Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anchorage, AK
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 13 of 23 categories
Anchorage
Alaska
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,731
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
290,674 ✓ 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.
Anchorage, AK
Pros
Homes cost $599k less ($363,800 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $727/mo less ($1,405 vs $2,132)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Cooler summers — July highs near 67°F vs 76°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1014.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Torrance by $13,823/yr
Property crime (2765.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Torrance, CA
Pros
69% less violent crime than Anchorage
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 21°F
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $13,823 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2775.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Anchorage
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Anchorage
Median Home Value
$599k less
$363,800 vs $962,300
Torrance
Median Income
$13,823
$109,554 vs $95,731/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
69% lower
311.2 vs 1014.8 per 100k
Torrance
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 75.6°F vs 67.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anchorage, AK | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $363,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,405⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,731 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.1 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 213⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anchorage School District | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 20.9°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 67.4°F | 75.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.6" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,674 ✓ Larger | 145,454 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchorage's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Anchorage is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Torrance leads 13 of 23 categories. Anchorage 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 Anchorage to Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($363,800 vs $962,300 median home), income ($95,731 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anchorage, AK and Torrance, CA are about 2,333 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.