Population 153,110 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Torrance
Household size in Torrance
| Period | Torrance | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.71 | 3.14 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.81 | 3.20 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.79 | 3.16 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.71 | 3.01 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.01 | −0.13 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
At 2.71 people per household, Torrance sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is smaller than in the Los Angeles area as a whole, where it has 3.01 people. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the north.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Torrance
| Period | Torrance | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.8 | 35.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.4 | 36.7 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.9 | 38.0 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.4 | 39.5 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.7 | +4.0 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Torrance skews a little older than the country: its median age is 42.4, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 39.8, as it has nationally. The youngest areas are in the east, the oldest in the south.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Torrance
| Period | Torrance | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.5% | 14.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.6% | 14.1% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.7% | 12.5% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.5% | 12.3% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | −2.0 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 8.5% of households in Torrance, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 2.0 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Torrance
Renters in Torrance
| Period | Torrance | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.6% | 48.8% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 46.8% | 50.8% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 46.9% | 51.4% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 47.7% | 51.6% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | +2.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in Torrance than nationally: 47.7% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. Still, renters make up a smaller share here than in the Los Angeles area overall (51.6%). Among homeowners, 37.9% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. The renter share has risen 2.1 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Torrance
| Period | Torrance | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.0% | 7.0% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.0% | 6.7% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.6% | 6.6% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.7% | 6.7% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.7 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Torrance than nationally: 7.7%, against 9.6% for the U.S. The picture is much the same across the Los Angeles area. Vacancy has risen 1.7 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Torrance
| Period | Torrance | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1963 | 1965 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1963 | 1966 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1962 | 1966 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1964 | 1969 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Torrance is a place of older homes: half were built before 1964, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Torrance has older homes than at least four in five California cities.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Torrance
| Period | Torrance | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,385 | $1,328 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,524 | $1,415 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,905 | $1,755 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,478 | $2,279 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,093 | +$951 | +$931 | +$606 |
The median renter in Torrance pays $2,478 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,093 a month since 2006–10, up 79%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 33.6% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. The priciest rents are in the west; the most affordable are in the southeast.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Torrance
Bachelor's degrees in Torrance
| Period | Torrance | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.3% | 29.7% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 41.3% | 30.7% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 47.2% | 33.7% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 50.1% | 37.6% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.8 pts | +7.9 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Torrance is highly educated: about half of adults 25 and older (50.1%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 9.8 points, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the southwest and least in the southeast.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Torrance
| Period | Torrance | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.8% | 76.7% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.8% | 77.7% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.6% | 80.0% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.0% | 82.1% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.1 pts | +5.4 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over nine in ten adults in Torrance have finished high school (93.0%), above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 4.1 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Torrance
| Period | Torrance | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.4% | 8.5% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.3% | 10.6% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.5% | 5.8% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.2% | 6.7% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs a little high in Torrance: 6.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has edged down 1.2 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Torrance compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Torrance | 2.71 | 42.4 | 8.5% | 47.7% | 7.7% | 1964 | $2,478 | 50.1% | 93.0% | 6.2% |
| Redondo Beach | 2.53 | 42.9 | 6.7% | 46.2% | 9.1% | 1971 | $2,716 | 66.4% | 96.3% | 5.5% |
| West Carson | 2.63 | 45.4 | 8.0% | 29.7% | 5.5% | 1973 | $2,064 | 37.6% | 86.4% | 5.5% |
| Lomita | 2.75 | 41.4 | 10.0% | 53.3% | 8.7% | 1966 | $1,986 | 36.6% | 86.8% | 4.5% |
| Harbor City | 2.93 | 38.5 | 14.8% | 49.8% | 5.1% | 1976 | $1,790 | 31.8% | 83.2% | 7.9% |
| Lawndale | 3.16 | 38.7 | 11.9% | 59.1% | 6.7% | 1967 | $2,013 | 21.7% | 73.5% | 8.7% |
| Hermosa Beach | 2.18 | 42.8 | 8.3% | 49.3% | 14.1% | 1966 | $2,948 | 74.8% | 98.3% | 5.4% |
| Carson | 3.49 | 42.7 | 13.3% | 26.0% | 5.3% | 1966 | $2,228 | 29.5% | 84.7% | 7.3% |
| Gardena | 2.91 | 40.2 | 15.1% | 49.8% | 5.2% | 1964 | $1,887 | 28.3% | 80.1% | 6.4% |
| Rolling Hills Estates | 2.83 | 51.4 | 3.6% | 25.5% | 9.8% | 1974 | $2,853 | 68.4% | 96.5% | 5.4% |
| Rolling Hills | 2.69 | 52.8 | 3.5% | 14.6% | 8.5% | 1963 | $3,458 | 74.5% | 97.8% | 7.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Wilmar, AR · Woodbury, MN · Wright, MI · Woodbury, PA · Yorktown, IA · Wright, AR · Willsboro, NY · Wiley Ford, WV · Yorkville, OH · Woodbury, MI
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Torrance. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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