What are the schools like in Torrance, CA?

Torrance is served primarily by Torrance Unified. The district operates 17 elementary schools, 8 middle schools, and 6 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 25.1:1.

What is the median household income in Torrance?

The median household income in Torrance, CA is $109,554 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.3%.

What is the weather like in Torrance, CA?

Torrance has an average high temperature of 66.6°F in January and 75.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 13.8 inches.

Torrance, CA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Torrance, CA affordable or expensive?

Torrance's cost of living index is 116, where 100 represents the national average. This means Torrance is 16% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $962,300 and the median rent is $2,132 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Torrance, CA?

Torrance has a violent crime rate of 311.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2775.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Torrance, CA a Good Place to Live?

Torrance is a mid-sized city of 145,454 in California, with a median household income of $109,554 and a 5.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 116 (US average = 100), which is 16% above the national average.

Strengths: Torrance stands out for solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Torrance is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Torrance city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 115.5

Torrance's overall cost of living index is 115.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Torrance costs roughly 16% more than the average American city.

Metric	Torrance, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$962,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$2,132	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	54.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$109,554	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Torrance's violent crime rate is 311.2 per 100,000 residents — 18% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

311.2 /100k

Property Crime

2775.8 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Torrance is served primarily by Torrance Unified. The student-to-teacher ratio is 25.1:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Torrance, CA	National Avg
School District	Torrance Unified	—
Elementary Schools	17	—
Middle Schools	8	—
High Schools	6	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	25.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	52.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Torrance sees average highs of 66.6°F in January and 75.6°F in July, with 13.8 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Torrance, CA
Average High — January	66.6°F
Average High — July	75.6°F
Annual Precipitation	13.8"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Torrance, CA	National Avg
Population	145,454	—
Median Age	42.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	27.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	38.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	3.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	13.6%	18.9%
Asian	37.8%	6.3%
Under 18	20.8%	22.2%
65 and over	17.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Redondo Beach, CA 3 mi Lomita, CA 3 mi West Carson, CA 4 mi Hermosa Beach, CA 4 mi Rolling Hills Estates, CA 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Torrance

Torrance, CA is covered by 4 ZIP codes:

90505 90503 90504 90501

Torrance vs Other Cities

Torrance, CA vs Redondo Beach, CA Torrance, CA vs Lomita, CA Torrance, CA vs West Carson, CA Torrance, CA vs Hermosa Beach, CA Torrance, CA vs Rolling Hills Estates, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Torrance, CA affordable or expensive?

Torrance's cost of living index is 116, where 100 is the national average. That puts Torrance roughly 16% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $962,300 and median rent is $2,132/month.

What is the crime rate in Torrance, CA?

Torrance's violent crime rate is 311.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2775.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Torrance?

Public schools in Torrance are operated by Torrance Unified. The district has 17 elementary, 8 middle, and 6 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 25.1:1. 52.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Torrance, CA a good place to live?

Torrance, CA has a population of 145,454, a median household income of $109,554, and an unemployment rate of 5.3%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Torrance?

Torrance averages 66.6°F in January and 75.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 13.8 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Torrance?

Torrance, CA is covered by 4 ZIP codes: 90505, 90503, 90504, 90501.

What is the population of Torrance?

The population of Torrance, California is 145,454 with a median age of 42.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Torrance?

Key numbers for living in Torrance: cost of living index 116 (100 = US average), median home $962,300, median household income $109,554, crime index 102 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Torrance side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.