Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 15 of 23 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High
Population
126,672
Torrance
California
15
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.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $720k less ($242,300 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $1087/mo less ($1,045 vs $2,132)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 10.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $61,756/yr
Torrance, CA
Pros
Households earn $61,756 more per year on average
23% less violent crime than Athens-Clarke County
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 92°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 55°F
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Athens-Clarke County
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Median Home Value
$720k less
$242,300 vs $962,300
Athens-Clarke County
Summer Heat
16.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 75.6°F
Torrance
Median Income
$61,756
$109,554 vs $47,798/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
23% lower
311.2 vs 406.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 145,454 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Torrance leads 15 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 8 and Torrance wins 15. 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 Athens-Clarke County to Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $962,300 median home), income ($47,798 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Torrance, CA are about 1,997 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.