Below Average CostSafer than AverageChesapeake City Public Schools
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Chesapeake is a mid-sized city of 249,377 in Virginia, with a median household income of $92,703
and a 5.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is
3% below the national average.
Strengths:
Chesapeake stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Chesapeake is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Chesapeake city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 97.4
Chesapeake's overall cost of living index is 97.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Chesapeake costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.
Metric
Chesapeake, VA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$339,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,446
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
73.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$92,703
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Chesapeake's violent crime rate is 339.4 per 100,000 residents
— 11% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
339.4 /100k
Property Crime
1744.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Chesapeake is served primarily by Chesapeake City Public Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Chesapeake, VA
National Avg
School District
Chesapeake City Public Schools
—
Elementary Schools
28
—
Middle Schools
10
—
High Schools
7
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
35.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
93.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Chesapeake sees average highs of 54.3°F in January
and 92.5°F in July,
with 54.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 6.2 inches of snow per year.
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Chesapeake roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $339,500 and median rent is $1,446/month.
Chesapeake's violent crime rate is 339.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1744.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Chesapeake are operated by Chesapeake City Public Schools.
The district has 28 elementary, 10 middle, and 7 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1. 35.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Chesapeake, VA has a population of 249,377, a median household income of $92,703, and an unemployment rate of 5.0%.
Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Chesapeake averages 54.3°F in January and 92.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 54.0 inches
with about 6.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Chesapeake, VA is covered by 6 ZIP codes: 23322, 23323, 23320, 23321, 23324, 23325.
The population of Chesapeake, Virginia is 249,377 with a median age of 37.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Chesapeake: cost of living index 97 (100 = US average), median home $339,500, median household income $92,703, crime index 87 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Chesapeake side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
