Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 13 of 21 categories
Costa Mesa
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
111,490
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.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 18.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (737.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2836.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $2,268/mo
Torrance, CA
Pros
58% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $136/mo less ($2,132 vs $2,268)
Households earn $4,573 more per year on average
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
Longer commutes — 27.8 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 78.9°F vs 75.6°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Torrance
Median Income
$4,573
$109,554 vs $104,981/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
58% lower
311.2 vs 737.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $2,132⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 66.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 13.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 | 145,454 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Torrance leads 13 of 21 categories. Costa Mesa wins 8 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 Costa Mesa to Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $962,300 median home), income ($104,981 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Torrance, CA are about 28 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.