Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Toms River, NJ
VS
Trenton, NJ
🏆 Toms River leads 16 of 23 categories
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 ✓ Larger
Trenton
New Jersey
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,444
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
90,055
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Households earn $47,568 more per year on average
87% less violent crime than Trenton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 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
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $356,100
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Trenton
Trenton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $245k less ($111,200 vs $356,100)
Rent averages $415/mo less ($1,177 vs $1,592)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Cons
Median income trails Toms River by $47,568/yr
Violent crime (1025.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.2% vs 5.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Toms River
Median Income
$47,568
$92,012 vs $44,444/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
87% lower
134.3 vs 1025.9 per 100k
Toms River
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
5.7% vs 10.2% unemployment
Trenton
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 102.1 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Trenton
Median Home Value
$245k less
$111,200 vs $356,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Toms River, NJ | Trenton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 102.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $356,100⚠ High | $111,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,592⚠ High | $1,177 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,012 ✓ Higher | $44,444 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 26.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 43 ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C (75) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.4% ✓ Higher | 15.6% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Toms River Regional School District | Trenton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.0" | 47.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 23.7" ✓ Less | 26.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,827 ✓ Larger | 90,055 |
| Median Age | 42.3 ✓ Older | 35.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 80.6% ✓ Higher | 38.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.7% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Toms River's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Trenton's 102.1 (US average = 100).
Trenton is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toms River leads 16 of 23 categories. Toms River wins 16 and Trenton wins 7. 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 Toms River to Trenton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($356,100 vs $111,200 median home), income ($92,012 vs $44,444), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Toms River, NJ and Trenton, NJ are about 34 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.