Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Toledo, OH
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 16 of 23 categories
Toledo
Ohio
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,405
Violent Crime Index
274⚠ High
Population
269,962 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
16
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.
Toledo, OH
Pros
Homes cost $257k less ($98,800 vs $356,100)
Rent averages $738/mo less ($854 vs $1,592)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.4)
Cons
Median income trails Toms River by $46,607/yr
Violent crime (1041.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2732.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 5.7%)
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Households earn $46,607 more per year on average
87% less violent crime than Toledo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 34.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 42°F vs 34°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $356,100
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Toledo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Toledo
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Toledo
Median Home Value
$257k less
$98,800 vs $356,100
Toms River
Median Income
$46,607
$92,012 vs $45,405/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
87% lower
134.3 vs 1041.1 per 100k
Toms River
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.7% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Toledo, OH | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.4 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $98,800 ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $854 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $45,405 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.6% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 216⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 274⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.2:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.2% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Toledo City | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.6°F | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.6°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 37.4" | 23.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 269,962 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.4% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.8% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Toledo's cost of living index is 90.4 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Toledo is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 16 of 23 categories. Toledo wins 7 and Toms River wins 16. 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 Toledo to Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($98,800 vs $356,100 median home), income ($45,405 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Toledo, OH and Toms River, NJ are about 504 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.