Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Monica, CA
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 14 of 21 categories
Santa Monica
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,797
Violent Crime Index
205⚠ High
Population
92,168
Torrance
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
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.
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 76°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,654,800
Violent crime (778.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (4790.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Torrance, CA
Pros
Homes cost $693k less ($962,300 vs $1,654,800)
60% less violent crime than Santa Monica
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.3%)
Rent averages $95/mo less ($2,132 vs $2,227)
Households earn $2,757 more per year on average
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2775.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Torrance
Median Income
$2,757
$109,554 vs $106,797/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
60% lower
311.2 vs 778.0 per 100k
Torrance
Median Home Value
$693k less
$962,300 vs $1,654,800
Torrance
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.2% unemployment
Torrance
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 75.6°F vs 69.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Monica, CA | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $1,654,800⚠ High | $962,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $2,132⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,797 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 27.8% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 214⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 205⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 228⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 67.8% ✓ Higher | 52.7% |
| High School or Higher | 94.7% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.0°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 69.4°F | 75.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.2" ✓ Drier | 13.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,168 | 145,454 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.1 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 28.9% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.0% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.8% ✓ More | 17.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Monica'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 14 of 21 categories. Santa Monica wins 7 and Torrance wins 14. 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 Monica to Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,654,800 vs $962,300 median home), income ($106,797 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Monica, CA and Torrance, CA are about 15 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.