Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Fort Collins, CO
🏆 Chesapeake leads 14 of 23 categories
Chesapeake
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$92,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
249,377 ✓ Larger
Fort Collins
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Homes cost $158k less ($339,500 vs $497,400)
Households earn $13,726 more per year on average
Rent averages $130/mo less ($1,446 vs $1,576)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 45°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
20% less violent crime than Chesapeake
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Median income trails Chesapeake by $13,726/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Median Income
$13,726
$92,703 vs $78,977/yr
Chesapeake
Median Home Value
$158k less
$339,500 vs $497,400
Chesapeake
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 87.4°F
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
20% lower
272.7 vs 339.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Fort Collins, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $497,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,576⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $78,977 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 17.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% | 58.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% | 97.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Poudre School District R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F ✓ Warmer | 45.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 16.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" ✓ Less | 49.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 ✓ Larger | 168,758 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 30.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 51.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 16.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Fort Collins's 96.6 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 14 of 23 categories. Chesapeake wins 14 and Fort Collins wins 9. 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 Fort Collins or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $497,400 median home), income ($92,703 vs $78,977), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Fort Collins, CO are about 1,569 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.