Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Chesapeake, VA
🏆 Chesapeake leads 12 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
235,845
Chesapeake
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,703
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
249,377 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, VA
Pros
Households earn $44,684 more per year on average
25% less violent crime than Chesapeake
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (2.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Chesapeake
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Homes cost $494k less ($339,500 vs $833,300)
Rent averages $781/mo less ($1,446 vs $2,227)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $44,684/yr
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$44,684
$137,387 vs $92,703/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
25% lower
254.4 vs 339.4 per 100k
Arlington
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
2.8% vs 5.0% unemployment
Chesapeake
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Chesapeake
Median Home Value
$494k less
$339,500 vs $833,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Chesapeake, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High | $339,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $92,703 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 83 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 35.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 93.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | Chesapeake City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 54.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" ✓ Drier | 54.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 | 249,377 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 73.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Chesapeake's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Chesapeake is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 12 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 11 and Chesapeake wins 12. 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 Arlington to Chesapeake or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $339,500 median home), income ($137,387 vs $92,703), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Chesapeake, VA are about 158 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.