Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Fresno, CA
🏆 Chesapeake leads 14 of 23 categories
Chesapeake
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
249,377
Fresno
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
54% less violent crime than Fresno
Households earn $29,702 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Fresno
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 98°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $339,500
Fresno, CA
Pros
Rent averages $219/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,446)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Homes cost $18k less ($321,800 vs $339,500)
Cons
Median income trails Chesapeake by $29,702/yr
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Chesapeake
Median Income
$29,702
$92,703 vs $63,001/yr
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
54% lower
339.4 vs 735.5 per 100k
Chesapeake
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
5.0% vs 9.0% unemployment
Fresno
Median Home Value
$18k less
$321,800 vs $339,500
Fresno
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 92.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Fresno, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 105.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High | $321,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $63,001 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 79.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Fresno Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 11.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 | 541,528 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 32.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 48.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Fresno's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Chesapeake is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 14 of 23 categories. Chesapeake wins 14 and Fresno 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 Fresno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $321,800 median home), income ($92,703 vs $63,001), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Fresno, CA are about 2,387 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.