Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irvine, CA
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Irvine leads 12 of 20 categories
Irvine
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,948 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
304,527 ✓ Larger
Torrance
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,554
Violent Crime Index
82
Population
145,454
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Irvine, CA
Pros
73% less violent crime than Torrance
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $13,394 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,749/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Pricier housing — median home is $1,025,700
Torrance, CA
Pros
Rent averages $617/mo less ($2,132 vs $2,749)
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 85°F
Homes cost $63k less ($962,300 vs $1,025,700)
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2775.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Irvine by $13,394/yr
Longer commutes — 27.8 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Irvine
Median Income
$13,394
$122,948 vs $109,554/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
73% lower
84.0 vs 311.2 per 100k
Irvine
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 85.1°F vs 75.6°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Torrance
Median Home Value
$63k less
$962,300 vs $1,025,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irvine, CA | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $1,025,700⚠ High | $962,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,749⚠ High | $2,132⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $122,948 ✓ Higher | $109,554 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 23.1% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 40 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 82 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 26.5:1 | 25.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.0% ✓ Higher | 52.7% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 95.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Irvine Unified | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer | 66.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 304,527 ✓ Larger | 145,454 |
| Median Age | 33.8 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.9% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irvine'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 20 decided categories above, Irvine leads 12 of 20 categories. Irvine wins 12 and Torrance wins 8. 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 Irvine to Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,025,700 vs $962,300 median home), income ($122,948 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irvine, CA and Torrance, CA are about 35 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.