Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Round Rock, TX
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Round Rock leads 14 of 22 categories
Round Rock
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$91,888
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
120,465
Torrance
California
8
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.
Round Rock, TX
Pros
Homes cost $625k less ($337,500 vs $962,300)
58% less violent crime than Torrance
Rent averages $546/mo less ($1,586 vs $2,132)
Violent crime is well below the national average (130.7 vs 380/100k)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.8%)
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $17,666/yr
Torrance, CA
Pros
Households earn $17,666 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 96°F
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 60°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Round Rock
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Round Rock
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Round Rock
Violent Crime
58% lower
130.7 vs 311.2 per 100k
Round Rock
Median Home Value
$625k less
$337,500 vs $962,300
Round Rock
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.3% unemployment
Round Rock
Summer Heat
20.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 75.6°F
Torrance
Median Income
$17,666
$109,554 vs $91,888/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Round Rock, TX | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $337,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,586⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,888 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 58 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 34 ✓ Safer | 82 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.3% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ROUND ROCK ISD | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.7°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,465 | 145,454 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.3% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Round Rock's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Round Rock is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Round Rock leads 14 of 22 categories. Round Rock wins 14 and Torrance wins 8. 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 Round Rock to Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($337,500 vs $962,300 median home), income ($91,888 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Round Rock, TX and Torrance, CA are about 1,229 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.