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Living in
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.
About
Life in Toms River
Living in Toms River means joining a stable, family-oriented community of nearly 94,000 people just 70 miles south of New York City—far enough to escape the urban hustle but close enough for commutes to the metro area or Philadelphia. The median household income sits at just about $100,000, and with a median home value around $404,000 and median rent at $1,731, the cost of living is reasonable for a Jersey Shore suburb, though you'll notice property taxes are Jersey's trademark reality. The trade-off is the weather and flooding risk: you're dealing with a humid subtropical climate, significant year-round rainfall, and the memory of Superstorm Sandy's devastation in 2012 still lingers for many residents in low-lying areas like Silverton and downtown.
Toms River at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.8%
Foreign-Born
9.5%
Broadband Internet
91.5%
of households
Population Growth
+5.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics9.5% foreign-born, most often from Philippines
Who lives in Toms River: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Toms River, the largest foreign-born group is from Philippines (13.0%), and 7.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.3%
of residents
65 and Older
20.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
28.0%
of households
Married Couples
48.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.59
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for NJ
Rent, home values, and income in Toms River
In Toms River, home values are 11% below the NJ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
43.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
20.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,349
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
81.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1978
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $462,642 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NJ
Unemployment in Toms River
Unemployment in Ocean County, which includes Toms River, is close to the NJ average.
Unemployment rate
Toms River: Ocean County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Ocean County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Toms River Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute30.1 min avg
How Toms River residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Toms River, most residents drive alone to work (77%), and 60% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 40 mi
Atlantic City International Airport (ACY)
Regional airport · few flights389k passengers boarded in 2025
- 51 mi
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Major hub23.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 62% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Toms River runs 62% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
123.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
980.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Toms River Township Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 37 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
96.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Ocean County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Ocean County, which includes Toms River, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 37 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 37 | Thunderstorm Wind | $340,000 |
| 2024 | 36 | Excessive Heat | None reported |
| 2023 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 30 | Winter Weather | $50,000 |
| 2021 | 36 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | $300,000 |
| 2019 | 26 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 20 | Winter Weather | $2,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Ocean County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Ocean County, which includes Toms River, is typically good — 286 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
286
per year
Moderate Days
76
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Ocean County, county-wide
Climate83°F summers, 23°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Toms River has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and cold winters (avg low 23°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
61°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
67°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
44°/23°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
52.0"
Annual Snowfall
10.2"
Hot Days/Year
24
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
116
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
97
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°F | 22°F | 4.43" |
| Feb | 45°F | 22°F | 3.19" |
| Mar | 51°F | 28°F | 4.86" |
| Apr | 62°F | 38°F | 3.78" |
| May | 71°F | 49°F | 3.58" |
| Jun | 80°F | 58°F | 3.92" |
| Jul | 86°F | 64°F | 4.49" |
| Aug | 84°F | 62°F | 5.02" |
| Sep | 77°F | 53°F | 4.68" |
| Oct | 67°F | 42°F | 4.54" |
| Nov | 56°F | 32°F | 3.74" |
| Dec | 47°F | 27°F | 5.81" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 1.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Toms River
Toms River has 2 hospitals, averaging 1.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
4.9%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
1.0 / 5
Community Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Saint Barnabas Behavioral Health Center
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Monmouth Medical Center-southern Campus
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.5 mi away · Lakewood
Ocean Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.4 mi away · Brick
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education13.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Toms River
Toms River's student/teacher ratio is 13.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 36.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
18
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
36.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Toms River
Public · 2-year · 5,424 students · in-state tuition $5,334 · 41% graduate · median earnings $49,461 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,027 students · 59% graduate · median earnings $55,459 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,195 students · in-state tuition $37,902 · 68% graduate · median earnings $56,384 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 2-year · 181 students · in-state tuition $8,350 · 57% graduate
Yeshiva Gedola Tiferes Yerachmiel
10.4 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 2-year · 177 students · in-state tuition $9,750 · 78% graduate
Yeshiva Gedolah Shaarei Shmuel
9.5 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 2-year · 150 students · in-state tuition $10,600 · 64% graduate
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 132 students · in-state tuition $8,500 · 37% graduate · median earnings $84,562 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve, 23 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Toms River
Toms River has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve (23 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve
National Reserve
23 mi awayWashington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
36 mi awayGateway National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
45 mi awayEdgar Allan Poe National Historic Site
National Historic Site
50 mi awayGloria Dei Church National Historic Site
National Historic Site
50 mi awayIndependence National Historical Park
National Historical Park
50 mi awayNational Parks of New York Harbor
National Park Site
50 mi awayThaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial
National Memorial
50 mi awayPublic Libraries in Toms River
Ocean County Library
101 Washington Street, Toms River
Cities Near Toms River
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Toms River?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Toms River FAQ
Is Toms River, New Jersey affordable?⌄
Toms River's median rent is $1,731/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $100,137/year. Median home value is $403,600.
Is Toms River, New Jersey safe?⌄
Toms River's violent crime rate was 124 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 980 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Toms River, New Jersey?⌄
Ocean County, which includes Toms River, has an unemployment rate of 5.3%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Toms River, New Jersey?⌄
The cost of living in Toms River is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,731/month and median household income is $100,137/year. The median home value is $403,600. About 44% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Toms River, New Jersey?⌄
The average commute in Toms River is 30 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from