Population

Costa Mesa

110,538

Torrance

143,499

Median Income

Costa Mesa

$110,073

Torrance

$113,105

Home Value

Costa Mesa

$1,054,700

Torrance

$1,036,600

Rent

Costa Mesa

$2,395

Torrance

$2,214

Crime Rate

Costa Mesa

7.39

Torrance

3.11

Cost of Living

Costa Mesa

218.8

Torrance

223.5

Avg Temp

Costa Mesa

N/A

Torrance

N/A

Unemployment

Costa Mesa

4.9%

Torrance

5.5%

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How Similar Are Costa Mesa & Torrance?

Torrance is Costa Mesa's #22 most similar city

4/10

4 of 10 key metrics match within 10%

Population

👥

Costa Mesa

110,538

vs

Torrance

143,499

Different · 23% difference

Torrance has a 23% larger population than Costa Mesa.

Violent Crime

Costa Mesa

7.39

vs

Torrance

3.11

Different · 58% difference
🚨

Costa Mesa's violent crime is significantly higher than Torrance's — 58% difference.

Property Crime

🔒

Costa Mesa

28.37

vs

Torrance

27.76

Match · 2% difference

Both cities have similar property crime — just a 2% difference.

Political Leaning

Costa Mesa

47.1%

vs

Torrance

31.9%

Different · 32% difference
🗳️

Both cities lean Democratic, but Costa Mesa has a stronger Democratic lean (32% difference).

Unemployment

💼

Costa Mesa

4.9%

vs

Torrance

5.5%

Different · 11% difference

Torrance has a 11% higher unemployment than Costa Mesa.

Median Income

Costa Mesa

$110,073

vs

Torrance

$113,105

Match · 3% difference
💰

Both cities have similar median income — just a 3% difference.

Home Values

🏠

Costa Mesa

$1,054,700

vs

Torrance

$1,036,600

Match · 2% difference

Both cities have similar home values — just a 2% difference.

Education

Costa Mesa

31.5%

vs

Torrance

38.8%

Different · 19% difference
🎓

Torrance has a 19% higher education than Costa Mesa.

Demographics

🌍

Costa Mesa

52.7%

vs

Torrance

36.4%

Different · 31% difference

Costa Mesa has a 31% higher demographics than Torrance.

Cost of Living

Costa Mesa

218.8

vs

Torrance

223.5

Match · 2% difference
💵

Both cities have similar cost of living — just a 2% difference.

4 out of 10 key metrics match within 10%. Costa Mesa and Torrance share several key characteristics.

At a Glance

0

Costa Mesa

vsof 8

0

Torrance

Cost of Living & Affordability — Costa Mesa leads

Source: City Stats Index / HUD

Costa Mesa scores 115.1 on the transportation index (100 = national avg) vs 172.9 in Torrance. Torrance has a fair market rent (1br) of $2,085 vs $2,746 in Costa Mesa (32% lower). Torrance has a fair market rent (2br) of $2,601 vs $3,236 in Costa Mesa (24% lower).

Overall Cost Index

Costa Mesa218.8
Torrance223.5

Housing Index

Costa Mesa360.6
Torrance346.0

Food Index

Costa Mesa134.1
Torrance136.4

Transportation Index

Costa Mesa115.1
Torrance172.9

Healthcare Index

Costa Mesa127.3
Torrance129.2

Utilities Index

Costa Mesa172.6
Torrance171.1

Living Wage (1 Adult)

Costa Mesa$96,281
Torrance$98,328

Living Wage (Family of 4)

Costa Mesa$227,573
Torrance$232,413

Fair Market Rent (1BR)

Costa Mesa$2,746
Torrance$2,085

Fair Market Rent (2BR)

Costa Mesa$3,236
Torrance$2,601

Housing Market — Torrance leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Costa Mesa has a vacancy rate of 4.7% compared to 6.9% in Torrance. Torrance has a owner-occupied of 54.6% compared to 39.4% in Costa Mesa. Torrance has a single-family homes of 59.8% compared to 49.7% in Costa Mesa.

Median Home Value

Costa Mesa$1,054,700
Torrance$1,036,600

Median Rent

Costa Mesa$2,395
Torrance$2,214

Median Property Tax

Costa Mesa$6,676
Torrance$6,644

Owner-Occupied

Costa Mesa39.4%
Torrance54.6%

Vacancy Rate

Costa Mesa4.7%
Torrance6.9%

Single-Family Homes

Costa Mesa49.7%
Torrance59.8%

Jobs & Economy

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Torrance has a poverty rate of 6.9% compared to 8.9% in Costa Mesa. Costa Mesa has a unemployment rate of 4.9% compared to 5.5% in Torrance. Torrance: 75,234 vs Costa Mesa: 67,989 for labor force.

Median Household Income

Costa Mesa$110,073
Torrance$113,105

Per Capita Income

Costa Mesa$56,625
Torrance$57,392

Poverty Rate

Costa Mesa8.9%
Torrance6.9%

Unemployment Rate

Costa Mesa4.9%
Torrance5.5%

Labor Force

Costa Mesa67,989
Torrance75,234

Mean Commute

Costa Mesa18 min
TorranceN/A

Work from Home

Costa Mesa20.0%
Torrance18.5%

Private Sector

Costa Mesa98.7%
Torrance96.5%

Government Sector

Costa Mesa45.7%
Torrance45.3%

Crime & Safety — Torrance leads

Source: FBI UCR

Torrance has a assault rate (per 1k) of 1.69 compared to 5.99 in Costa Mesa. Torrance has a violent crime rate (per 1k) of 3.11 compared to 7.39 in Costa Mesa. Costa Mesa has a property crime clearance of 19.0% compared to 10.6% in Torrance.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1K)

Costa Mesa7.39
Torrance3.11

Property Crime Rate (per 1K)

Costa Mesa28.37
Torrance27.76

Murder Rate (per 1K)

Costa Mesa0.03
Torrance0.00

Robbery Rate (per 1K)

Costa Mesa0.75
Torrance1.15

Assault Rate (per 1K)

Costa Mesa5.99
Torrance1.69

Burglary Rate (per 1K)

Costa Mesa3.71
Torrance4.79

Larceny Rate (per 1K)

Costa Mesa21.83
Torrance18.20

Violent Crime Clearance

Costa Mesa52.7%
Torrance44.4%

Property Crime Clearance

Costa Mesa19.0%
Torrance10.6%

Weather & Climate

Source: NOAA / Open-Meteo

Avg Annual Temperature

Costa MesaN/A
TorranceN/A

Avg Annual High

Costa MesaN/A
TorranceN/A

Avg Annual Low

Costa MesaN/A
TorranceN/A

Sunny Days per Year

Costa MesaN/A
TorranceN/A

Annual Rainfall

Costa MesaN/A
TorranceN/A

Annual Snowfall

Costa MesaN/A
TorranceN/A

Avg Humidity

Costa MesaN/A
TorranceN/A

Schools & Education — Torrance leads

Source: NCES / U.S. Census Bureau

Torrance has a bachelor's degree or higher of 38.8% compared to 31.5% in Costa Mesa. Torrance has a high school diploma or higher of 51.2% compared to 43.5% in Costa Mesa.

Public Schools

Costa Mesa0
Torrance0

Avg Student-Teacher Ratio

Costa MesaN/A
TorranceN/A

Colleges & Universities

Costa Mesa0
Torrance0

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

Costa Mesa31.5%
Torrance38.8%

High School Diploma or Higher

Costa Mesa43.5%
Torrance51.2%

Demographics & Community

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Torrance has a population of 143,499, about 1.3x the size of Costa Mesa (110,538). Costa Mesa skews younger with a median age of 36.5 vs 43.1.

Population

Costa Mesa110,538
Torrance143,499

Median Age

Costa Mesa37
Torrance43

Avg Household Size

Costa Mesa2.6
Torrance2.6

Married Population

Costa Mesa36.8%
Torrance44.3%

Foreign Born

Costa Mesa22.8%
Torrance31.0%

White

Costa Mesa52.7%
Torrance36.4%

Black

Costa Mesa1.6%
Torrance3.5%

Hispanic

Costa Mesa36.4%
Torrance19.3%

Asian

Costa Mesa8.8%
Torrance38.7%

Costa Mesa

Torrance

Healthcare — Costa Mesa leads

Source: CMS Hospital Compare

Costa Mesa: 4 vs Torrance: 3 for with emergency services. Costa Mesa: 3.3 vs Torrance: 2.5 for avg cms rating (out of 5).

Nearby Hospitals

Costa Mesa5
Torrance5

Avg CMS Rating (out of 5)

Costa Mesa3.3
Torrance2.5

With Emergency Services

Costa Mesa4
Torrance3

Transportation & Commute — Costa Mesa leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Costa Mesa has a bicycle of 1.0% compared to 0.4% in Torrance. Costa Mesa has a public transit of 1.6% compared to 1.1% in Torrance. Torrance has a drive alone of 71.2% compared to 65.3% in Costa Mesa.

Mean Commute Time

Costa Mesa18 min
TorranceN/A

Drive Alone

Costa Mesa65.3%
Torrance71.2%

Public Transit

Costa Mesa1.6%
Torrance1.1%

Bicycle

Costa Mesa1.0%
Torrance0.4%

Work from Home

Costa Mesa20.0%
Torrance18.5%

Airports

Costa Mesa0
Torrance0

Cities Similar to Costa Mesa, CA

Compare Costa Mesa against its closest statistical matches across demographics, income, crime, health, and more.

🧬

City Comparison

8-axis fingerprint: population, income, housing, crime, education, age, climate, and cost of living. Click legend items to toggle.

PopulationIncomeHome ValueSafetyEducationMedian AgeClimateCost of Living

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