Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 13 of 23 categories
Lakewood
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,786
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149 ✓ 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.
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Homes cost $468k less ($494,100 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $467/mo less ($1,665 vs $2,132)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.4%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Torrance by $26,768/yr
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 58" of snow per year
Torrance, CA
Pros
60% less violent crime than Lakewood
Households earn $26,768 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 45°F
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 86°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
Lakewood
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lakewood
Median Home Value
$468k less
$494,100 vs $962,300
Lakewood
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.3% unemployment
Lakewood
Summer Heat
10.3°F warmer
July avg high 85.9°F vs 75.6°F
Torrance
Median Income
$26,768
$109,554 vs $82,786/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
60% lower
311.2 vs 787.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $494,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 221⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 ✓ Larger | 145,454 |
| Median Age | 38.1 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Lakewood is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Torrance leads 13 of 23 categories. Lakewood wins 10 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 Lakewood to Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $962,300 median home), income ($82,786 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and Torrance, CA are about 836 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.