Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, VA
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 15 of 22 categories
Richmond
Virginia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,606
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
227,171 ✓ Larger
Torrance
California
15
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.
Richmond, VA
Pros
Homes cost $654k less ($308,300 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $905/mo less ($1,227 vs $2,132)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $49,948/yr
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 5.3%)
Torrance, CA
Pros
Households earn $49,948 more per year on average
8% less violent crime than Richmond
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 48°F
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Richmond
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Richmond
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Richmond
Median Home Value
$654k less
$308,300 vs $962,300
Richmond
Summer Heat
13.9°F warmer
July avg high 89.5°F vs 75.6°F
Torrance
Median Income
$49,948
$109,554 vs $59,606/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
8% lower
311.2 vs 336.9 per 100k
Torrance
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, VA | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $308,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,606 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.3% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 151⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond City Public Schools | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.8°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.5°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.1" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 227,171 ✓ Larger | 145,454 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.2% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.1% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Richmond is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Torrance leads 15 of 22 categories. Richmond wins 7 and Torrance wins 15. 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 ($308,300 vs $962,300 median home), income ($59,606 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, VA and Torrance, CA are about 2,291 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.