Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Jacksonville, FL
🏆 Chesapeake leads 13 of 23 categories
Chesapeake
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
249,377
Jacksonville
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.2
Median Household Income
$64,138
Violent Crime Index
164⚠ High
Population
950,203 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
46% less violent crime than Jacksonville
Households earn $28,565 more per year on average
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $339,500
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
Homes cost $97k less ($243,000 vs $339,500)
Rent averages $165/mo less ($1,281 vs $1,446)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 54°F
Cons
Median income trails Chesapeake by $28,565/yr
Violent crime (623.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2494.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 99.2 (100 = US avg)
Chesapeake
Median Income
$28,565
$92,703 vs $64,138/yr
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
46% lower
339.4 vs 623.8 per 100k
Jacksonville
Median Home Value
$97k less
$243,000 vs $339,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Jacksonville, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 99.2 |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High | $243,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,281 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $64,138 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 11.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 164⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 90.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | DUVAL |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 91.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 53.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 | 950,203 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 57.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Jacksonville's 99.2 (US average = 100).
Chesapeake is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 13 of 23 categories. Chesapeake wins 13 and Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $243,000 median home), income ($92,703 vs $64,138), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Jacksonville, FL are about 536 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.