Torrance, CA Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Torrance, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Torrance →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Roughly 145,454 people call Torrance, California home. Household income runs $109,554 at the median, above what we see across the broader set of cities (+52%).
Housing costs are a defining factor for anyone relocating to Torrance. The median home value sits at $962,300 (above the multi-city median at +195%), while renters pay a median of $2,132 per month. Buyers should weigh current mortgage rates and local property taxes against these figures before committing.
Torrance's home-price-to-income ratio of about 8.8× signals a meaningfully stretched housing market relative to local incomes. Year-over-year, home values around Torrance are up 1.7%, a pace in line with a healthy, unremarkable market. Torrance carries a Very High hazard rating from FEMA — elevated risk that's typically reflected in higher insurance premiums.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $2,132/mo in Torrance would take 23.4% of your income.
$607/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($962,300) would take 56.3% of your income toward principal & interest.
$2,581/mo over the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Torrance
Median home value is $962,300 and median gross rent is $2,132/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Los Angeles rose 1.7% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $2,601/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Torrance's overall natural-hazard risk as Very High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Torrance reported a violent crime rate of 306 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Torrance
Planning a move to Torrance? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Torrance, CA?
- Torrance's key cost-of-living figures: $962,300 median home value, $2,132 median monthly rent, and $109,554 median household income, per the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Torrance?
- Using the standard 30%-of-income rule of thumb, affording Torrance's median rent of $2,132/month takes an income of roughly $85,280 a year. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Torrance.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Torrance?
- Torrance's median rent of $2,132/month translates to about $85,280 a year needed to rent comfortably, versus roughly $220,169 a year for principal and interest on the $962,300 median home (20% down, 30-year fixed, today's rates). How long you'll stay is usually the deciding factor.
- Is Torrance safe?
- Torrance's violent crime rate, per FBI reporting for 2025, stands at 306 per 100,000 residents.
See the full salary breakdown for Torrance →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Torrance's.