Residential comparison · 13 facts
Lakewood, NJ vs Toms River, NJ
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Lakewood needs about $89,500 in Toms River to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Toms River, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $80,500 in Lakewood.
A few differences
- Toms River is higher on median household income ($100,137 vs $56,968).
- Toms River is lower on cost of living index (112 vs 128).
- Lakewood is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($1,670/mo vs $1,714/mo).
Lakewood vs Toms River · facet by facet
| Facet | Lakewood, NJ | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $715,500 | $403,600 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,670/mo | $1,714/mo |
| Property tax rate | 2.2% | 2.2% |
| State & local income tax | 2.26% | 2.26% |
| Sales tax | 6.6% | 6.6% |
| Cost of living index | 128 | 112 |
| Groceries index | 106 | 106 |
| Utilities | $180/mo | $180/mo |
| Median household income | $56,968 | $100,137 |
| Unemployment rate | 4.5% | 4.5% |
| Crime index | 25/100 | 25/100 |
| School rating | 8.3/10 | 8.3/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 205 days | 205 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Lakewood, NJ · Toms River, NJ
Questions & answers
- Is Lakewood cheaper than Toms River?
- Toms River has the lower day-to-day cost index (112 vs 128 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Toms River equals $85,000 in Lakewood?
- A household earning $85,000 in Lakewood needs about $89,500 in Toms River to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Toms River lifestyle costs about $80,500 in Lakewood.