Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Los Angeles, CA
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 14 of 20 categories
Los Angeles
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ 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.
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Rent averages $341/mo less ($1,791 vs $2,132)
Homes cost $140k less ($822,600 vs $962,300)
Smaller class sizes — 19.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $33,310/yr
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 5.3%)
Torrance, CA
Pros
57% less violent crime than Los Angeles
Households earn $33,310 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (5.3%)
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Property crime (2775.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Los Angeles
Median Home Value
$140k less
$822,600 vs $962,300
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Torrance
Median Income
$33,310
$109,554 vs $76,244/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
57% lower
311.2 vs 728.5 per 100k
Torrance
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
5.3% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $822,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,791⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,244 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 27.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 143⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Los Angeles Unified | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F | 66.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.0°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger | 145,454 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.6% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles'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, Torrance leads 14 of 20 categories. Los Angeles wins 6 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 Los Angeles to Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($822,600 vs $962,300 median home), income ($76,244 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Los Angeles, CA and Torrance, CA are about 13 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.