Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fullerton, CA
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 14 of 21 categories
Fullerton
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
142,280
Torrance
California
14
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.
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Homes cost $171k less ($791,000 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $143/mo less ($1,989 vs $2,132)
Cons
Violent crime (455.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.3%)
Median income trails Torrance by $10,275/yr
Torrance, CA
Pros
32% less violent crime than Fullerton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.3%)
Households earn $10,275 more per year on average
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2775.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Fullerton
Median Home Value
$171k less
$791,000 vs $962,300
Fullerton
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 84.4°F vs 75.6°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Torrance
Median Income
$10,275
$109,554 vs $99,279/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
32% lower
311.2 vs 455.3 per 100k
Torrance
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fullerton, CA | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $791,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,989⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,279 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.0 min⚠ High | 27.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.3:1 | 25.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.0% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fullerton Elementary | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 66.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" ✓ Drier | 13.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,280 | 145,454 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fullerton'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 14 of 21 categories. Fullerton wins 7 and Torrance wins 14. 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 Fullerton to Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($791,000 vs $962,300 median home), income ($99,279 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fullerton, CA and Torrance, CA are about 25 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.