Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Kent, WA
🏆 Chesapeake leads 20 of 23 categories
Chesapeake
Virginia
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
249,377 ✓ Larger
Kent
Washington
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
135,169
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Homes cost $139k less ($339,500 vs $478,400)
31% less violent crime than Kent
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Rent averages $296/mo less ($1,446 vs $1,742)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Kent, WA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Chesapeake
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Chesapeake
Median Income
$5,737
$92,703 vs $86,966/yr
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
31% lower
339.4 vs 489.7 per 100k
Chesapeake
Median Home Value
$139k less
$339,500 vs $478,400
Chesapeake
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.6% unemployment
Chesapeake
Summer Heat
14.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Kent, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $478,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,742⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $86,966 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 10.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 180⚠ 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 | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Kent School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 78.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 44.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 ✓ Larger | 135,169 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 55.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Kent's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Chesapeake is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 20 of 23 categories. Chesapeake wins 20 and Kent wins 3. 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 Kent or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $478,400 median home), income ($92,703 vs $86,966), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Kent, WA are about 2,430 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.