Places › New Jersey › Toms River

Living in Toms River, NJ

Small city in New Jersey

Toms River is a small city in New Jersey, home to about 94,000 people, with 836,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, most trips are by car. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are mostly houses with yards.

Is Toms River a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Safe: violent crime is 0.2× the US rate (FBI 2019)
  • Strong healthcare: 5 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
  • Mild summers: highs around 83°F
  • Low natural disaster risk: 9 federally declared disasters since 2000

👎 Cons

  • Higher taxes: about $2,267 state income tax per resident, 1.7% property tax
  • Few dog parks: 3 within 9 mi
  • Fewer outdoor escapes: no big hills or water close by
  • Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Toms River ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
94,000
836,000 within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
44°F / 83°F
Average daily highs · 24″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$516k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$3,040/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
113
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$2,267
State income tax per resident · 1.7% property tax
Safety
0.2× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
9 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly flooding, strong wind
Top-rated hospitals
5
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
35%
No research university within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
EWR
48 mi away

Living in Toms River: common questions

What is the cost of living in Toms River?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $516k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $3,040 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are above the US average (index 113, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Toms River?

New Jersey collects about $2,267 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 1.7% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Toms River safe?

Violent crime is well below the national rate (0.2× in FBI 2019 data).

What is the weather like in Toms River?

Toms River has cold winters: winter days average around 44°F and summer days around 83°F, with roughly 24″ of snow a year.

Does Toms River get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding and strong wind: 9 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.33 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Toms River?

The nearest major airport is EWR, about 48 mi away.

How Toms River scores

Each bar compares Toms River with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City size Mid-size Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quiet Suburban Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting around Mostly car Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or nature Culture & nature Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️Climate Cold winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of living Expensive Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️Pace Relaxed Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝Community Friendly community AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡Housing Houses with yards ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housing Below average
💸Low taxes Poor
💼Job market Good
🏥Healthcare Excellent
🎓Education Below average
🧸Kids & family Average
🐕Dog-friendly Below average
⛰️Outdoors Below average
🎭Culture Below average
🛡️Safety Very safe
🌪️Few natural disasters Good
☀️Sunny Below average
🌤️Mild summers Excellent
✈️Airport Good

Places like Toms River

These places have the most similar overall profile across all 23 aspects.

Nearby

See all the best places to live in New Jersey.

Is Toms River right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

Take the free quiz →

Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.