Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Ana, CA
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 11 of 21 categories
Santa Ana
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,210
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High
Population
311,379 ✓ Larger
Torrance
California
11
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.
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Homes cost $338k less ($624,000 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $247/mo less ($1,885 vs $2,132)
Smaller class sizes — 20.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (493.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Torrance by $25,344/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Torrance, CA
Pros
37% less violent crime than Santa Ana
Households earn $25,344 more per year on average
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 83°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2775.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Ana
Median Home Value
$338k less
$624,000 vs $962,300
Santa Ana
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 82.5°F vs 75.6°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Torrance
Median Income
$25,344
$109,554 vs $84,210/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
37% lower
311.2 vs 493.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Ana, CA | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $624,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,885⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,210 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.0% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.9% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 65.2% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Santa Ana Unified | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 66.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.5" ✓ Drier | 13.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 311,379 ✓ Larger | 145,454 |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.8% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.6% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Ana's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Torrance leads 11 of 21 categories. Santa Ana wins 10 and Torrance wins 11. 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 Santa Ana to Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,000 vs $962,300 median home), income ($84,210 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Ana, CA and Torrance, CA are about 28 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.