Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Berkeley, CA
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 16 of 22 categories
Berkeley
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,716
Violent Crime Index
168⚠ High
Population
121,385
Torrance
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Berkeley, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 73.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 19.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (638.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $1,280,300
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Property crime (5229.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Torrance, CA
Pros
51% less violent crime than Berkeley
Homes cost $318k less ($962,300 vs $1,280,300)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 59°F
Households earn $4,838 more per year on average
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Berkeley
Cons
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
Torrance
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 115.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Torrance
Median Income
$4,838
$109,554 vs $104,716/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
51% lower
311.2 vs 638.8 per 100k
Torrance
Median Home Value
$318k less
$962,300 vs $1,280,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Berkeley, CA | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,280,300⚠ High | $962,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,067⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,716 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 27.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 52.7% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 95.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Berkeley Unified | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 75.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.1" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,385 | 145,454 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Berkeley's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Torrance is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Torrance leads 16 of 22 categories. Berkeley wins 6 and Torrance wins 16. 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 Berkeley to Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,280,300 vs $962,300 median home), income ($104,716 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Berkeley, CA and Torrance, CA are about 356 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.