Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Torrance, CA
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Torrance leads 15 of 22 categories
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
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,257
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
105,797
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Torrance, CA
Pros
Households earn $62,297 more per year on average
44% less violent crime than Tuscaloosa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.3%)
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 92°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 56°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Tuscaloosa
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Homes cost $734k less ($228,300 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $1152/mo less ($980 vs $2,132)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Smaller class sizes — 17.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $62,297/yr
Violent crime (553.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2731.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Torrance
Median Income
$62,297
$109,554 vs $47,257/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
44% lower
311.2 vs 553.4 per 100k
Torrance
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.8% unemployment
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Median Home Value
$734k less
$228,300 vs $962,300
Tuscaloosa
Summer Heat
16.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 75.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Torrance, CA | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $962,300⚠ High | $228,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,132⚠ High | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $109,554 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.8 min⚠ High | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.9% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.1:1 | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.7% ✓ Higher | 38.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Torrance Unified | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 56.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 75.6°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.8" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 145,454 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 42.9 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Torrance's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Torrance leads 15 of 22 categories. Torrance wins 15 and Tuscaloosa wins 7. 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 Torrance to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($962,300 vs $228,300 median home), income ($109,554 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Torrance, CA and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 1,769 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.