Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Suffolk, VA
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 14 of 23 categories
Suffolk
Virginia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,758
Violent Crime Index
98
Population
94,856
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.
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $648k less ($314,400 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $756/mo less ($1,376 vs $2,132)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $21,796/yr
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.3%)
Torrance, CA
Pros
16% less violent crime than Suffolk
Households earn $21,796 more per year on average
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 49°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Suffolk
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Suffolk
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$648k less
$314,400 vs $962,300
Suffolk
Summer Heat
11.2°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 75.6°F
Torrance
Median Income
$21,796
$109,554 vs $87,758/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
16% lower
311.2 vs 371.0 per 100k
Torrance
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Suffolk, VA | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $87,758 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 27.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 89 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.1% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Suffolk City Public Schools | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.3°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,856 | 145,454 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.5 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.4% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.8% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Suffolk's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Torrance leads 14 of 23 categories. Suffolk wins 9 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 Suffolk to Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,400 vs $962,300 median home), income ($87,758 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Suffolk, VA and Torrance, CA are about 2,344 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.