Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denton, TX
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 12 of 23 categories
Denton
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,921
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262
Torrance
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,554 ✓ Higher
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.
Denton, TX
Pros
Homes cost $666k less ($296,100 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $868/mo less ($1,264 vs $2,132)
34% less violent crime than Torrance
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.8%)
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $37,633/yr
Torrance, CA
Pros
Households earn $37,633 more per year on average
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 56°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Denton
Key Differences at a Glance
Denton
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Denton
Violent Crime
34% lower
204.2 vs 311.2 per 100k
Denton
Median Home Value
$666k less
$296,100 vs $962,300
Denton
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.3% unemployment
Denton
Summer Heat
20.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 75.6°F
Torrance
Median Income
$37,633
$109,554 vs $71,921/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denton, TX | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $296,100 ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,264 ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,921 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.7 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 65 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 82 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DENTON ISD | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.8°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.4" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,262 | 145,454 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Denton is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Torrance leads 12 of 23 categories. Denton wins 11 and Torrance wins 12. 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 Denton to Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($296,100 vs $962,300 median home), income ($71,921 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denton, TX and Torrance, CA are about 1,221 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.