Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Toms River, NJ
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Washington leads 12 of 23 categories
Toms River
New Jersey
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,012
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
92,827
Washington
District of Columbia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Toms River, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $349k less ($356,100 vs $705,000)
85% less violent crime than Washington
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.7%)
Rent averages $225/mo less ($1,592 vs $1,817)
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Median income trails Washington by $9,710/yr
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Washington
Washington, DC
Pros
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $9,710 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,817/mo
Property crime (3588.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Toms River
Violent Crime
85% lower
134.3 vs 925.9 per 100k
Toms River
Median Home Value
$349k less
$356,100 vs $705,000
Toms River
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.1% unemployment
Washington
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Washington
Median Income
$9,710
$101,722 vs $92,012/yr
Washington
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 89.8°F vs 85.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Toms River, NJ | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $356,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,012 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 30.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 43 ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.4% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 92.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Toms River Regional School District | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.6°F | 44.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 89.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.0" | 45.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 23.7" | 9.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,827 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.3 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 80.6% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 18.7% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Toms River's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Washington is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Washington leads 12 of 23 categories. Toms River wins 11 and Washington 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 Toms River to Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($356,100 vs $705,000 median home), income ($92,012 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Toms River, NJ and Washington, DC are about 169 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.