Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 13 of 23 categories
Atlanta
Georgia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,655
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838 ✓ 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.
Atlanta, GA
Pros
Homes cost $567k less ($395,600 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $620/mo less ($1,512 vs $2,132)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
More college-educated — 57.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $31,899/yr
Violent crime (840.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3748.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Torrance, CA
Pros
63% less violent crime than Atlanta
Households earn $31,899 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 90°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 54°F
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)
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Atlanta
Key Differences at a Glance
Atlanta
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Atlanta
Median Home Value
$567k less
$395,600 vs $962,300
Atlanta
Summer Heat
14.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 75.6°F
Torrance
Median Income
$31,899
$109,554 vs $77,655/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
63% lower
311.2 vs 840.6 per 100k
Torrance
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.3% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 204⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% ✓ Higher | 52.7% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 ✓ Larger | 145,454 |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Atlanta is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Torrance leads 13 of 23 categories. Atlanta 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 Atlanta to Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $962,300 median home), income ($77,655 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and Torrance, CA are about 1,939 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.