Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Long Beach, CA
🏆 Chesapeake leads 18 of 23 categories
Chesapeake
Virginia
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
249,377
Long Beach
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Homes cost $370k less ($339,500 vs $709,700)
50% less violent crime than Long Beach
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Rent averages $252/mo less ($1,446 vs $1,698)
Households earn $13,708 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 54°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $709,700
Violent crime (676.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Chesapeake
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Chesapeake
Median Income
$13,708
$92,703 vs $78,995/yr
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
50% lower
339.4 vs 676.4 per 100k
Chesapeake
Median Home Value
$370k less
$339,500 vs $709,700
Chesapeake
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.6% unemployment
Chesapeake
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Long Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $709,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,698⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $78,995 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter | 30.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 166⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 33.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Long Beach Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 81.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 12.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 | 462,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 40.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Long Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Chesapeake is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 18 of 23 categories. Chesapeake wins 18 and Long Beach wins 5. 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 Long Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $709,700 median home), income ($92,703 vs $78,995), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Long Beach, CA are about 2,353 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.