Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Suffolk, VA
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 13 of 23 categories
Suffolk
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,758
Violent Crime Index
98
Population
94,856 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
13
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.
Suffolk, VA
Pros
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Rent averages $216/mo less ($1,376 vs $1,592)
Homes cost $42k less ($314,400 vs $356,100)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 42°F
Cons
Median income trails Toms River by $4,254/yr
Toms River, NJ
Pros
64% less violent crime than Suffolk
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.7%)
Households earn $4,254 more per year on average
Cons
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Suffolk
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Pricier housing — median home is $356,100
Key Differences at a Glance
Suffolk
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$42k less
$314,400 vs $356,100
Toms River
Median Income
$4,254
$92,012 vs $87,758/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
64% lower
134.3 vs 371.0 per 100k
Toms River
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Suffolk, VA | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $87,758 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 89 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.1% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Suffolk City Public Schools | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.8" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,856 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 38.5 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.4% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.8% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Suffolk's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 13 of 23 categories. Suffolk 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 Suffolk to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,400 vs $356,100 median home), income ($87,758 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Suffolk, VA and Toms River, NJ are about 264 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.