Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Chesapeake, VA
🏆 Chesapeake leads 15 of 22 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,703
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288
Chesapeake
Virginia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
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.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Homes cost $109k less ($230,500 vs $339,500)
Rent averages $380/mo less ($1,066 vs $1,446)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Chesapeake
Cons
Median income trails Chesapeake by $35,000/yr
Violent crime (823.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Households earn $35,000 more per year on average
59% less violent crime than Chattanooga
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $339,500
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Chattanooga
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Chattanooga
Median Home Value
$109k less
$230,500 vs $339,500
Chesapeake
Median Income
$35,000
$92,703 vs $57,703/yr
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
59% lower
339.4 vs 823.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Chesapeake, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 ✓ Lower | $339,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 ✓ Lower | $1,446⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 | $92,703 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% | 35.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | Chesapeake City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F | 54.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 54.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 | 249,377 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% | 73.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Chesapeake's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Chattanooga is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 15 of 22 categories. Chattanooga wins 7 and Chesapeake wins 15. 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 Chattanooga to Chesapeake or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $339,500 median home), income ($57,703 vs $92,703), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Chesapeake, VA are about 513 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.