Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Beaverton, OR
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 13 of 23 categories
Beaverton
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,899
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
97,554
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Beaverton, OR
Pros
Homes cost $468k less ($494,700 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $469/mo less ($1,663 vs $2,132)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (3.9%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Smaller class sizes — 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $20,655/yr
Property crime (2661.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Torrance, CA
Pros
15% less violent crime than Beaverton
Households earn $20,655 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 49°F
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 82°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)
Property crime (2775.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Beaverton
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Beaverton
Median Home Value
$468k less
$494,700 vs $962,300
Beaverton
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.3% unemployment
Beaverton
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 82.3°F vs 75.6°F
Torrance
Median Income
$20,655
$109,554 vs $88,899/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
15% lower
311.2 vs 364.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Beaverton, OR | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $494,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,663⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,899 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 108⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.3% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.5% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Beaverton SD 48J | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.7°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.3°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.0" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,554 | 145,454 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.7 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.3% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Beaverton's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Beaverton is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Torrance leads 13 of 23 categories. Beaverton 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 Beaverton to Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,700 vs $962,300 median home), income ($88,899 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Beaverton, OR and Torrance, CA are about 839 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.