Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Torrance, CA
VS
Vallejo, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 16 of 22 categories
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 ✓ Larger
Vallejo
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,112
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
125,132
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Torrance, CA
Pros
58% less violent crime than Vallejo
Households earn $23,442 more per year on average
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.3%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 85°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2775.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Homes cost $447k less ($515,500 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $238/mo less ($1,894 vs $2,132)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Smaller class sizes — 22.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (739.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Torrance by $23,442/yr
Property crime (3990.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 5.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Torrance
Median Income
$23,442
$109,554 vs $86,112/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
58% lower
311.2 vs 739.8 per 100k
Torrance
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.3% vs 7.0% unemployment
Vallejo
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 109.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Vallejo
Median Home Value
$447k less
$515,500 vs $962,300
Vallejo
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 85.4°F vs 75.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Torrance, CA | Vallejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $962,300⚠ High | $515,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,132⚠ High | $1,894⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $109,554 ✓ Higher | $86,112 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 15.9% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.1:1 | 22.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.7% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Torrance Unified | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 57.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 75.6°F | 85.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.8" ✓ Drier | 21.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 145,454 ✓ Larger | 125,132 |
| Median Age | 42.9 ✓ Older | 40.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.8% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 17.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Torrance's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Vallejo is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Torrance leads 16 of 22 categories. Torrance wins 16 and Vallejo wins 6. 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 Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($962,300 vs $515,500 median home), income ($109,554 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Torrance, CA and Vallejo, CA are about 367 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.