Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norfolk, VA
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 16 of 23 categories
Norfolk
Virginia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,998
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
236,973 ✓ Larger
Torrance
California
16
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.
Norfolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $708k less ($254,200 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $944/mo less ($1,188 vs $2,132)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $48,556/yr
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3772.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 5.3%)
Torrance, CA
Pros
Households earn $48,556 more per year on average
34% less violent crime than Norfolk
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.3%)
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 50°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Norfolk
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Norfolk
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Norfolk
Median Home Value
$708k less
$254,200 vs $962,300
Norfolk
Summer Heat
13.1°F warmer
July avg high 88.7°F vs 75.6°F
Torrance
Median Income
$48,556
$109,554 vs $60,998/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
34% lower
311.2 vs 469.5 per 100k
Torrance
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norfolk, VA | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $254,200 ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,188 ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,998 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.7%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.2% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norfolk City Public Schools | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.0°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.7" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 236,973 ✓ Larger | 145,454 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.8% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norfolk's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Norfolk is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Torrance leads 16 of 23 categories. Norfolk wins 7 and Torrance wins 16. 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 Norfolk to Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,200 vs $962,300 median home), income ($60,998 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norfolk, VA and Torrance, CA are about 2,363 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.