Should I Move To
Torrance, California is home to about 145,454 people. On cost of living, it lands in the very expensive band — 37% above the national average. The median renter pays around $2,132 a month against a typical household income of $109,554. Our composite UrbRank Score lands at 43 out of 100 (grade D), putting it at #723 nationally.
UrbRank Score · General
Each dimension scored 0-100 against every other US city.
Based on overall cost of living vs. other US cities.
Inverse of violent + property crime rate per 100,000 residents.
Temperate summers & winters, moderate precipitation.
Walk Score — how feasible daily errands are on foot.
Unemployment rate plus household income vs. national median.
Air quality index (EPA AQS data).
Share of residents 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
Torrance's composite cost-of-living index lands at 137 (100 = US average), which puts it in the very expensive band. At $2,132/mo against $109,554 in median household income, the typical renter spends about 23% of income on housing — right inside the standard 30%-of-income guideline. Median home value sits around $962,300.
Full cost-of-living breakdown →Climate is mild — summer averages around 75°F, winter averages around 50°F. Precipitation totals about 12 inches a year. Walking covers most daily life if you live in a central neighborhood; a car is helpful for longer trips but not essential. On safety, this is a middle-of-the-pack city — neither standout nor concerning. AQI is in the moderate range at about 57.
Verdict by lifestyle profile — same data, different priorities.
Torrance doesn't obviously fit families. The profile-weighted score is 45/100 — a D. Its standout dimension is walkability (85/100); the soft spot is environmental quality (1/100).
Torrance doesn't obviously fit retirees. The profile-weighted score is 39/100 — a F. Its standout dimension is walkability (85/100); the soft spot is environmental quality (1/100).
Torrance doesn't obviously fit remote workers. The profile-weighted score is 31/100 — a F. Its standout dimension is walkability (85/100); the soft spot is environmental quality (1/100).
Torrance reads as a moderate fit for young professionals. The profile-weighted score is 57/100 — a C. Its standout dimension is walkability (85/100); the soft spot is environmental quality (1/100).
Our overall score for Torrance is 43/100 — a D, sitting at #723 in the national ranking. It's a weighted average across the seven UrbRank dimensions.
By the composite index, Torrance sits at 137 — very expensive, 37% above the national average. Median renter pays around $2,132 a month.
Torrance runs mild on the weather. Summer's near 75°F, winter's near 50°F; 12 inches of precipitation annually.
Walk Score: 85/100. Walking covers most daily life if you live in a central neighborhood; a car is helpful for longer trips but not essential.
Roughly 145,454 people live here, with 53% college-educated (bachelor's or higher) among adults 25+ with a median age of 43.
Drop Torrance into the comparison tool with any other US city and you'll get housing costs, salaries, demographics, and quality-of-life data lined up side by side. Profile-specific leaderboards (families, retirees, remote workers, young professionals) are linked from the navigation.
Every US city is scored 0-100 on seven dimensions using public data from the US Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, FBI Crime Data Explorer, EPA Air Quality System, NOAA NCEI, and Walk Score. Each dimension is a percentile rank against every other city — so a score of 80 means the city is in the top 20% nationally on that dimension.
The overall score is a weighted average. Five lifestyle profiles — general, families, retirees, remote workers, young professionals — weight the dimensions differently to reflect what each cares about. Families get more weight on safety and schools; young professionals get more weight on jobs and walkability; retirees get more weight on climate.
Compare Torrance with other California cities scored on UrbRank.
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