Passaic, NJ vs Toms River, NJ

Passaic is moderately more affordable than Toms River, with a 5.2% lower cost of living index. Passaic scores 115 compared to 121 for Toms River, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Toms River can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Passaic is $1,392/month compared to $1,678/month in Toms River — a 17% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Passaic has cheaper rent, Toms River actually has lower median home values ($377,800 vs $406,500).

Median household income in Passaic is $56,780 compared to $95,759 in Toms River (-40.7%). While Toms River is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Passaic spend roughly 29.4% of their income on rent, more than the 21% in Toms River.