Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Elizabeth, NJ
🏆 Chesapeake leads 19 of 23 categories
Chesapeake
Virginia
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
249,377 ✓ Larger
Elizabeth
New Jersey
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
135,665
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Households earn $32,764 more per year on average
17% less violent crime than Elizabeth
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 40°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Cons
Median income trails Chesapeake by $32,764/yr
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Chesapeake
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Property crime (2657.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Chesapeake
Median Income
$32,764
$92,703 vs $59,939/yr
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
17% lower
339.4 vs 408.7 per 100k
Chesapeake
Median Home Value
$19k less
$339,500 vs $358,400
Chesapeake
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.9% unemployment
Chesapeake
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Elizabeth, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $358,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,390⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $59,939 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 4.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 74.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Elizabeth Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F ✓ Warmer | 40.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 86.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 46.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" ✓ Less | 31.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 ✓ Larger | 135,665 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 25.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Elizabeth's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Chesapeake is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 19 of 23 categories. Chesapeake wins 19 and Elizabeth 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 Elizabeth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $358,400 median home), income ($92,703 vs $59,939), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Elizabeth, NJ are about 298 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.