Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Knoxville, TN
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 14 of 22 categories
Knoxville
Tennessee
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $778k less ($184,200 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $1089/mo less ($1,043 vs $2,132)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $61,245/yr
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Torrance, CA
Pros
Households earn $61,245 more per year on average
58% less violent crime than Knoxville
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 48°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Knoxville
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Knoxville
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$778k less
$184,200 vs $962,300
Knoxville
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.3% unemployment
Knoxville
Summer Heat
12.7°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 75.6°F
Torrance
Median Income
$61,245
$109,554 vs $48,309/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
58% lower
311.2 vs 740.3 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Knoxville, TN | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $184,200 ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,043 ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,309 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ 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 | — | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Knox County | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.8" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,857 ✓ Larger | 145,454 |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.2% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Knoxville's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Torrance leads 14 of 22 categories. Knoxville wins 8 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 Knoxville to Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,200 vs $962,300 median home), income ($48,309 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Knoxville, TN and Torrance, CA are about 1,945 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.