Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Chesapeake, VA
🏆 Chesapeake leads 16 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
106,598
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.
Boulder, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Median income trails Chesapeake by $12,460/yr
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Homes cost $580k less ($339,500 vs $919,700)
Rent averages $407/mo less ($1,446 vs $1,853)
Households earn $12,460 more per year on average
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Boulder
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 47°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Boulder
Violent Crime
5% lower
322.3 vs 339.4 per 100k
Chesapeake
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
Chesapeake
Median Income
$12,460
$92,703 vs $80,243/yr
Chesapeake
Median Home Value
$580k less
$339,500 vs $919,700
Chesapeake
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 88.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Chesapeake, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $339,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 | $92,703 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 35.8% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 93.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | Chesapeake City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F | 54.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 54.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 | 249,377 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 73.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Chesapeake's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Chesapeake is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 16 of 23 categories. Boulder 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 Boulder to Chesapeake or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $339,500 median home), income ($80,243 vs $92,703), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Chesapeake, VA are about 1,578 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.