Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
El Monte, CA
🏆 Chesapeake leads 18 of 22 categories
Chesapeake
Virginia
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
249,377 ✓ Larger
El Monte
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
108,682
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Homes cost $258k less ($339,500 vs $597,200)
Households earn $32,774 more per year on average
20% less violent crime than El Monte
18% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
El Monte, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 54°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Median income trails Chesapeake by $32,774/yr
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Chesapeake
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Chesapeake
Median Income
$32,774
$92,703 vs $59,929/yr
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
20% lower
339.4 vs 423.2 per 100k
Chesapeake
Median Home Value
$258k less
$339,500 vs $597,200
Chesapeake
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.0% unemployment
Chesapeake
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 85.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | El Monte, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $597,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,605⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $59,929 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter | 29.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 ✓ Safer | 106⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C- (66) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 13.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 63.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Mountain View Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 15.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 ✓ Larger | 108,682 |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 39.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs El Monte's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Chesapeake is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 18 of 22 categories. Chesapeake wins 18 and El Monte wins 4. 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 El Monte or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $597,200 median home), income ($92,703 vs $59,929), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and El Monte, CA are about 2,339 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.