Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Carmel leads 17 of 23 categories
Carmel
Indiana
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$132,859 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
17 ✓ Safer
Population
99,453
Torrance
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,554
Violent Crime Index
82
Population
145,454 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
Homes cost $536k less ($425,900 vs $962,300)
79% less violent crime than Torrance
Rent averages $633/mo less ($1,499 vs $2,132)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (2.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (66.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Torrance, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 35°F
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
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Carmel
Median income trails Carmel by $23,305/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Carmel
Median Income
$23,305
$132,859 vs $109,554/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
79% lower
66.0 vs 311.2 per 100k
Carmel
Median Home Value
$536k less
$425,900 vs $962,300
Carmel
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.3% unemployment
Carmel
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 84.4°F vs 75.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $109,554 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 82 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 52.7% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 95.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 145,454 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Carmel is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 17 of 23 categories. Carmel wins 17 and Torrance wins 6. 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 Carmel to Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $962,300 median home), income ($132,859 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Torrance, CA are about 1,819 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.