Rents are 3% below what Toms River's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $3,026 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
December. Asking rents in Toms River usually run 0.8% below trend in December and 0.6% above it in September, about $42 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.
Rent in Toms River is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in October 2021.
Rent in Toms River changed +5.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 121 New Jersey cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.1%.
Rent has risen 8 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($100,137) is $2,503 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,937); a 3-bedroom is $2,580.
The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Toms River, 08755 ($3,467/mo), costs 27% more than the cheapest, 08753 ($2,735/mo).
Seaside Heights, 7 miles away, rents for 30% less ($2,123/mo), about $10,800 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Toms River. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Toms River, NJ is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 36.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Toms River, NJ has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Toms River, NJ has shifted from $2,399 to $3,026, up 26.1% since 2022. Census figures show median household income at $100,137 today, compared with $85,752 five years earlier. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Toms River, NJ adding about 3,158 residents over the five-year window, up 3.4% on net. The renter share has eased from 19.8% to 18.1%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 33.8% to 36.4% across the same window. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2022.
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Can you afford rent in Toms River on your salary?
At $3,026/mo, how Toms River rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Toms River rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Toms River. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Toms River
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Toms River is $3,026/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,400/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,937/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,570/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,580/mo.
At 36% of local median household income ($100,137/yr), Toms River ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Toms River?
At $3,026/mo, rent takes ~36% of Toms River's median household income ($100,137/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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