Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Knoxville, TN
🏆 Chesapeake leads 15 of 22 categories
Chesapeake
Virginia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$92,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
249,377 ✓ Larger
Knoxville
Tennessee
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Households earn $44,394 more per year on average
54% less violent crime than Knoxville
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $339,500
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Knoxville
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $155k less ($184,200 vs $339,500)
Rent averages $403/mo less ($1,043 vs $1,446)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Chesapeake
Cons
Median income trails Chesapeake by $44,394/yr
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Median Income
$44,394
$92,703 vs $48,309/yr
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
54% lower
339.4 vs 740.3 per 100k
Chesapeake
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 88.3°F
Knoxville
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$155k less
$184,200 vs $339,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Knoxville, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High | $184,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,043 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $48,309 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 9.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 90.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Knox County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F ✓ Warmer | 47.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" ✓ Drier | 55.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" | 4.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 ✓ Larger | 191,857 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 46.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Knoxville's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 15 of 22 categories. Chesapeake wins 15 and Knoxville wins 7. 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 Knoxville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $184,200 median home), income ($92,703 vs $48,309), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Knoxville, TN are about 428 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.