Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hesperia, CA
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 13 of 22 categories
Hesperia
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,698
Violent Crime Index
137⚠ High
Population
99,878
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.
Hesperia, CA
Pros
Homes cost $625k less ($337,600 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $696/mo less ($1,436 vs $2,132)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Smaller class sizes — 23.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $41,856/yr
Violent crime (519.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 5.3%)
Longer commutes — 42.4 min average each way
Torrance, CA
Pros
Households earn $41,856 more per year on average
40% less violent crime than Hesperia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 pts lower (5.3%)
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 97°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
Hesperia
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Hesperia
Median Home Value
$625k less
$337,600 vs $962,300
Hesperia
Summer Heat
21.2°F warmer
July avg high 96.8°F vs 75.6°F
Torrance
Median Income
$41,856
$109,554 vs $67,698/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
40% lower
311.2 vs 519.6 per 100k
Torrance
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
5.3% vs 9.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hesperia, CA | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $337,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,436⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,698 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.8%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 42.4 min⚠ High | 27.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.9% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.0% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hesperia Unified | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.8°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.1" ✓ Drier | 13.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,878 | 145,454 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.5% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 29.3% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 9.9% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hesperia's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Hesperia is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Torrance leads 13 of 22 categories. Hesperia wins 9 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 Hesperia to Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($337,600 vs $962,300 median home), income ($67,698 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hesperia, CA and Torrance, CA are about 71 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.