Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Durham, NC
🏆 Chesapeake leads 12 of 23 categories
Chesapeake
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$92,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
249,377
Durham
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,710
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
45% less violent crime than Durham
Households earn $17,993 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 49°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 4.3%)
Pricier housing — median home is $339,500
Durham, NC
Pros
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.3%)
Rent averages $150/mo less ($1,296 vs $1,446)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Homes cost $23k less ($316,600 vs $339,500)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Cons
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Chesapeake by $17,993/yr
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Median Income
$17,993
$92,703 vs $74,710/yr
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
45% lower
339.4 vs 619.2 per 100k
Chesapeake
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 87.0°F
Durham
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Durham
Median Home Value
$23k less
$316,600 vs $339,500
Durham
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Durham, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High | $316,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,296 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $74,710 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 17.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 ✓ Safer | 170⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 181⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 91.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Durham Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F ✓ Warmer | 48.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 87.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 50.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" | 5.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 | 284,094 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 52.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 20.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 12.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Durham's 96.6 (US average = 100).
Durham is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 12 of 23 categories. Chesapeake wins 12 and Durham wins 11. 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 Durham or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $316,600 median home), income ($92,703 vs $74,710), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Durham, NC are about 153 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.