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Moving to
Toms River.
Toms River is an unincorporated community in Ocean County, NJ. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
What it's like to live in Toms River
Toms River is a large unincorporated community in New Jersey with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, air quality that stays clean most of the year, and a growing population. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Toms River deals with rent well above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, hospital ratings below the national average, and cold winters.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Clean air
- Growing population
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Above-average commute times
- Below-average hospital ratings
- Cold winters
- Above-average rainfall
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Toms River compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Toms River
Based on Toms River's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,462
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $69,240 a year
- 44% of Toms River renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$80,720
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $40,360
- Homes cost 4.0× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 23% above US
$1,731/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,731 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices run above average, with a median around $403,600. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $403,600 · 44% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
5.3% county unemployment
Unemployment in Ocean County is 5.3%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Ocean County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 62% below US
124 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 980/100k · Toms River Township Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 16% above US
30 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 30.1 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 13% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 83°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 23°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
2 hospitals
There are 2 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 1.0 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
36% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 36% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
18 public schools inside the boundary
There are 18 public schools inside the boundary and 5 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve (23 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Toms River's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and commute times longer than most cities. A year of median rent ($1,731/mo) equals 21% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Toms River
All New Jersey guides →Moving to Beachwood →
2 mi away · pop. 11,088
Rent $2,335/mo · Income $106,858
Compare with Toms River →Moving to Holiday City-Berkeley →
4 mi away · pop. 12,995
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Compare with Toms River →Moving to Lakewood →
10 mi away · pop. 69,585
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Compare with Toms River →Moving to Point Pleasant →
11 mi away · pop. 19,334
Rent $1,930/mo · Income $115,625
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