The Town FilesToms River, New Jersey
Community in Ocean County · population 92,830 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $403,600
- Household income
- $100,137
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 86°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 41.4
Toms River is a community of 92,830 people in Ocean County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $403,600, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks better for a vacation home than 89% of New Jersey towns, better for first-time buyers than 84% of New Jersey towns, more seaside character than 83% of New Jersey towns.
How Toms River ranks
Percentile among New Jersey towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Jersey towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Toms River is worth $403,600, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $100,137, which is more affordable than 43% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $1,731 a month. 81.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Toms River | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $403,600 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $1,731 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $100,137 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 81.9% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.1% | — |
Who lives in Toms River
| People | Toms River | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.4 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.0% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.4% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.8% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.5% | — |
| Work from home | 12.8% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 30.1 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.5% | 94.6% |
Weather in Toms River
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 21.7°F. About 52.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 116 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Toms River since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 29, 1982 about 8.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 21, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 28, 2019.
Severe weather in Ocean County since 1996
Ocean County has been included in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 24, 2025 | Fire | FM-5581: Jones Road Fire |
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4614: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3573: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| April 28, 2021 | Snowstorm | DR-4597: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4488: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Ocean County
Ocean County had 189,912 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,452 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Toms River itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Public schools in Toms River
18 public schools with 12,486 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toms River High School North | 9-12 | 1,962 | 14.4 |
| Toms River High School East | 9-12 | 1,444 | 13.5 |
| Toms River High School South | 9-12 | 1,371 | 15.2 |
| Toms River Intermediate School East | 6-8 | 1,278 | 14.7 |
| Cedar Grove Elementary School | PK-5 | 957 | 17.7 |
| Toms River Intermediate School North | 6-8 | 932 | 10.8 |
| Walnut Street Elementary School | K-5 | 718 | 12.2 |
| Hooper Avenue Elementary School | K-5 | 697 | 14.8 |
| Silver Bay Elementary School | PK-5 | 604 | 14.0 |
| East Dover Elementary School | K-5 | 601 | 12.3 |
| Joseph A. Citta Elementary School | PK-5 | 522 | 14.1 |
| West Dover Elementary School | K-5 | 409 | 12.8 |
Towns near Toms River
- Leisure Village East, NJ3.3 mi · 4,189 people · home $232,900
- Leisure Village, NJ3.4 mi · 4,966 people · home $145,800
- Pine Lake Park, NJ3.8 mi · 8,913 people · home $414,700
- Holiday City South, NJ3.8 mi · 4,124 people · home $266,700
- South Toms River, NJ4.0 mi · 3,643 people · home $299,700
- Beachwood, NJ4.7 mi · 10,859 people · home $352,600
- Leisure Village West, NJ5.0 mi · 3,692 people · home $222,600
- Holiday City-Berkeley, NJ5.3 mi · 12,943 people · home $266,200
Toms River questions
Is Toms River, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Toms River scores better for retirees than 27% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 42%. 20.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.4).
How much does a house cost in Toms River?
The median owner-occupied home in Toms River is valued at $403,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $100,137, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $1,731 a month.
What is the weather like in Toms River?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 21.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.0 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Toms River get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Toms River since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 29, 1982. The typical New Jersey town has had 9.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)