Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norman, OK
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 14 of 23 categories
Norman
Oklahoma
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,849
Violent Crime Index
68 ✓ Safer
Population
127,701
Torrance
California
14
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.
Norman, OK
Pros
Homes cost $737k less ($224,900 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $1128/mo less ($1,004 vs $2,132)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
16% less violent crime than Torrance
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $46,705/yr
Torrance, CA
Pros
Households earn $46,705 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 50°F
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Norman
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Norman
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Norman
Violent Crime
16% lower
260.2 vs 311.2 per 100k
Norman
Median Home Value
$737k less
$224,900 vs $962,300
Norman
Summer Heat
16.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 75.6°F
Torrance
Median Income
$46,705
$109,554 vs $62,849/yr
Torrance
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.3% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norman, OK | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $224,900 ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,004 ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,849 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 ✓ Safer | 82 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.6% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NORMAN | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.9°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.6" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,701 | 145,454 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.0 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.4% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norman's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Norman is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Torrance leads 14 of 23 categories. Norman wins 9 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 Norman to Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($224,900 vs $962,300 median home), income ($62,849 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norman, OK and Torrance, CA are about 1,198 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.