Living in Toms River, NJ offers a unique coastal lifestyle with a rich history and a vibrant community. Known for its beautiful beaches and maritime heritage, Toms River is a popular destination for families and retirees alike. The city's historic downtown area is charming, with the Toms River Seaport Society and Maritime Museum highlighting the region's nautical past.
Toms River's culinary scene is diverse and exciting, featuring seafood restaurants that serve fresh catches from the Atlantic. The annual New Jersey Chili and Salsa Cook-Off is a local favorite, attracting food lovers from all over the state. The River Lady Cruise, a paddleboat tour, offers scenic views and historical insights along the Toms River.
For outdoor enthusiasts, Toms River offers plenty of recreational activities. The Cattus Island County Park features hiking trails, bird watching, and a nature center. The city's beaches, such as Ortley Beach, are perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports. The Garden State Parkway provides easy access to nearby cities and attractions.
Toms River is known for its strong sense of community, with numerous events and festivals throughout the year. The annual Halloween Parade is one of the largest in the country, showcasing the city's festive spirit. The local farmers market offers fresh produce and homemade goods, supporting local farmers and artisans.
For those considering a move to the Jersey Shore, Toms River offers a perfect blend of coastal beauty, historical charm, and community warmth. Whether you're drawn by its beaches, cultural events, or friendly atmosphere, living in Toms River, NJ provides a delightful and fulfilling lifestyle.
Amenities
Conveniently located, the area boasts a variety of amenities, including grocery stores, shopping, coffee shops and entertainment options all within walking distance.
Crime
This area boasts a crime rate that is far below the national average, making it a very safe place to live. These crime statistics encompass both property and violent offenses.
Employment
With higher than average median household income, income per capita and lower unemployment rates, this area scores extremely well in the employment category.
Housing
Impressive scores in the housing category characterize this area, potentially attributed to the availability of affordable housing, strong appreciation rates and high home values.
Health & Safety
Accessible health facilities like hospitals, doctors offices, clinics and nursing homes as well as good air quality are all factors that have led to a high score in this category.
Cost Of Living
This area is known for its high cost of living, which means you should anticipate higher costs for everyday goods and services, housing, groceries, and health care.
Located in the state of New Jersey, Toms River is a mid-sized city with a population of 90,081 inhabitants. The majority of Toms River residents report their race to be White; this is followed by Black and Asian. When traveling to work, spending unnecessary time in your vehicle is not ideal and downright frustrating. Across all of America, the average one way commute time is 26 minutes, unfortunately, living in Toms River offers up a higher than average one way commute time of 30 minutes.
Whether you’re relocating to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Toms River could be a positive experience compared to other cities in New Jersey if you know where to look. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. To help you find the best places to live in and around Toms River, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like cost of living, commute, employment, housing and more.
Using data and statistics Toms River has received a livability score of 79/100. This score is ranked in the 95th percentile when compared to all other cities. Compared to the United States average, Toms River ranks among some of the best places to live in the country! Toms River also ranks in the top 10 percent of all cities, which is no small feat! For each of the livability categories, we see that Toms River ranks very well for amenities (A-), crime (A+), employment (A) and housing (A-). There are some categories that Toms River scores poorly for, including: cost of living (F). It might be worth taking a closer look to determine why.
Living in Toms River offers many benefits and offers an extensive array of local amenities. These amenities play a crucial role in enhancing the quality of life in this vibrant community. From readily accessible grocery stores to charming coffee shops, diverse dining options and generously spaced parks, Toms River provides a wide spectrum of resources for its residents. This ensures that your daily requirements are effortlessly met and creates abundant opportunities for leisure and recreation. The abundant local offerings contribute to the area's overall appeal, making it an attractive destination for those seeking convenience, variety and a fulfilling lifestyle. If you're considering a move, the wealth of local amenities continues could be a defining feature of this remarkable locale. Among the enticing options for fun and exploration in Toms River are: Cattus Island County Park, Insectropolis, the Bugseum of New Jersey, and Simply Skin Day Spa.
Low rates of violent crime, encompassing offenses such as murder, rape, robbery and assault, contribute significantly to a safer living environment. This reduction in crime minimizes the chances of personal harm, property theft, or violent incidents. Furthermore, low crime rates can have a positive impact on property values and the overall desirability of an area. There were 83 crimes per 100,000 residents, which signifies that Toms River boasts an impressively low violent crime rate that falls well below the national average.
For home buyers, real estate will be the largest purchase they will ever make and it will also be their most valuable asset. For renters, the monthly rent paid on their Toms River apartments will most likely be their largest expense. Based on tangible metrics like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates, housing in this area has received a score that is well above the average of every other US city. A thriving real estate market can also generate strong local economic activity and job creation.
Toms River real estate prices and overall affordability will play a huge role in determining if the area is the right fit for you. Of course there are probably some other items on your “wish list”, but even before they are considered, let’s take a look at the home prices and affordability in Toms River. The median home price for Toms River homes is $292,700, which is 7.5% lower than the New Jersey average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Toms River, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 3.7, which is 14% lower than the New Jersey average.
| Statistic | Toms River | New Jersey | National |
| Average one way commute | 30min | 31min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 84.1% | 71.7% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 6.4% | 8.1% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 1.3% | 11.2% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 1.0% | 3.0% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 6.2% | 4.1% | 4.6% |
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