Torrance is South Bay suburb that has plenty to offer for residents and tourists alike. It has beautiful beaches, a thriving food scene, markets, shops and eateries galore.
If you are thinking about visiting Torrance and have qualms about the safety of the city, we got you covered. We deep dived into the statistics, crime rates and talked to the residents of the city to give you a better understanding of how safe the safe the city really is.
Is Torrance, CA safe?
(photo: DylanMoz49)
Torrance is a very safe city as indicated by its crime rates, which are below the national average. It’s violent crime rate is one of the lowest in the state for a city with over 100,000 residents and is on par with cities like Huntington Beach, Carlsbad and Burbank.
Here’s a scale to give you some perspective on Torrance’s crime rate
Torrance Crime Rates And Crime Stats
The most recent, complete set of crime statistics comes from the FBI UCR and cross referenced with the Torrance PD and are for 2019 and 2020:
Torrance police reported a total of 3,209 offenses in 2020, compared with 3,133 in 2019, which is a 2 percent year-over-year increase.
|
2019 |
2020 |
% Change |
Murder |
3 |
3 |
0% |
Rape |
26 |
44 |
69% |
Robbery |
114 |
105 |
-8% |
Aggravated Assault |
137 |
122 |
-11% |
Violent Offense Total |
280 |
274 |
-2% |
Burglary |
399 |
378 |
-5% |
Larceny |
2,161 |
2,060 |
-5% |
Motor Vehicle Theft |
293 |
497 |
70% |
Property Offense Total |
2,853 |
2,935 |
3% |
Total Index Offenses |
3,133 |
3,209 |
2% |
Violent Crime Rate
In 2020 Torrance reported 274 violent crimes and had a violent crime rate of 189.71 per 100,000 residents. Torrance’s violent crime rate is 52% less than the national average.
Year over year violent crime decreased 2%.
You have a 1 in 527 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime in Torrance.
Violent crimes include; homicides, rape, robbery and aggravated assaults.
Property Crime Rate
In 2020 Torrance reported 2,935 property crimes and had a property crime rate of 2,032.13 per 100,000 residents. Torrance’s property crime rate is 4% greater than the national average.
Year over year property crime has increased 3%.
You have a 1 in 49 chance of becoming a victim of property crime in Torrance.
Property crimes include; burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson.
Murder Rate
In 2020 Torrance reported 3 murders and had a murder rate of 2.08 per 100,000 residents. Torrance’s murder rate is 68% less than the national average.
Year over year murders has remained the same
You have a 1 in 48,143 chance of becoming a victim of murder in Torrance.
Torrance’s crime rate vs other cities in California (2020)
Here’s how Torrance’s crime rate compared to other cities in California. Torrance had the lowest crime rate for all cities listed.
|
Population |
Violent Crime Rate (2020) |
440,646 |
1,347.34 |
|
320,804 |
1,254.04 |
|
3,898,747 |
727.39 |
|
524,943 |
675.69 |
|
542,107 |
656.70 |
|
873,965 |
556.89 |
|
466,742 |
501.99 |
|
403,455 |
497.45 |
|
1,013,240 |
431.78 |
|
1,386,932 |
382.35 |
|
346,824 |
357.82 |
|
Torrance | 144,430 |
189.71 |
Torrance’s Crime Rate Comparison
Here’s a list of the top 23 most dangerous cities in the United States ranked by violent crime rates. Torrance’s violent crime rate is 15 times less than Monroe, Louisiana, the most dangerous city on the list.
City |
Population |
Violent Crime Rate per 100,000 people |
Monroe |
47,702 |
2,932.79 |
Memphis |
633,104 |
2,418.24 |
Atlantic City |
38,497 |
2,335.25 |
Saginaw |
44,202 |
2,327.95 |
Detroit |
639,111 |
2,248.44 |
St. Louis |
301,578 |
1,995.17 |
Alexandria |
45,275 |
1,877.42 |
Pine Bluff |
41,253 |
1,808.35 |
Little Rock |
202,591 |
1,805.11 |
Milwaukee |
577,222 |
1,733.13 |
South Bend |
103,453 |
1,706.09 |
Cleveland |
372,624 |
1,689.10 |
Camden |
71,791 |
1,632.52 |
Birmingham |
200,733 |
1,577.22 |
Kansas City |
508,090 |
1,558.58 |
Baltimore |
585,708 |
1,460.11 |
Albuquerque |
564,559 |
1,406.41 |
Chattanooga |
181,099 |
1,382.67 |
San Bernardino |
222,101 |
1,365.59 |
New Orleans |
383,997 |
1,358.08 |
Oakland |
440,646 |
1,347.34 |
Torrance |
144,430 |
189.71 |
Areas to avoid in Torrance
Generally speaking, Torrance is a fairly safe city with little to no bad areas. However the areas of Torrance which border Gardena, Lawndale, Carson and Hawthorne can feel sketchy. While those areas are not inherently dangerous, it doesn’t have the same polished feel of south and west Torrance. The area around the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center is a bit sketchy too.
Is the public transportation in Torrance safe?
The public transportation system in Torrance is handled by the Torrance Transit, which offers many routes that interweave throughout the entire city.
The Torrance Transit is generally a safe option to use during normal commuting hours (7am – 8pm), however we recommend that you use a taxi or ride sharing service outside of those hours.
Is Torrance safe at night?
Torrance is generally a safe city at night. However we recommend that you not walk by yourself at night. This is when the risk of falling victim to an act of violent crime can go up. Walk in pairs after nightfall or take a bus or rideshare if you don’t have a vehicle.
Is Torrance safe for a solo traveler?
Torrance is safe for all travelers, including female solo travelers! If you visit Torrance alone you’ll be plenty safe if you practice common sense when it comes to safety (i.e. avoid walking alone at night, locking up your vehicles, and keeping an eye on your things belongings).
What do residents of Torrance say about it’s safety?
- "Torrance is a pretty big city so you will find a little bit of everything in here, but for the most part it is pretty safe. The only areas you should be concerned about are the northern and eastern parts of town that borders Lawndale, Hawthorne and Compton."
- "Torrance is pretty safe. The south and west areas are the nicest neighborhoods. It can get a little sketchy when you start getting to the fringes of Gardena, Lawndale and Carson."
- "North East Torrance gets a bad rap. I’ve lived here for about 4 years now and although it’s not as pretty as other parts of the city, it still feels fairly safe."
- "The further west and south you are the better, albeit it will be more expensive."
- "A good rule of thumb is to avoid anything north of the 405 and east of Crenshaw."
Tips to stay safe while visiting Torrance
- Always be aware of your surroundings. When walking around the city, maintain situational awareness. Get off your phone and pay attention to whats happening around you.
- Don’t walk by yourself at night. Take a taxi or Uber at night.
- Walk confidently and with your head up and without distractions (smartphones, headphones).
- Run away from situation if you need to. Hurt pride is temporary.
- Don’t drink to excess, especially if you are by yourself.
Facts about Torrance, CA
- The population of Torrance in 2020 was 144,430 and is the 40th most populous city in California.
- The city covers a land area of 20.5 square miles.
- The median age was 41.3 years.
- 94.7% of residents 25 and older is a high school graduate. 51.7% of residents 25 and older has a bachelors degree or higher.
- The median income for a household in the city was $94,781. The per capita income for the city was $46,588.
- 6.8% of the population live below the poverty line.
- The median home value in Torrance is $1M in 2022.
- In 2022, the average rent for a Torrance 2-bedroom apartment is $2,800.
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