Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lubbock, TX
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 12 of 23 categories
Lubbock
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,734
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
258,190 ✓ Larger
Torrance
California
12
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.
Lubbock, TX
Pros
Homes cost $781k less ($181,600 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $1039/mo less ($1,093 vs $2,132)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.6%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $50,820/yr
Violent crime (821.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Torrance, CA
Pros
Households earn $50,820 more per year on average
62% less violent crime than Lubbock
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 55°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Lubbock
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lubbock
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lubbock
Median Home Value
$781k less
$181,600 vs $962,300
Lubbock
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.3% unemployment
Lubbock
Summer Heat
17.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 75.6°F
Torrance
Median Income
$50,820
$109,554 vs $58,734/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
62% lower
311.2 vs 821.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lubbock, TX | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $181,600 ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,093 ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,734 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.1 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.2% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LUBBOCK ISD | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.0°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.5" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 258,190 ✓ Larger | 145,454 |
| Median Age | 30.0 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lubbock's cost of living index is 90.9 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Lubbock is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Torrance leads 12 of 23 categories. Lubbock wins 11 and Torrance wins 12. 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 Lubbock to Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($181,600 vs $962,300 median home), income ($58,734 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lubbock, TX and Torrance, CA are about 946 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.