Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
Chesapeake, VA
🏆 Chesapeake leads 13 of 23 categories
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,895
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
136,929
Chesapeake
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
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.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Homes cost $172k less ($167,900 vs $339,500)
Rent averages $560/mo less ($886 vs $1,446)
23% less violent crime than Chesapeake
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (3.9%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Chesapeake by $25,808/yr
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Households earn $25,808 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 28°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $339,500
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.9%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Cedar Rapids
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Violent Crime
23% lower
261.5 vs 339.4 per 100k
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$172k less
$167,900 vs $339,500
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.0% unemployment
Chesapeake
Median Income
$25,808
$92,703 vs $66,895/yr
Chesapeake
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | Chesapeake, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 ✓ Lower | $339,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $1,446⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 | $92,703 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter | 26.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 | 87 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% | 35.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 93.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | Chesapeake City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 54.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 54.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 | 249,377 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% | 73.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Chesapeake's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 13 of 23 categories. Cedar Rapids wins 10 and Chesapeake wins 13. 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 Cedar Rapids to Chesapeake or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $339,500 median home), income ($66,895 vs $92,703), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and Chesapeake, VA are about 898 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.