Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Killeen, TX
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 13 of 22 categories
Killeen
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,086
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
153,708 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Killeen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $787k less ($175,400 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $1048/mo less ($1,084 vs $2,132)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.8)
Smaller class sizes — 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $52,468/yr
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 5.3%)
Torrance, CA
Pros
Households earn $52,468 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.6 pts lower (5.3%)
41% less violent crime than Killeen
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 60°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Killeen
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Killeen
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 91.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Killeen
Median Home Value
$787k less
$175,400 vs $962,300
Killeen
Summer Heat
20.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 75.6°F
Torrance
Median Income
$52,468
$109,554 vs $57,086/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
41% lower
311.2 vs 527.6 per 100k
Torrance
Unemployment
5.6 pp lower
5.3% vs 10.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Killeen, TX | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.8 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $175,400 ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,084 ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,086 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.9%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 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 | 139⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.1% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.9% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KILLEEN ISD | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.0" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,708 ✓ Larger | 145,454 |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.3% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.2% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 7.5% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Killeen's cost of living index is 91.8 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Killeen is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Torrance leads 13 of 22 categories. Killeen 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 Killeen to Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($175,400 vs $962,300 median home), income ($57,086 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Killeen, TX and Torrance, CA are about 1,215 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.