Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Fontana, CA
🏆 Chesapeake leads 13 of 23 categories
Chesapeake
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,703
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
249,377 ✓ Larger
Fontana
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,230 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
209,279
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Homes cost $167k less ($339,500 vs $506,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.0%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $170/mo less ($1,446 vs $1,616)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Fontana
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Fontana, CA
Pros
20% less violent crime than Chesapeake
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 54°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $506,600
Higher rents — median is $1,616/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Chesapeake
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Chesapeake
Median Home Value
$167k less
$339,500 vs $506,600
Chesapeake
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.2% unemployment
Fontana
Median Income
$527
$93,230 vs $92,703/yr
Fontana
Violent Crime
20% lower
270.2 vs 339.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Fontana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $506,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,616⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 | $93,230 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 78.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Fontana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 ✓ Larger | 209,279 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 66.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Fontana's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Chesapeake is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 13 of 23 categories. Chesapeake wins 13 and Fontana wins 10. 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 Fontana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $506,600 median home), income ($92,703 vs $93,230), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Fontana, CA are about 2,307 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.