Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Dallas, TX
🏆 Chesapeake leads 12 of 22 categories
Chesapeake
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
249,377
Dallas
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,985
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
1,300,642 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
48% less violent crime than Dallas
Households earn $28,718 more per year on average
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Dallas
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $339,500
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Dallas, TX
Pros
Homes cost $69k less ($270,700 vs $339,500)
Rent averages $141/mo less ($1,305 vs $1,446)
Cons
Median income trails Chesapeake by $28,718/yr
Violent crime (658.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3351.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Chesapeake
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Chesapeake
Median Income
$28,718
$92,703 vs $63,985/yr
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
48% lower
339.4 vs 658.2 per 100k
Dallas
Median Home Value
$69k less
$270,700 vs $339,500
Dallas
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 96.9°F vs 92.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Dallas, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High | $270,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,305 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $63,985 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter | 26.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 11.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 160⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% | 36.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 80.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | DALLAS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F | 57.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F | 96.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 41.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" | 1.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 | 1,300,642 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 41.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 24.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 11.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Dallas's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Chesapeake is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 12 of 22 categories. Chesapeake wins 12 and Dallas wins 10. 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 Dallas or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $270,700 median home), income ($92,703 vs $63,985), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Dallas, TX are about 1,190 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.