Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Little Rock, AR
🏆 Chesapeake leads 14 of 23 categories
Chesapeake
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$92,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
249,377 ✓ Larger
Little Rock
Arkansas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,697
Violent Crime Index
440⚠ High
Population
202,218
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
80% less violent crime than Little Rock
Households earn $34,006 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $339,500
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Little Rock
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Homes cost $134k less ($205,800 vs $339,500)
Rent averages $440/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,446)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Chesapeake
Cons
Median income trails Chesapeake by $34,006/yr
Violent crime (1672.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5214.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Median Income
$34,006
$92,703 vs $58,697/yr
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
80% lower
339.4 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Little Rock
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$134k less
$205,800 vs $339,500
Little Rock
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Little Rock, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High | $205,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,006 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $58,697 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 ✓ Safer | 363⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 440⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 92.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F ✓ Warmer | 50.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 91.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 52.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" | 3.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 ✓ Larger | 202,218 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 36.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 54.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 23.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Little Rock's 89.1 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 14 of 23 categories. Chesapeake wins 14 and Little Rock 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 Little Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $205,800 median home), income ($92,703 vs $58,697), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Little Rock, AR are about 910 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.