Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Orleans, LA
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 15 of 23 categories
New Orleans
Louisiana
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,116
Violent Crime Index
380⚠ High
Population
380,408 ✓ Larger
Torrance
California
15
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.
New Orleans, LA
Pros
Homes cost $681k less ($281,500 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $970/mo less ($1,162 vs $2,132)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $58,438/yr
Violent crime (1444.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4640.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 5.3%)
Torrance, CA
Pros
Households earn $58,438 more per year on average
78% less violent crime than New Orleans
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (5.3%)
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 91°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 61°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Cost of living runs 24% higher than New Orleans
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
New Orleans
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
New Orleans
Median Home Value
$681k less
$281,500 vs $962,300
New Orleans
Summer Heat
15.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 75.6°F
Torrance
Median Income
$58,438
$109,554 vs $51,116/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
78% lower
311.2 vs 1444.1 per 100k
Torrance
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
5.3% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Orleans, LA | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $281,500 ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,162 ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,116 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 316⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 380⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.7% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.7% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.0°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 60.1" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 380,408 ✓ Larger | 145,454 |
| Median Age | 37.9 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.3% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Orleans's cost of living index is 91.1 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
New Orleans is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Torrance leads 15 of 23 categories. New Orleans wins 8 and Torrance wins 15. 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 New Orleans to Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($281,500 vs $962,300 median home), income ($51,116 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Orleans, LA and Torrance, CA are about 1,681 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.