Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Little Rock, AR
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 14 of 23 categories
Little Rock
Arkansas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,697
Violent Crime Index
440⚠ High
Population
202,218 ✓ 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.
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Homes cost $757k less ($205,800 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $1126/mo less ($1,006 vs $2,132)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.4%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.1)
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $50,857/yr
Violent crime (1672.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5214.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Torrance, CA
Pros
Households earn $50,857 more per year on average
81% less violent crime than Little Rock
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 92°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 51°F
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Little Rock
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Little Rock
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$757k less
$205,800 vs $962,300
Little Rock
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.3% unemployment
Little Rock
Summer Heat
16.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 75.6°F
Torrance
Median Income
$50,857
$109,554 vs $58,697/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
81% lower
311.2 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Little Rock, AR | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $205,800 ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,006 ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,697 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 363⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 440⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.5°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.4" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,218 ✓ Larger | 145,454 |
| Median Age | 36.6 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 15.0% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Little Rock's cost of living index is 89.1 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Torrance leads 14 of 23 categories. Little Rock 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 Little Rock to Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($205,800 vs $962,300 median home), income ($58,697 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Little Rock, AR and Torrance, CA are about 1,481 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.