The Town FilesTorrance, California
City in Los Angeles County · population 147,067 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $1,074,700
- Household income
- $116,217
- Jan low / Jul high
- 47° / 76°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 43.2
Torrance is a city of 147,067 people in Los Angeles County, California. The median home is worth $1,074,700, above the typical California town ($596,900). It ranks more vibrant than 92% of California towns, better for young professionals than 91% of California towns, hipper than 88% of California towns.
How Torrance ranks
Percentile among California towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of California towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Torrance is worth $1,074,700, above the typical California town ($596,900). Homes cost about 9.2 times the median household income of $116,217, which is more affordable than 15% of California towns. Median rent is $2,280 a month. 55.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Torrance | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,074,700 | $596,900 |
| Median rent | $2,280 | $1,827 |
| Median household income | $116,217 | $91,557 |
| Home value ÷ income | 9.2× | 6.4× |
| Homeownership | 55.0% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.5% | — |
Who lives in Torrance
| People | Torrance | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.2 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.8% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 54.0% | 27.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.8% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 4.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 29.9% | — |
| Work from home | 20.8% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 26.9 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.3% | 93.3% |
Weather in Torrance
July highs average 75.6°F and January lows 47.3°F. About 13.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical California town: 0.0 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 0 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Torrance since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical California town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on November 9, 1982 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 4, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on January 31, 1979.
Severe weather in Los Angeles County since 1996
Los Angeles County has been included in 88 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 8, 2025 | Fire | FM-5605: Canyon Fire |
| January 8, 2025 | Fire | DR-4856: Wildfires And Straight-Line Winds |
| January 8, 2025 | Fire | FM-5550: Eaton Fire |
| January 8, 2025 | Fire | FM-5551: Hurst Fire |
| January 7, 2025 | Fire | FM-5549: Palisades Fire |
Jobs and pay in Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County had 4,525,711 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $83,554 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Torrance itself the ACS puts it at 6%.
Public schools in Torrance
36 public schools with 23,326 students, about 24.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Torrance High | 9-12 | 1,980 | 26.1 |
| North High | 9-12 | 1,811 | 25.9 |
| West High | 9-12 | 1,798 | 25.0 |
| South High | 9-12 | 1,786 | 23.5 |
| Victor Elementary | K-5 | 961 | 26.0 |
| Hickory Elementary | K-5 | 842 | 28.1 |
| Madrona Middle | 6-8 | 674 | 27.0 |
| Walteria Elementary | K-5 | 658 | 25.3 |
| Edward J. Richardson Middle | 6-8 | 649 | 25.0 |
| Jefferson Middle | 6-8 | 645 | 26.9 |
| Anza Elementary | K-5 | 640 | 24.6 |
| Calle Mayor Middle | 6-8 | 629 | 25.2 |
Towns near Torrance
- Redondo Beach, CA2.9 mi · 71,576 people · home $1,279,200
- Lomita, CA3.4 mi · 20,921 people · home $831,500
- West Carson, CA3.6 mi · 22,870 people · home $689,700
- Rolling Hills Estates, CA3.9 mi · 8,280 people · home $1,692,600
- Hermosa Beach, CA3.9 mi · 19,728 people · home $2,000,001
- Lawndale, CA4.0 mi · 31,807 people · home $781,900
- Alondra Park, CA4.3 mi · 8,569 people · home $835,100
- Gardena, CA5.2 mi · 61,027 people · home $700,600
Torrance questions
Is Torrance, California a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Torrance scores better for retirees than 44% of California towns and quieter than 17%. 18.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.2).
How much does a house cost in Torrance?
The median owner-occupied home in Torrance is valued at $1,074,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $116,217, so homes cost about 9.2 times income. Median rent is $2,280 a month.
What is the weather like in Torrance?
July highs average 75.6°F and January lows 47.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 13.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Torrance get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Torrance since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on November 9, 1982. The typical California town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)