SperlingViews - Toms_River, New_jersey

Of course statistical data for items such as population count, unemployment, home values, etc. are a constantly moving numerical description of an area. None the less, I found the numbers reported here quite deceptive. A few for instances: This site's figures: Figures from Yahoo website: Population - 68,082 91,927 Median income - $63,191 $68,880 Home median cost - $379,500 $387,000 Per student expense - $8,053 $8,417 Unemployment rate - 4.20% 4.1% Having lived in Toms River for 24 years (incidentallly, with no intentions of moving away) I find the Yahoo website numbers much more current. Bottom line is that we have gone from a mostly spread out community of country roads, poultry and egg farmers, with a bit of tourist industry on the shore (Seaside Boardwalk, Ortley Beach) mostly blue collar population, but one heck of an excellent school system in the Toms River Regional area, to an older population with a large number of age restricted communities, more crowded four lane highways than you can count and condos mixed with "McMansions" that took over all the beautiful farmland to be had. I don't like to drive too far these days, especially in the summer, because there is grid-lock everywhere, bumper to bumper traffic on Route 37 from the Garden State Parkway to the bridge over the bay to the barrier islands, standstill traffic on Hooper Ave. from Brick, the town to the north, all the way to the Ocean County Mall, a distance of about 5 miles or so. I bemoan the disappearance of the "back country" feel, the disproportionate number of senior citizens that should have given up their driver's licenses long ago, the teenage and young adult drivers that do not know the meaning of courtesy or consideration for those older drivers, and the tourists that take over our town in the summer. A local saying is "Welcome to the Jersey Shore Bennies - Now Please go Home!" I have to add, one thing has not changed; we still have the very best schools in all of New Jersey! Indeed, my daughter is now working on her second Masters degree and living in a beautiful custom built home on a five acre wooded lot, albeit in Pennsylvania, but I raised her and she got her education here, in Toms River. I really love my town, so for all its problems, that's why I'm staying. Respectfully, Sharon Kramer [read more...]

I think this is a great place to start a small buisness in.[read more...]

Toms River is home to New Jersey's largest suburban school district which hosts 19,000 students in 18 public schools. Toms River schools are considered to be the most successful and influential schools in the state of New Jersey. It is home to one of the Top 100 Events In America, Toms River Fest, a huge festival filled with food, concerts performed by world-renowned artists such as Kelly Clarkson, Rihanna, Hilary Duff, Maroon 5, and more, and free rides for kids of all ages. Many famous music artists perform at the Ritacco Center (Poland Spring Arena) at Toms River High School North throughout the year. It is also home to the only enclosed mall in the entire county which is the second largest in size in New Jersey. In Toms River, you will find several beaches along the Jersey Shore which are considered to be some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Toms River is the fourteenth safest city in America. With the Six Flags minutes away and the beach in town, it's almost impossible to be bored. Toms River...The Shore and More![read more...]

Well, I have to say that I agree (in part) with both of the previous comments. This area is great in some respects and horrible in others. I've lived in the Monmouth/Ocean County area my whole life and have both very positive and very negative feelings about it. Let me give you the pros and cons. PROS: 1) EDUCATION: Public school education is great in most schools here. It's also great at most schools in NJ. That's one of the key reasons why people live here. 2) CRIME RATE: Crime is very very low. According to morganquitno.com (http://www.morganquitno.com/cit06pop.htm#25) Toms River (also called Dover Township) is the 15th safest place in the US with more than a 75,000 population. 3) ENTERTAINMENT: Proximity to NYC, Philly, and Atlantic City for those that like the culture and night life. Me, I'd rather stay at home and avoid the traffic and hastles. 4) ACTIVITIES: Proximity to beaches, bays, and rivers for fishing, crabbing, boating, jet skiing, water skiing, etc. 5) JOBS: Although the Toms River area is not good for jobs there are plenty of jobs within a 40 minute drive in places like Eatontown and Red Bank. If you want to drive further, which many do from this area, you can commute to North Jersey, New York, or Philadelphia, where the salaries are much higher. Plan on spending 2 to 3 hours behind the wheel every day. CONS: 1) CONGESTION: NJ is the most populated state in the country, with over 1100 people per square mile average. Any place you want to go you'll have to deal with traffic and the stress that goes along with it. I drive on the Garden State Parkway to Red Bank every day, and believe me it's a nightmare. People are rude, inconsiderate and very aggressive. There are frequent accidents that will keep you sitting in traffic. At least once per week I'm late to work because of an accident. I've seen about a dozen makeshift memorials on the Parkway over the last couple of years where people have died in car accidents, and still people drive like maniacs. 2) PRICES: Real estate is outrageously priced here. Why? Because of the Pros above. People are willing to pay the high prices because they know their kids are getting a good education and it's very safe compared to many other parts of the country. Real estate taxes are also very high here, but not as high as in nearby Monmouth County. According to a recent article I read, NJ has the highest real estate taxes in the country. Why? When you have a good educational system your taxes go up[read more...]

Toms River is a nice place to live... water is close by in all directions, seaside beach and island state park beach is minutes away. Homes are still affordable and taxes low for New Jersey. The community is mixed white and blue collar with varied interests so you can find people of common interest no matter what you like. The community college has excellent live plays, the mall is nice, shopping is along 3 routes 166/9, 37 and Fisher Blvd, something is always open. The people are friendly, the schools are excellent and there are a lot of young people, teenagers, and elders so you have a good mix of generations. Oh and there are plenty of parks for sliding, basketball, baseball (the baseball little leagues are the best in new jersey), and for water skiing or boating.[read more...]

This whole area is a hell !!! By this area I mean the northern part of Ocean County. Why would I be on this site if I were not interested in getting out of here? The costs for food, housing, recreation, and taxes are un-happily high. Going to a movie is painful because for 2 people it costs at minimum $30, and I am on a fixed budget. Meat is completely unaffordable (and rotten) at any supermarket, and I can’t even afford sandwiches for my family. Roads are filled with old white vans & pick-up trucks with scary looking minorities. The houses in my neighborhood, and many others, are very old (build more than 55 years ago) and have not had any structural, electrical, or plumbing, repairs ever, mostly due to the income of the inhabitants. To get a contractor to do some work for you will cost a pretty-penny, and it will be made out of cr*p materials. Also, the job market will kill you. I am a decently experience & educated person and it took me 3 months to get a job, in the Lakewood ghetto, whose salary turned out to be less than the salary.com medium. Some job-offerings are incredibly worse than that, with big numbers of scam-artist jobs, such as at Banks & in the Telemarketing Industry. I felt at times I could qualify for welfare. BEWARE!! The entertainment & recreation costs are so bad that I sit in my home staring at the wall (plan $135/person for Six Flags). The mayors like to think this place is so good, and has lots of lovely affordable things to do for families, while they allow these injustices to go on. I know some people who are paying $5,000 for their taxes, and they are living in a run-down family home. Currently, I am looking for the right place to live and saving my money to move out. I am thinking of a place that is just cheap, because I have given up on all else.[read more...]