South Bay Neighborhood Guide
Torrance
Its own beach, strong schools and real yards, at a fraction of beach-city prices.
Free Buyer’s GuideFree Seller’s GuideTorrance is the South Bay’s big, practical city: about 20 square miles, its own stretch of beach at the Hollywood Riviera, its own school district, and neighborhoods that range from 1920s Old Torrance to postwar ranch tracts and hillside homes with ocean views. It also has one of the largest Japanese American communities in the country, which shows up in some of the best food in Los Angeles.
Over the last year, Torrance houses sold for a median of $1,250,000 and condos for about $740,250. For buyers who want a yard and a good public school without beach-city prices, this is often where the search ends.
Updated October 2026
Last 12 months, houses and condos priced $450,000 and up. Source: TheMLS, October 21, 2026. Details in the market snapshot below.
Torrance market snapshot
Torrance is the busiest market in the South Bay, with 932 sales last year. It is also one of the most competitive: about 77% of listings sold, the median house sold in 11 days, and houses had only about 2 months of supply. Homes that sold in their first month averaged 101.4% of asking.
What happened to every listing
279 listings came off the market without selling. 164 of them (59%) came back with a new listing, and 82 of those sold.
How fast homes sell, and for how much
Homes that sold in the first 30 days averaged 101.4% of asking. After 120 days, 96.9%.
Houses vs. condos
Houses sell for about $763 a square foot here, condos and townhomes for about $579.
City of Torrance (ZIP codes 90501 to 90505), houses and condos priced $450,000 and up, listed through TheMLS, October 21, 2025 to October 21, 2026. Sold counts exclude 112 sales recorded off the MLS. “Relisted” means a listing was canceled, expired or withdrawn and the same home was listed again during the period; a home relisted more than once counts each time. Days on market as reported in TheMLS. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
| Last 12 months | Sold | Median price | Median $/sq ft | Median days | Sale-to-list | Listings that sold | Months of supply |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houses | 670 | $1,250,000 | $763 | 11 | 100.0% | 80% | 2 |
| Condos and townhomes | 262 | $740,250 | $579 | 21 | 99.6% | 69% | 4.4 |
| All Torrance | 932 | $1,088,500 | $700 | 13 | 100.0% | 77% | 2.7 |
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“He truly had our best interests at heart!”
Olivia S. · Jul 2025 · Read more reviews
Torrance values, area by area
Torrance prices rise as you head south and west toward the ocean. Houses in East Torrance (90502) sold for a median of $848K, in North Torrance for $1.05M, in West Torrance for $1.38M, and in South Torrance, which includes the Hollywood Riviera, for $1.59M. On the Riviera’s best streets, like Paseo de las Tortugas, houses sold for about $2 million.
Median sale price by area
Median of sales of $450,000 and up, last 12 months. Areas by ZIP code. Source: TheMLS, October 21, 2026. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Renting in Torrance
Torrance is one of the fastest rental markets I track: the median home leased in 19 days, and 82% of MLS rentals leased. Two-bedrooms ran about $3,200 a month and three-bedroom houses about $4,300.
Median rent by bedrooms
Leases signed through TheMLS, October 21, 2025 to October 21, 2026, City of Torrance (ZIP codes 90501 to 90505). Bedroom groups with fewer than three leases are left out. Plenty of rentals never reach the MLS, so treat this as a strong sample, not a census. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Torrance at a glance
| Torrance | |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | City of Torrance |
| ZIP codes | 90501 to 90505 |
| Homes | 1920s Old Torrance bungalows, postwar ranch homes, hillside view homes, condos |
| Median sale price | Houses $1,250,000. Condos $740,250 |
| School district | Torrance Unified (Torrance, North, South and West High Schools) |
| Transfer tax | $1.10 per $1,000 (LA County only; no city transfer tax) |
| Short-term rentals | Home-sharing only in residential zones, with the host on site and a city permit |
Torrance, area by area
South Torrance and the Hollywood Riviera (90505)
The Hollywood Riviera sits on the hill above Torrance Beach, next to Redondo's Riviera Village, with ocean views from many streets. South Torrance also takes in Walteria and the neighborhoods along the Palos Verdes hills. Houses sold for a median of $1.59M.
West Torrance (90503)
Quiet postwar streets, larger lots than the beach cities and the Del Amo Fashion Center close by. Houses sold for a median of $1.38M and moved fastest in the city, in a median of 9 days.
Old Torrance and Central (90501)
Downtown Torrance, the original 1912 planned town with its 1920s bungalows and the El Prado shops, plus the neighborhoods around it. Houses sold for a median of $1.09M.
North Torrance (90504) and East Torrance (90502)
The most affordable parts of the city, with solid 1950s houses, more condos and quick access to the 405 and the 110. Houses sold for a median of $1.05M in North Torrance and $848K in East Torrance.
Where I eat in Torrance
Torrance has some of the best Japanese and Korean food in Los Angeles, and some of my favorite spots anywhere:
Tonkatsu
Tonkatsu Marushichi
21605 S. Western Avenue
Crispy pork cutlets over rice or in a katsu sando, including a full-pound tenderloin.
Korean barbecue
Baekjeong
1725 W. Carson Street
Beef combos with ribeye and brisket on a grill ringed with egg and corn cheese.
Bakery
85°C Bakery Cafe
1735 W. Carson Street
Next door to Baekjeong. Sea salt coffee, marble taro bread and Hokkaido cheese tarts.
Brewery
Monkish Brewing
20311 S. Western Avenue
Hazy IPAs and Belgian-style ales. The limited can releases go fast.
Brewery
Cellador Ales
Poured at Smog City, Torrance
Oak-aged farmhouse and sour ales, now brewed and poured at Smog City.
Happy hour
Madre
1261 Cabrillo Avenue, Old Torrance
An Oaxacan restaurant with a huge mezcal list. Go for happy hour.
More of my South Bay picks are on my South Bay guide.
Buying and selling: what to know
Torrance buyers often focus on a specific school, so the exact attendance area can move a home's value. Confirm it before you write an offer.
Sellers are in a strong position: houses had about 2 months of supply, and homes that sold in their first month averaged 101.4% of asking.
What is your home worth?
Tell me the address and I will send you a value based on recent sales on your street, not an online estimate.
Schools
Torrance Unified serves the whole city, with four comprehensive high schools: Torrance, North, South and West. Elementary assignments depend on the address.
Getting around
The 405 and the 110 frame the city, and Torrance Transit runs local buses. Metro has approved extending the K Line along Hawthorne Boulevard to the South Bay Galleria and the Torrance Transit Center, with completion currently estimated for the mid-2030s.
“He will tell you when he doesn't think a home is a good fit, a good investment, or the right neighborhood.”
Deanna H. · Dec 2022 · Read more reviews
Questions buyers and sellers ask
Does Torrance have its own school district?
Yes. Torrance Unified serves the whole city, with Torrance, North, South and West High Schools.
Is there a transfer tax in Torrance?
The city does not charge its own. Only LA County's $1.10 per $1,000 applies.
Does Torrance have a beach?
Yes. Torrance Beach sits below the Hollywood Riviera, at the south end of the South Bay's beach path.
Can I rent my Torrance home on Airbnb?
In residential zones, only as a home share with the host on site, under a city permit.
How close is the Torrance refinery?
The Torrance Refining Company refinery sits in the north part of the city. Some buyers prefer the west and south side for distance from it, so check the location of any home you are considering.
Nearby areas
- Redondo Beach
- Palos Verdes
- Gardena, Carson, Lomita, Harbor City and San Pedro
- Hawthorne
- The South Bay guide
My recent work in Torrance
Sales where I represented the seller or the buyer:
Sold
23315 Ocean Avenue
$1,560,000
Sold
1249 W. 223rd Street #107
$550,000
Sold
1229 W. 223rd Street #113
$505,000
On a recent Torrance condo sale, my sellers had multiple offers, sold above asking with a 30-day leaseback, and I cut the buyer's repair request by 62%. I have also leased 2621 Plaza del Amo for its owners twice, and as part of a team worked on the sale of 22815 Fern.
Thinking about Torrance?
Whether you are buying for the schools or selling a house you have owned for decades, I will walk you through the neighborhood and the numbers. Email BeRossHomes@Gmail.com or call or text (818) 424-1675.
