Head-to-Head · City Comparison
High Point, NC
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 14 of 23 categories
High Point
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,582
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
114,120
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.
High Point, NC
Pros
Homes cost $766k less ($196,500 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $1102/mo less ($1,030 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 92.7)
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $50,972/yr
Violent crime (454.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2456.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.3%)
Torrance, CA
Pros
Households earn $50,972 more per year on average
32% less violent crime than High Point
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 52°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than High Point
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
High Point
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
High Point
Median Home Value
$766k less
$196,500 vs $962,300
High Point
Summer Heat
13.8°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 75.6°F
Torrance
Median Income
$50,972
$109,554 vs $58,582/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
32% lower
311.2 vs 454.8 per 100k
Torrance
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | High Point, NC | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $196,500 ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,030 ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,582 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.0% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.4% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Guilford County Schools | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.7°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.3" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,120 | 145,454 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.1% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 15.7% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
High Point's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
High Point is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Torrance leads 14 of 23 categories. High Point wins 9 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 High Point to Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($196,500 vs $962,300 median home), income ($58,582 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
High Point, NC and Torrance, CA are about 2,165 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.