Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Elgin, IL
🏆 Chesapeake leads 15 of 23 categories
Chesapeake
Virginia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
249,377 ✓ Larger
Elgin
Illinois
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,998
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
114,190
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 30°F
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $6,705 more per year on average
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Elgin
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $339,500
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Elgin, IL
Pros
Homes cost $97k less ($242,500 vs $339,500)
21% less violent crime than Chesapeake
Rent averages $256/mo less ($1,190 vs $1,446)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 5.0%)
Median income trails Chesapeake by $6,705/yr
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Chesapeake
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Chesapeake
Median Income
$6,705
$92,703 vs $85,998/yr
Chesapeake
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.0% unemployment
Chesapeake
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 84.1°F
Elgin
Violent Crime
21% lower
266.7 vs 339.4 per 100k
Elgin
Median Home Value
$97k less
$242,500 vs $339,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Elgin, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High | $242,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,190 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $85,998 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 52 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 26.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 81.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | SD U-46 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F ✓ Warmer | 30.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 84.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 39.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" ✓ Less | 32.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 ✓ Larger | 114,190 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 71.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 26.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Elgin's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Chesapeake is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 15 of 23 categories. Chesapeake wins 15 and Elgin 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 Elgin or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $242,500 median home), income ($92,703 vs $85,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Elgin, IL are about 740 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.