Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 12 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360 ✓ Larger
Torrance
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,554 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
82 ✓ Safer
Population
145,454
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $790k less ($172,700 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $1135/mo less ($997 vs $2,132)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.5%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $48,926/yr
Violent crime (690.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2655.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Torrance, CA
Pros
Households earn $48,926 more per year on average
55% less violent crime than Amarillo
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 92°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Amarillo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$790k less
$172,700 vs $962,300
Amarillo
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.3% unemployment
Amarillo
Summer Heat
16.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 75.6°F
Torrance
Median Income
$48,926
$109,554 vs $60,628/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
55% lower
311.2 vs 690.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 145,454 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Torrance leads 12 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 11 and Torrance wins 12. 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 Amarillo to Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $962,300 median home), income ($60,628 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Torrance, CA are about 944 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.