($69,333 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
St. George, UT and Toms River, NJ are about 2,121 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.