Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McAllen, TX
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 McAllen leads 12 of 23 categories
McAllen
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722
Torrance
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,554 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
82
Population
145,454 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $804k less ($158,700 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $1177/mo less ($955 vs $2,132)
52% less violent crime than Torrance
30% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $53,228/yr
Torrance, CA
Pros
Households earn $53,228 more per year on average
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 98°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Cost of living runs 30% higher than McAllen
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
30% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
52% lower
150.0 vs 311.2 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$804k less
$158,700 vs $962,300
McAllen
Summer Heat
21.9°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 75.6°F
Torrance
Median Income
$53,228
$109,554 vs $56,326/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McAllen, TX | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,700 ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $955 ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,326 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.5% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 82 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCALLEN ISD | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer | 66.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 27.4" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,722 | 145,454 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
McAllen's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 30% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 12 of 23 categories. McAllen wins 12 and Torrance wins 11. 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 McAllen to Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,700 vs $962,300 median home), income ($56,326 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McAllen, TX and Torrance, CA are about 1,310 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.