Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Chesapeake, VA
🏆 Chesapeake leads 16 of 23 categories
Aurora
Illinois
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,943
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
181,405
Chesapeake
Virginia
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,703 ✓ Higher
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.
Aurora, IL
Pros
Homes cost $98k less ($241,600 vs $339,500)
22% less violent crime than Chesapeake
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Cons
Median income trails Chesapeake by $6,760/yr
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Chesapeake
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 31°F
Households earn $6,760 more per year on average
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $339,500
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Violent Crime
22% lower
266.0 vs 339.4 per 100k
Aurora
Median Home Value
$98k less
$241,600 vs $339,500
Chesapeake
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Chesapeake
Median Income
$6,760
$92,703 vs $85,943/yr
Chesapeake
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.6% unemployment
Chesapeake
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Chesapeake, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 ✓ Lower | $339,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 | $92,703 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 35.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | Chesapeake City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 54.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" ✓ Drier | 54.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 | 249,377 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% | 73.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Chesapeake's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Chesapeake is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 16 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 7 and Chesapeake wins 16. 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 Aurora to Chesapeake or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $339,500 median home), income ($85,943 vs $92,703), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Chesapeake, VA are about 731 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.