Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Antonio, TX
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 15 of 23 categories
San Antonio
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,593
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
1,445,662 ✓ 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.
San Antonio, TX
Pros
Homes cost $764k less ($198,000 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $943/mo less ($1,189 vs $2,132)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $49,961/yr
Violent crime (594.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4623.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Torrance, CA
Pros
Households earn $49,961 more per year on average
48% less violent crime than San Antonio
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than San Antonio
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
San Antonio
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
San Antonio
Median Home Value
$764k less
$198,000 vs $962,300
San Antonio
Summer Heat
18.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 75.6°F
Torrance
Median Income
$49,961
$109,554 vs $59,593/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
48% lower
311.2 vs 594.1 per 100k
Torrance
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.3% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Antonio, TX | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $198,000 ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,189 ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,593 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.5 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 182⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.7% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.8% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NORTHSIDE ISD | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.2°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.0" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,445,662 ✓ Larger | 145,454 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.9% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Antonio's cost of living index is 93.7 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
San Antonio is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Torrance leads 15 of 23 categories. San Antonio wins 8 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 San Antonio to Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,000 vs $962,300 median home), income ($59,593 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Antonio, TX and Torrance, CA are about 1,203 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.