Head-to-Head · City Comparison
South Gate, CA
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 15 of 21 categories
South Gate
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High
Population
92,381
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
South Gate, CA
Pros
Homes cost $383k less ($578,900 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $732/mo less ($1,400 vs $2,132)
Smaller class sizes — 17.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $42,366/yr
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (3598.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Torrance, CA
Pros
Households earn $42,366 more per year on average
41% less violent crime than South Gate
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (5.3%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 82°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
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
South Gate
Median Home Value
$383k less
$578,900 vs $962,300
South Gate
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 82.0°F vs 75.6°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Torrance
Median Income
$42,366
$109,554 vs $67,188/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
41% lower
311.2 vs 525.6 per 100k
Torrance
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
5.3% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | South Gate, CA | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $578,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,188 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 27.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 152⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 171⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (72) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.5% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 58.8% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Westbrook Academy District | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer | 66.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.0°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,381 | 145,454 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.8% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
South Gate'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 15 of 21 categories. South Gate wins 6 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 South Gate to Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($578,900 vs $962,300 median home), income ($67,188 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
South Gate, CA and Torrance, CA are about 12 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.