Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Manchester, NH
🏆 Chesapeake leads 12 of 23 categories
Chesapeake
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
249,377 ✓ Larger
Manchester
New Hampshire
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,040
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
115,037
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Households earn $18,663 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 32°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Manchester
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $339,500
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 4.2%)
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Manchester, NH
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.2%)
Homes cost $35k less ($304,700 vs $339,500)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 93°F
Rent averages $84/mo less ($1,362 vs $1,446)
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Chesapeake by $18,663/yr
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Chesapeake
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Chesapeake
Median Income
$18,663
$92,703 vs $74,040/yr
Chesapeake
Summer Heat
11.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 81.1°F
Manchester
Median Home Value
$35k less
$304,700 vs $339,500
Manchester
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Manchester, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 104.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High | $304,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,362⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $74,040 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 32.3% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 88.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Manchester School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 42.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" ✓ Less | 52.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 ✓ Larger | 115,037 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 48.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Manchester's 104.2 (US average = 100).
Chesapeake is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 12 of 23 categories. Chesapeake wins 12 and Manchester wins 11. 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 Manchester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $304,700 median home), income ($92,703 vs $74,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Manchester, NH are about 506 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.