Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Torrance, CA
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Torrance leads 14 of 23 categories
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
Wilmington
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,908
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
116,933
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Torrance, CA
Pros
Households earn $50,646 more per year on average
36% less violent crime than Wilmington
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 90°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 57°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Wilmington
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Homes cost $644k less ($318,600 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $919/mo less ($1,213 vs $2,132)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $50,646/yr
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Torrance
Median Income
$50,646
$109,554 vs $58,908/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
36% lower
311.2 vs 482.8 per 100k
Wilmington
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Median Home Value
$644k less
$318,600 vs $962,300
Wilmington
Summer Heat
14.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 75.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Torrance, CA | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $962,300⚠ High | $318,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,132⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $109,554 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.8 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.9% ✓ Higher | 14.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.1:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.7% ✓ Higher | 43.6% |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 93.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Torrance Unified | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 75.6°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.8" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 145,454 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 42.9 ✓ Older | 37.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 17.5% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Torrance's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Torrance leads 14 of 23 categories. Torrance wins 14 and Wilmington wins 9. 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 Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($962,300 vs $318,600 median home), income ($109,554 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Torrance, CA and Wilmington, NC are about 2,302 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.