Torrance, California
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Torrance.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Torrance?
For relocators asking how much Torrance costs: the housing index sits at 253 versus 100 nationally, with homes near $1,036,600 and rents near $2,214. Local median income is about $113,105 and unemployment recently ran 5.2% (U.S. 4.2%). Commutes average 28 minutes. Violent-offense rates run about 192.9 per 100k (catalog avg 586.6).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 253U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $1,036,600U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $2,214U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $113,105U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 5.2%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 28 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 192.9per 100k · avg 586.6
- Summer high
- 76°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Torrance compares with the U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals where available; catalog-city averages for crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 139,576City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $113,105Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year44% above U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 253ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year153% above U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $1,036,600City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year242% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $2,214City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year64% above U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 5.2%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026Near U.S. avg (4.2 pts)U.S. 4.2 pts - Avg commute
- 28 min12% above U.S. avgU.S. 25 min
- Walk Score
- 5829% above U.S. avgU.S. 45
- Violent crime rate
- 192.9annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)67% below U.S. avgU.S. 586.6 - Property crime rate
- 1965.1annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)36% below U.S. avgU.S. 3087.9 - Summer high
- 76°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals11.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 87°F
- Winter low
- 47°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals13.0°F above U.S. avgU.S. 34°F
- Annual rainfall
- 13.6 inAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals59% below U.S. avgU.S. 33 in
- Sunny days
- 332As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals24% above U.S. avgU.S. 268
Population trend
Torrance declined 3.8% from 145,154 in 2010 to 139,576 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Torrance expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Torrance's housing cost index is 253 versus 100 nationally — well above the U.S. housing-cost baseline. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($1,036,600 vs $303,400) and rents ($2,214 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 253 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $1,036,600 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $2,214 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Torrance?
Typical ownership costs center near $1,036,600, while median gross rent is about $2,214 a month. Against a median household income of $113,105, rent alone is roughly 23% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $1,036,600
- Median rent $2,214/month
- Median household income $113,105
What is the job market like in Torrance?
County unemployment recently ran 5.2% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Torrance is about $113,105 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 5.2% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $113,105
How long is the typical commute in Torrance?
Average one-way commute time is about 28 minutes, with Walk Score near 58/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 28 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 58/100
Is Torrance safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 192.9 per 100k and property about 1965.1 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 586.6 and 3087.9. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 192.9 per 100k
- Property 1965.1 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Torrance?
Normals show summer highs near 76°F, winter lows near 47°F, about 13.6 inches of rain, and roughly 332 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 76°F
- Winter low 47°F
- 13.6 in rain · 332 sunny days
Torrance (pop. 139,576) sits in California. Households here report a median income near $113,105; our housing-derived cost index is about 253 (well above the national housing-cost baseline). Ownership is a high bar — typical values near $1,036,600 push many newcomers toward renting first.
Pacific weather, wildfire seasons, and housing scarcity dominate relocation tradeoffs. Roughly 332 sunny days a year give outdoor routines unusual calendar reliability. Commutes average near 28 minutes one-way, with walkability near 58/100. BLS LAUS puts recent unemployment around 5.2% for the surrounding county. Violent-offense rates near 192.9 per 100k compare favorably with many peer metros, though local blocks still differ.
Torrance is compact enough that a single wrong neighborhood choice is easy to feel day to day — visit at commute hour before signing. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI Crime Data Explorer, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Torrance with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Torrance city, 1600000US0680000) — As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Los Angeles County, July 2026 — As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019) city offenses known to law enforcement — rates per 100k; CDE API unavailable at enrich time — As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00003122 TORRANCE AP) — As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-09-10