Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Hoover, AL
🏆 Hoover leads 17 of 23 categories
Chesapeake
Virginia
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$92,703
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
249,377 ✓ Larger
Hoover
Alabama
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,765 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
91,995
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Homes cost $27k less ($339,500 vs $366,200)
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.9%)
Median income trails Hoover by $9,062/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Hoover
Hoover, AL
Pros
77% less violent crime than Chesapeake
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 60.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (3.9%)
Households earn $9,062 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $366,200
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Median Home Value
$27k less
$339,500 vs $366,200
Hoover
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Hoover
Median Income
$9,062
$101,765 vs $92,703/yr
Hoover
Violent Crime
77% lower
78.0 vs 339.4 per 100k
Hoover
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Hoover, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $366,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,352⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 | $101,765 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 12.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A (122) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% | 60.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% | 96.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Hoover City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F | 54.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 92.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" ✓ Drier | 59.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" | 1.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 ✓ Larger | 91,995 |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 69.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Hoover's 92.6 (US average = 100).
Hoover is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hoover leads 17 of 23 categories. Chesapeake wins 6 and Hoover wins 17. 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 Hoover or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $366,200 median home), income ($92,703 vs $101,765), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Hoover, AL are about 636 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.