Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 16 of 23 categories
Dayton
Ohio
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305
Torrance
California
16
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.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $876k less ($86,200 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $1302/mo less ($830 vs $2,132)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Smaller class sizes — 17.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $68,111/yr
Violent crime (1339.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4334.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.0% vs 5.3%)
Torrance, CA
Pros
Households earn $68,111 more per year on average
77% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.7 pts lower (5.3%)
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 36°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Dayton
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$876k less
$86,200 vs $962,300
Dayton
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 86.7°F vs 75.6°F
Torrance
Median Income
$68,111
$109,554 vs $41,443/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
77% lower
311.2 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Torrance
Unemployment
4.7 pp lower
5.3% vs 10.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 | 145,454 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.9% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Torrance leads 16 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 7 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 Dayton to Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $962,300 median home), income ($41,443 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Torrance, CA are about 1,922 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.