Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Huntsville, AL
🏆 Chesapeake leads 13 of 22 categories
Chesapeake
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$92,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
249,377 ✓ Larger
Huntsville
Alabama
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,874
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
215,025
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
30% less violent crime than Huntsville
Households earn $24,829 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $339,500
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Huntsville
Huntsville, AL
Pros
Homes cost $103k less ($236,300 vs $339,500)
Rent averages $426/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,446)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Chesapeake
Cons
Median income trails Chesapeake by $24,829/yr
Violent crime (483.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Median Income
$24,829
$92,703 vs $67,874/yr
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
30% lower
339.4 vs 483.2 per 100k
Chesapeake
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 88.1°F
Huntsville
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Huntsville
Median Home Value
$103k less
$236,300 vs $339,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Huntsville, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High | $236,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $67,874 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 ✓ Safer | 122⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% | 45.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 91.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Huntsville City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F ✓ Warmer | 50.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 88.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" | 2.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 ✓ Larger | 215,025 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 57.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Huntsville's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Huntsville is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 13 of 22 categories. Chesapeake wins 13 and Huntsville 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 Huntsville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $236,300 median home), income ($92,703 vs $67,874), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Huntsville, AL are about 588 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.