Head-to-Head · City Comparison
St. Petersburg, FL
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 St. Petersburg leads 15 of 22 categories
St. Petersburg
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,333
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
259,343 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
7
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. Petersburg, FL
Pros
Homes cost $67k less ($289,000 vs $356,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 42°F
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Rent averages $182/mo less ($1,410 vs $1,592)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Cons
Violent crime (619.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Toms River by $21,679/yr
Property crime (2458.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Toms River, NJ
Pros
78% less violent crime than St. Petersburg
Households earn $21,679 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $356,100
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
St. Petersburg
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
St. Petersburg
Median Home Value
$67k less
$289,000 vs $356,100
St. Petersburg
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.7% unemployment
St. Petersburg
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 85.5°F
Toms River
Median Income
$21,679
$92,012 vs $70,333/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
78% lower
134.3 vs 619.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $289,000 ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,410⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,333 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.0 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 15.7% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 117⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.6% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.8% ✓ Higher | 93.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 259,343 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 42.9 ✓ Older | 42.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.9% ✓ More | 18.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
St. Petersburg's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
St. Petersburg is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, St. Petersburg leads 15 of 22 categories. St. Petersburg wins 15 and Toms River wins 7. 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. Petersburg to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,000 vs $356,100 median home), income ($70,333 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
St. Petersburg, FL and Toms River, NJ are about 973 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.