Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Phoenix, AZ
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Phoenix leads 12 of 23 categories
Phoenix
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,092
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Torrance
California
11
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.
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $622k less ($340,200 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $810/mo less ($1,322 vs $2,132)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $37,462/yr
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Torrance, CA
Pros
61% less violent crime than Phoenix
Households earn $37,462 more per year on average
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 104°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Phoenix
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Phoenix
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Phoenix
Median Home Value
$622k less
$340,200 vs $962,300
Phoenix
Summer Heat
28.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 75.6°F
Torrance
Median Income
$37,462
$109,554 vs $72,092/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
61% lower
311.2 vs 799.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Phoenix, AZ | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $340,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,322 ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,092 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.9% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.5" ✓ Drier | 13.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger | 145,454 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Phoenix's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Phoenix is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Phoenix leads 12 of 23 categories. Phoenix 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 Phoenix to Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($340,200 vs $962,300 median home), income ($72,092 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Phoenix, AZ and Torrance, CA are about 361 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.