Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Montgomery, AL
🏆 Chesapeake leads 15 of 23 categories
Chesapeake
Virginia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$92,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
249,377 ✓ Larger
Montgomery
Alabama
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,166
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
199,819
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Households earn $38,537 more per year on average
43% less violent crime than Montgomery
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.0%)
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 7% higher than Montgomery
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $198k less ($141,900 vs $339,500)
Rent averages $420/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,446)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Chesapeake
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 54°F
Cons
Median income trails Chesapeake by $38,537/yr
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Median Income
$38,537
$92,703 vs $54,166/yr
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
43% lower
339.4 vs 594.6 per 100k
Chesapeake
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.2% unemployment
Montgomery
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$198k less
$141,900 vs $339,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Montgomery, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High | $141,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $54,166 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 106⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 ✓ Larger | 199,819 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 53.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 23.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Montgomery's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 15 of 23 categories. Chesapeake wins 15 and Montgomery wins 8. 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 Montgomery or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $141,900 median home), income ($92,703 vs $54,166), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Montgomery, AL are about 641 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.