Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Lansing, MI
🏆 Chesapeake leads 17 of 23 categories
Chesapeake
Virginia
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$92,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
249,377 ✓ Larger
Lansing
Michigan
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,747
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
112,986
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Households earn $41,956 more per year on average
75% less violent crime than Lansing
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 31°F
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
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Lansing
Lansing, MI
Pros
Homes cost $227k less ($112,200 vs $339,500)
Rent averages $492/mo less ($954 vs $1,446)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 93°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Chesapeake
Cons
Median income trails Chesapeake by $41,956/yr
Violent crime (1345.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2499.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Median Income
$41,956
$92,703 vs $50,747/yr
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
75% lower
339.4 vs 1345.1 per 100k
Chesapeake
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.3% unemployment
Chesapeake
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 82.8°F
Lansing
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Lansing
Median Home Value
$227k less
$112,200 vs $339,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Lansing, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High | $112,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $954 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $50,747 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 ✓ Safer | 260⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 354⚠ 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 | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 29.3% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 90.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Lansing Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F ✓ Warmer | 30.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 33.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" ✓ Less | 50.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 ✓ Larger | 112,986 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 53.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Lansing's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Lansing is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 17 of 23 categories. Chesapeake wins 17 and Lansing wins 6. 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 Lansing or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $112,200 median home), income ($92,703 vs $50,747), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Lansing, MI are about 605 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.