Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anaheim, CA
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 13 of 21 categories
Anaheim
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,538
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
347,111 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anaheim, CA
Pros
Homes cost $249k less ($713,600 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $174/mo less ($1,958 vs $2,132)
Smaller class sizes — 23.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (596.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Torrance by $21,016/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Torrance, CA
Pros
48% less violent crime than Anaheim
Households earn $21,016 more per year on average
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2775.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Anaheim
Median Home Value
$249k less
$713,600 vs $962,300
Anaheim
Summer Heat
11.2°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 75.6°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Torrance
Median Income
$21,016
$109,554 vs $88,538/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
48% lower
311.2 vs 596.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anaheim, CA | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $713,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,958⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,538 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.4 min⚠ High | 27.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (74) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.8% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anaheim Elementary | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.0°F ✓ Warmer | 66.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 347,111 ✓ Larger | 145,454 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anaheim's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Torrance leads 13 of 21 categories. Anaheim wins 8 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 Anaheim to Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($713,600 vs $962,300 median home), income ($88,538 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anaheim, CA and Torrance, CA are about 34 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.