Rents are 3% below what Torrance's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $3,006 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Torrance is 0% below its high of $3,007 in August 2026, at $3,006 as of September 2026.
Rent in Torrance changed +3.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Torrance rose 26.5% while median household income rose 24.3% ($93,492 to $116,217). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Torrance is 32.4% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($116,217) is $2,905 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,903); a 3-bedroom is $3,688.
The priciest of 4 ZIP codes in Torrance, 90505 ($3,452/mo), costs 35% more than the cheapest, 90504 ($2,562/mo).
Lawndale, 4 miles away, rents for 10% less ($2,692/mo), about $3,800 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Torrance. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Torrance, CA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income above the national average, 54% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Torrance, CA has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Torrance, CA paid around $2,305 a month. That figure now sits near $3,006, up 30.4% from the 2021 baseline. On the earnings side, the typical household in Torrance, CA now reports about $116,217, up from $100,215 in 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Torrance, CA losing about 5,026 residents over the five-year window, down 3.4% on net. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Torrance, CA reflects that arc in its own way.
Discussions about Torrance
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Torrance on your salary?
At $3,006/mo, how Torrance rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Torrance rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Torrance. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Torrance
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Torrance is $3,006/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,050/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,903/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,303/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,688/mo.
At 31% of local median household income ($116,217/yr), Torrance ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.7% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Torrance?
Is rent going up or down in Torrance?
Has rent outpaced income in Torrance?
Which Torrance neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Torrance rent compare to other cities in California?
At $3,006/mo, rent takes ~31% of Torrance's median household income ($116,217/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Torrance.
No discussions yet.