Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Torrance, CA Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

142,130

Median Agei

43.2

Race & Ethnicityi

Asian

37%52,585

White

32.7%46,491

Hispanic/Latino

19.3%27,426

Two or More

6.3%8,962

Black

3.6%5,049

Other

0.5%752

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.4%592

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.2%273

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

1.7%1,714

High School Diploma

14.6%15,130

Some College (<1 yr)

4.4%4,611

Some College (1+ yr)

11.8%12,260

Associate's Degree

8.5%8,781

Bachelor's Degree

34.3%35,616

Master's Degree

14.1%14,663

Professional Degree

3.5%3,631

Doctorate

2%2,105

HS or Higher

95%

BA or Higher

54%

Graduate+

19.7%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$1,074,700

Median Renti

$2,280

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

55%30,182

Renter-Occupied

45%24,687

Total Units

59,284

Homeownership

55%

Vacancy Rate

7.4%

Home Values

Under $50K

1.2%370

$50K–$100K

1.1%343

$100K–$150K

1.2%350

$150K–$200K

0.3%76

$200K–$300K

0.6%187

$300K–$500K

2.1%619

$500K–$1M

34.8%10,511

$1M+

58.7%17,726

Rent Distribution

Under $500

329

$500–$750

198

$750–$1,000

611

$1,000–$1,250

1,237

$1,250–$1,500

1,111

$1,500–$2,000

5,202

$2,000+

15,078

Year Built

2020 or later

0.3%179

2010–2019

1.1%666

2000–2009

4.4%2,613

1990–1999

3.8%2,232

1980–1989

8.1%4,792

1970–1979

14.8%8,773

1960–1969

27%15,996

1950–1959

32.6%19,323

1940–1949

4.2%2,485

1939 or earlier

3.8%2,225

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

69.2%37,976

Electricity

26.6%14,601

No Fuel

2.4%1,305

Bottled/LP Gas

1.1%628

Solar

0.3%182

Fuel Oil

0.1%71

Wood

0.1%62

Other

0.1%44

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$116,217

Mean Household Incomei

$150,295

Per Capita Incomei

$58,656

Poverty Ratei

7.7%

Unemploymenti

Labor Forcei

74,258

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

3.7%2,031

$10K–$15K

2.2%1,189

$15K–$20K

1.7%925

$20K–$25K

1.6%854

$25K–$30K

1.7%945

$30K–$35K

2.1%1,162

$35K–$40K

2.2%1,180

$40K–$45K

2.7%1,482

$45K–$50K

1.9%1,067

$50K–$60K

4.8%2,617

$60K–$75K

7.7%4,226

$75K–$100K

11.3%6,178

$100K–$125K

9.9%5,417

$125K–$150K

9.3%5,125

$150K–$200K

12.1%6,613

$200K+

25.3%13,858

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

998

Residentsi

1,156

Avg. Tenant Renti

$559/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

15 months

Programs in this community

Housing Choice Vouchers685 homes64% occupied$622/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 8295 homes99% occupied$410/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

202/PRAC2 homes

811/PRAC16 homes104% occupied$581/mo rent

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $116,217/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $35K/yr

86.7%

Very low income$35K–$58K/yr

10.5%

Low income$58K–$93K/yr

2.8%

Who Receives This Housing

69% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

70.8% of subsidized households are minority

29.2% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

73.6% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

42,46829.9%

By Region

Top Countries

Korea

7,392

Philippines

3,586

Mexico

3,165

India

2,681

China

2,031

United Kingdom

694

Canada

416

Guatemala

312

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

67,292

Avg. Commutei

26.9 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

69,593

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

4,643(4.1% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

95.8%Insured

4.2%Uninsured