Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Plano, TX
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Plano leads 16 of 23 categories
Plano
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$105,679
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948 ✓ Larger
Torrance
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,554 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
82
Population
145,454
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Plano, TX
Pros
Homes cost $550k less ($412,500 vs $962,300)
51% less violent crime than Torrance
Rent averages $433/mo less ($1,699 vs $2,132)
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.4%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $3,875/yr
Torrance, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 56°F
Households earn $3,875 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Plano
Key Differences at a Glance
Plano
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Plano
Violent Crime
51% lower
151.6 vs 311.2 per 100k
Plano
Median Home Value
$550k less
$412,500 vs $962,300
Plano
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.3% unemployment
Plano
Summer Heat
18.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 75.6°F
Torrance
Median Income
$3,875
$109,554 vs $105,679/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Plano, TX | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $412,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,699⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,679 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.8 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.3% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 52 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 40 ✓ Safer | 82 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (134) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.4% ✓ Higher | 52.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PLANO ISD | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,948 ✓ Larger | 145,454 |
| Median Age | 38.9 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Plano's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Plano is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 16 of 23 categories. Plano wins 16 and Torrance wins 7. 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 Plano to Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($412,500 vs $962,300 median home), income ($105,679 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Plano, TX and Torrance, CA are about 1,245 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.