Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tacoma, WA
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 16 of 23 categories
Tacoma
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,085
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Torrance
California
16
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.
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Homes cost $547k less ($415,300 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $643/mo less ($1,489 vs $2,132)
Smaller class sizes — 18.8:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $30,469/yr
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5603.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Torrance, CA
Pros
71% less violent crime than Tacoma
Households earn $30,469 more per year on average
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 48°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
Tacoma
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Tacoma
Median Home Value
$547k less
$415,300 vs $962,300
Torrance
Median Income
$30,469
$109,554 vs $79,085/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
71% lower
311.2 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tacoma, WA | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $415,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,085 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 27.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 280⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.8% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.9% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Tacoma School District | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 219,234 ✓ Larger | 145,454 |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.8% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tacoma's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Tacoma is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Torrance leads 16 of 23 categories. Tacoma wins 7 and Torrance wins 16. 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 Tacoma to Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($415,300 vs $962,300 median home), income ($79,085 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tacoma, WA and Torrance, CA are about 952 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.