Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Stamford, CT
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 13 of 23 categories
Stamford
Connecticut
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$100,718 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41
Population
135,413 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,012
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.
Stamford, CT
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (157.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 50.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Households earn $8,706 more per year on average
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $584,700
Higher rents — median is $2,129/mo
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $229k less ($356,100 vs $584,700)
Rent averages $537/mo less ($1,592 vs $2,129)
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Median income trails Stamford by $8,706/yr
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Stamford
Key Differences at a Glance
Stamford
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Stamford
Median Income
$8,706
$100,718 vs $92,012/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
15% lower
134.3 vs 157.5 per 100k
Toms River
Median Home Value
$229k less
$356,100 vs $584,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Stamford, CT | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $584,700⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,129⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $100,718 ✓ Higher | $92,012 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.1% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.4% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Stamford School District | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.0°F | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.9" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.0" | 23.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,413 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 37.6 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.0% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.2% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Stamford's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Stamford is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 13 of 23 categories. Stamford wins 10 and Toms River wins 13. 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 Stamford to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($584,700 vs $356,100 median home), income ($100,718 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Stamford, CT and Toms River, NJ are about 82 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.