Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Centennial leads 18 of 23 categories
Centennial
Colorado
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
107,702
Torrance
California
5
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.
Centennial, CO
Pros
Homes cost $376k less ($586,500 vs $962,300)
44% less violent crime than Torrance
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.4%)
Households earn $15,063 more per year on average
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Cons
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Torrance, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 45°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Median income trails Centennial by $15,063/yr
Property crime (2775.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Centennial
Median Income
$15,063
$124,617 vs $109,554/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
44% lower
172.8 vs 311.2 per 100k
Centennial
Median Home Value
$376k less
$586,500 vs $962,300
Centennial
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.3% unemployment
Centennial
Summer Heat
11.7°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 75.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $109,554 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 82 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 52.7% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 95.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 | 145,454 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.6 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 17.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Centennial is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 18 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 18 and Torrance wins 5. 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 Centennial to Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $962,300 median home), income ($124,617 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Torrance, CA are about 845 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.