Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 13 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
126,356
Torrance
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,554 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
82 ✓ Safer
Population
145,454 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $801k less ($161,800 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $1072/mo less ($1,060 vs $2,132)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (2.8%)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $50,300/yr
Torrance, CA
Pros
Households earn $50,300 more per year on average
27% less violent crime than Abilene
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Abilene
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$801k less
$161,800 vs $962,300
Abilene
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
2.8% vs 5.3% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
20.8°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 75.6°F
Torrance
Median Income
$50,300
$109,554 vs $59,254/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
27% lower
311.2 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 145,454 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Torrance leads 13 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 10 and Torrance wins 13. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Abilene to Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $962,300 median home), income ($59,254 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Torrance, CA are about 1,080 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.