Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, CA
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 17 of 22 categories
Richmond
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619
Torrance
California
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$109,554 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
82 ✓ Safer
Population
145,454 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Richmond, CA
Pros
Homes cost $338k less ($624,800 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $279/mo less ($1,853 vs $2,132)
Smaller class sizes — 22.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Torrance by $22,936/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Property crime (2762.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Torrance, CA
Pros
66% less violent crime than Richmond
Households earn $22,936 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.3%)
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 58°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Property crime (2775.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Richmond
Median Home Value
$338k less
$624,800 vs $962,300
Torrance
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 115.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Torrance
Median Income
$22,936
$109,554 vs $86,618/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
66% lower
311.2 vs 923.1 per 100k
Torrance
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.9% unemployment
Torrance
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 75.6°F vs 70.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, CA | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $624,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,618 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.6 min⚠ High | 27.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.2% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 198⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.1% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.4% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | West Contra Costa Unified | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.2°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 70.8°F | 75.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,619 | 145,454 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.9% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Torrance is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Torrance leads 17 of 22 categories. Richmond wins 5 and Torrance wins 17. 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 Richmond to Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,800 vs $962,300 median home), income ($86,618 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, CA and Torrance, CA are about 362 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.