Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sunnyvale, CA
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 12 of 23 categories
Sunnyvale
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
154,573 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $82,494 more per year on average
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.1%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 42°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $1325k less ($356,100 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $1398/mo less ($1,592 vs $2,990)
45% less violent crime than Sunnyvale
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $82,494/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.1%)
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$82,494
$174,506 vs $92,012/yr
Sunnyvale
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.7% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 112.9 on the COL index
Toms River
Violent Crime
45% lower
134.3 vs 244.5 per 100k
Toms River
Median Home Value
$1325k less
$356,100 vs $1,680,700
Toms River
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sunnyvale, CA | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.9⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,680,700⚠ High | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,990⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $174,506 ✓ Higher | $92,012 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 24.7% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.5:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 68.0% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 93.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cupertino Union | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.4" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 154,573 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sunnyvale's cost of living index is 112.9 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Toms River is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 12 of 23 categories. Sunnyvale wins 11 and Toms River wins 12. 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 Sunnyvale to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,680,700 vs $356,100 median home), income ($174,506 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sunnyvale, CA and Toms River, NJ are about 2,555 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.