Moreno Valley CA vs Torrance CA — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Moreno Valley, CA

California · Population: 210,378

  • Median HH Income$87,477
  • Median Home Price$552,845
  • Unemployment7.4%
  • Bachelor's+17.3%

Torrance, CA

California · Population: 95,358

  • Median HH Income$118,253
  • Median Home Price$1,128,110
  • Unemployment5.9%
  • Bachelor's+26.2%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Moreno Valley
210,378
Moreno Valley +
Torrance
95,358
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Moreno Valley
N/A
Torrance
N/A
Median Age
Moreno Valley
32.1
Moreno Valley +
Torrance
35.2
Foreign Born
Moreno Valley
23.9%
Torrance
28.7%
Torrance +
White
Moreno Valley
22.4%
Torrance
34.8%
Torrance +
Black
Moreno Valley
17.6%
Moreno Valley +
Torrance
6.1%
Asian
Moreno Valley
5.5%
Torrance
22.0%
Torrance +
Hispanic
Moreno Valley
59.7%
Moreno Valley +
Torrance
41.4%
Spanish at Home
Moreno Valley
N/A
Torrance
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Moreno Valley
$87,477
Torrance
$118,253
Torrance +
Per Capita Income
Moreno Valley
$28,255
Torrance
$42,884
Torrance +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Moreno Valley
$77,230
Torrance
$77,230
Tie
Unemployment Rate
Moreno Valley
7.4%
Torrance
5.9%
Torrance +
Poverty Rate
Moreno Valley
11.8%
Torrance
7.7%
Torrance +
Bachelor's Degree+
Moreno Valley
17.3%
Torrance
26.2%
Torrance +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Moreno Valley
$552,845
Moreno Valley +
Torrance
$1,128,110
Homeownership Rate
Moreno Valley
62.8%
Torrance
64.0%
Torrance +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Moreno Valley
503
Torrance
503
Tie
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Moreno Valley
2388
Torrance
2388
Tie

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Moreno Valley
39.6%
Torrance
20.3%
Torrance +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Moreno Valley
12.6%
Torrance
10.6%
Torrance +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Moreno Valley
19.0%
Torrance
13.3%
Torrance +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Moreno Valley
15.6%
Torrance
5.2%
Torrance +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Moreno Valley
14.6%
Torrance
14.0%
Torrance +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Moreno Valley
12.5%
Torrance
8.0%
Torrance +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Moreno Valley
N/A
Torrance
62.6°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Moreno Valley
N/A
Torrance
14.5 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Moreno Valley
7.9 µg/m³
Torrance
7.9 µg/m³
Tie
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Moreno Valley
75.0%
Torrance
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Moreno Valley
36.9 min
Moreno Valley +
Torrance
44.9 min

Which City is Right for You?

Torrance leads in median household income at $118,253, while moreno Valley offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $552,845. On public safety, Torrance is safer with a violent crime rate of 503 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Moreno Valley. Torrance has a lower unemployment rate at 5.9%, and Torrance has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Torrance scores better with a lower obesity rate of 20.3%.

Compare More Cities

About Moreno Valley & Torrance