Torrance, CA, known as 'A Balanced City,' offers a unique blend of suburban tranquility and modern urban amenities. Located in Los Angeles County, Torrance is a large city that serves as a major cultural and economic hub. Major nearby cities like Los Angeles (20 miles) and Long Beach (15 miles) enhance its status as a central point in the region. Torrance's blend of scenic landscapes, cultural festivals, and urban amenities creates a distinctive living experience.
Torrance is home to several iconic landmarks, including the Del Amo Fashion Center, the historic Torrance Cultural Arts Center, and the scenic Torrance Beach. The city offers a variety of attractions, from the beautiful Madrona Marsh Preserve to the bustling Old Torrance Downtown, known for its shopping and dining. Torrance's dining scene is diverse, offering everything from Californian cuisine to international dishes.
Annual events such as the Torrance Cherry Blossom Cultural Festival and the Torrance Armed Forces Day Parade highlight the city's vibrant cultural scene and provide unique entertainment opportunities for residents and visitors. These events celebrate Torrance's rich cultural heritage and community spirit. Prestigious institutions like El Camino College contribute to the city's academic and cultural vibrancy, fostering a thriving intellectual community.
The arts and culture scene in Torrance is dynamic and diverse, with numerous theaters, music venues, and art galleries. The Torrance Art Museum and the James R. Armstrong Theatre are just a few of the cultural landmarks that showcase the city's commitment to the arts. Living in Torrance provides ample opportunities to engage with art, music, and history, making it an exciting place to call home.
Torrance’s community is welcoming and diverse, creating a friendly environment for newcomers. The city is home to professional sports teams like the LA Galaxy (MLS), providing plenty of excitement for sports fans. Major industries in Torrance include healthcare, education, and manufacturing, with significant employers such as Torrance Memorial Medical Center and Honda driving economic growth. The city has extensive public transit options, including buses and light rail, making commuting convenient for residents.
Amenities
Conveniently located, the area boasts a variety of amenities, including grocery stores, shopping, coffee shops and entertainment options all within walking distance.
Commute
The high commute score in this area could imply easy access to public transportation, as well as shorter-than-average commute times to your workplace.
Employment
With higher than average median household income, income per capita and lower unemployment rates, this area scores extremely well in the employment category.
Schools
The high score in the schools category can be attributed to outstanding test scores, elevated graduation rates and the convenient placement of elementary and high schools in this area.
Ratings
According to recent surveys and polls, locals had excellent ratings for walkability to nearby amenities, safety, access to public transit and the overall sense of community in the area.
Cost Of Living
This area is known for its high cost of living, which means you should anticipate higher costs for everyday goods and services, housing, groceries, and health care.
Located in the state of California, Torrance is a mid-sized city with a population of 144,430 residents. In Torrance, there are 7,039 people per square mile, which is well above the national population density average. Individuals of White (43%) and Asian (38%) backgrounds make up a significant portion of the population of Torrance. Long travel times to work can be one of the most frustrating things in the world - right behind housework! If you decide that living in Torrance is the right fit for you, your one way commute time will average 29 minutes, which is about average when compared to the national commute time of 26 minutes.
Whether you’re relocating to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Torrance could be a positive experience compared to other cities in California if you know where to look. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. To help you find the best places to live in and around Torrance, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like crime, commute, health & safety, education, housing and more.
With a livability score of 78/100, Torrance is ranked #1,983 in the United States and #79 in California. Pack your bags! This is a very high score in comparison to other US cities. Living in Torrance could be a great choice! Torrance has also earned the rare honor of ranking in the top 10 percentile among all cities. If we dig a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Torrance has higher than average scores for the following: crime (B), education (A+) and employment (A+). On a less positive note, Torrance does not have favorable scores for the following: cost of living (F). If we take a look at the data, we can find out why.
The mantra of real estate, "location, location, location," underscores the importance of where a property is situated, making it a pivotal factor in your quest for a new home. Fortunately, when you're living in Torrance, you'll discover an abundance of exceptional local amenities and lots of things to do. Among these are conveniently located grocery stores, charming coffee shops, diverse dining options and plenty of spacious parks. These local amenities contribute significantly to its overall appeal, ensuring that your daily needs are met and offering ample opportunities for leisure and recreation. When considering your next move, the thriving local scene in Torrance undoubtedly enhances its desirability, affirming the significance of its prime location. Some of the more notable entertainment options include: Wilson Park, Riviera Health Spa, and Torrance Cultural Arts Center.
Torrance real estate prices and overall affordability will play a huge role in determining if the area is the right fit for you. Of course there are probably some other items on your “wish list”, but even before they are considered, let’s take a look at the home prices and affordability in Torrance. The median home price for Torrance homes is $796,800, which is 94.7% higher than the California average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Torrance, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 8.4, which is 31.3% higher than the California average.
| Statistic | Torrance | California | National |
| Average one way commute | 29min | 28min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 78.3% | 73.5% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 6.8% | 10.6% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 1.7% | 5.2% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.4% | 1.1% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 1.4% | 2.7% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 9.0% | 5.4% | 4.6% |
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