Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
🏆 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
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Kentucky
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,114
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High
Population
629,176 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
52% less violent crime than Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Households earn $29,589 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 42°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $339,500
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
Pros
Homes cost $135k less ($204,800 vs $339,500)
Rent averages $432/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,446)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.0)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Chesapeake
Cons
Median income trails Chesapeake by $29,589/yr
Violent crime (707.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3326.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Median Income
$29,589
$92,703 vs $63,114/yr
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
52% lower
339.4 vs 707.4 per 100k
Chesapeake
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 87.3°F
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 94.0 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Median Home Value
$135k less
$204,800 vs $339,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 94.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High | $204,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $63,114 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 10.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 186⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 90.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Jefferson County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F ✓ Warmer | 42.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 87.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 53.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" ✓ Less | 15.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 | 629,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 60.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 22.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Louisville/Jefferson County metro government's 94.0 (US average = 100).
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 14 of 23 categories. Chesapeake wins 14 and Louisville/Jefferson County metro government 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 Louisville/Jefferson County metro government or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $204,800 median home), income ($92,703 vs $63,114), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY are about 523 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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