Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Clifton, NJ
🏆 Chesapeake leads 15 of 23 categories
Chesapeake
Virginia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,703
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
249,377 ✓ Larger
Clifton
New Jersey
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
89,451
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Homes cost $89k less ($339,500 vs $428,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.0%)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
Rent averages $187/mo less ($1,446 vs $1,633)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 39°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
51% less violent crime than Chesapeake
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $428,000
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Chesapeake
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,633/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Chesapeake
Median Home Value
$89k less
$339,500 vs $428,000
Chesapeake
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.4% unemployment
Chesapeake
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 86.5°F
Clifton
Median Income
$1,476
$94,179 vs $92,703/yr
Clifton
Violent Crime
51% lower
165.8 vs 339.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Clifton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $428,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,633⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 | $94,179 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter | 28.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 8.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 34.3% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Clifton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 50.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 ✓ Larger | 89,451 |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 57.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Clifton's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Chesapeake is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 15 of 23 categories. Chesapeake wins 15 and Clifton wins 8. 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 Chesapeake to Clifton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $428,000 median home), income ($92,703 vs $94,179), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Clifton, NJ are about 311 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.