Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 12 of 23 categories
Aurora
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,943
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
181,405 ✓ Larger
Torrance
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,554 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
82
Population
145,454
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, IL
Pros
Homes cost $721k less ($241,600 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $670/mo less ($1,462 vs $2,132)
15% less violent crime than Torrance
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $23,611/yr
Torrance, CA
Pros
Households earn $23,611 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 31°F
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 84°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 13% higher than Aurora
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Aurora
Violent Crime
15% lower
266.0 vs 311.2 per 100k
Aurora
Median Home Value
$721k less
$241,600 vs $962,300
Aurora
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 84.0°F vs 75.6°F
Torrance
Median Income
$23,611
$109,554 vs $85,943/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 27.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 82 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 ✓ Larger | 145,454 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Aurora is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Torrance leads 12 of 23 categories. Aurora 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 Aurora to Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $962,300 median home), income ($85,943 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Torrance, CA are about 1,720 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.