Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 15 of 23 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
135,665
Torrance
California
15
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.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $604k less ($358,400 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $742/mo less ($1,390 vs $2,132)
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $49,615/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Property crime (2657.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Torrance, CA
Pros
Households earn $49,615 more per year on average
24% less violent crime than Elizabeth
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 40°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.3%)
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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2775.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Elizabeth
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Elizabeth
Median Home Value
$604k less
$358,400 vs $962,300
Elizabeth
Summer Heat
11.3°F warmer
July avg high 86.9°F vs 75.6°F
Torrance
Median Income
$49,615
$109,554 vs $59,939/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
24% lower
311.2 vs 408.7 per 100k
Torrance
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.3% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 | 145,454 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.7 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Elizabeth is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Torrance leads 15 of 23 categories. Elizabeth wins 8 and Torrance wins 15. 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 Elizabeth to Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $962,300 median home), income ($59,939 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and Torrance, CA are about 2,448 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.