Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sterling Heights, MI
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 15 of 23 categories
Sterling Heights
Michigan
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$75,381
Violent Crime Index
60
Population
133,744 ✓ 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.
Sterling Heights, MI
Pros
Homes cost $113k less ($243,400 vs $356,100)
Rent averages $377/mo less ($1,215 vs $1,592)
Violent crime is well below the national average (229.2 vs 380/100k)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Toms River by $16,631/yr
Toms River, NJ
Pros
41% less violent crime than Sterling Heights
Households earn $16,631 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 42°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 34.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $356,100
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Sterling Heights
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Sterling Heights
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Sterling Heights
Median Home Value
$113k less
$243,400 vs $356,100
Toms River
Median Income
$16,631
$92,012 vs $75,381/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
41% lower
134.3 vs 229.2 per 100k
Toms River
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sterling Heights, MI | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $243,400 ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,215 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $75,381 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 56 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 53 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.9:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.8% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Utica Community Schools | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.6°F | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.5" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.2" | 23.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 133,744 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 41.2 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.0% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sterling Heights's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Sterling Heights is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 15 of 23 categories. Sterling Heights 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 Sterling Heights to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,400 vs $356,100 median home), income ($75,381 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sterling Heights, MI and Toms River, NJ are about 492 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.