Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Davenport, IA
🏆 Chesapeake leads 14 of 21 categories
Chesapeake
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$92,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
249,377 ✓ Larger
Davenport
Iowa
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,890
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
101,448
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Households earn $32,813 more per year on average
42% less violent crime than Davenport
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 31°F
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $339,500
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Davenport
Davenport, IA
Pros
Homes cost $184k less ($155,100 vs $339,500)
Rent averages $556/mo less ($890 vs $1,446)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Chesapeake
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Cons
Median income trails Chesapeake by $32,813/yr
Violent crime (581.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3540.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Median Income
$32,813
$92,703 vs $59,890/yr
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
42% lower
339.4 vs 581.4 per 100k
Chesapeake
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 83.9°F
Davenport
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Davenport
Median Home Value
$184k less
$155,100 vs $339,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Davenport, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High | $155,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $890 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $59,890 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 ✓ Safer | 159⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 92.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Davenport Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F ✓ Warmer | 31.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 38.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" ✓ Less | 36.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 ✓ Larger | 101,448 |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 62.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Davenport's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Davenport is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 14 of 21 categories. Chesapeake wins 14 and Davenport wins 7. 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 Davenport or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $155,100 median home), income ($92,703 vs $59,890), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Davenport, IA are about 836 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.