Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arden-Arcade, CA
VS
Chesapeake, VA
🏆 Chesapeake leads 14 of 23 categories
Arden-Arcade
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,479
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
96,076
Chesapeake
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
249,377 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arden-Arcade, CA
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Median income trails Chesapeake by $28,224/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $466,300
Violent crime (518.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Chesapeake
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Households earn $28,224 more per year on average
34% less violent crime than Arden-Arcade
Homes cost $127k less ($339,500 vs $466,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (5.0%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Arden-Arcade
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Chesapeake
Median Income
$28,224
$92,703 vs $64,479/yr
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
34% lower
339.4 vs 518.1 per 100k
Chesapeake
Median Home Value
$127k less
$339,500 vs $466,300
Chesapeake
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arden-Arcade, CA | Chesapeake, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $466,300⚠ High | $339,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,446⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,479 | $92,703 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 26.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% ✓ Higher | 35.8% |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Juan Unified | Chesapeake City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 54.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 92.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" ✓ Drier | 54.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,076 | 249,377 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% | 73.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arden-Arcade's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Chesapeake's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Chesapeake is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 14 of 23 categories. Arden-Arcade wins 9 and Chesapeake wins 14. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Arden-Arcade to Chesapeake or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($466,300 vs $339,500 median home), income ($64,479 vs $92,703), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arden-Arcade, CA and Chesapeake, VA are about 2,445 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.