Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
New Haven, CT
🏆 Chesapeake leads 15 of 22 categories
Chesapeake
Virginia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
249,377 ✓ Larger
New Haven
Connecticut
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.6
Median Household Income
$54,305
Violent Crime Index
141⚠ High
Population
135,736
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Households earn $38,398 more per year on average
37% less violent crime than New Haven
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $339,500
New Haven, CT
Pros
Homes cost $103k less ($236,500 vs $339,500)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Chesapeake by $38,398/yr
Violent crime (534.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3587.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 98.6 (100 = US avg)
Chesapeake
Median Income
$38,398
$92,703 vs $54,305/yr
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
37% lower
339.4 vs 534.8 per 100k
Chesapeake
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.8% unemployment
Chesapeake
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 82.1°F
New Haven
Median Home Value
$103k less
$236,500 vs $339,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | New Haven, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 98.6 |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High | $236,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,402⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $54,305 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 141⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% | 38.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 85.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | New Haven School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F ✓ Warmer | 38.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 41.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" ✓ Less | 33.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 ✓ Larger | 135,736 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 28.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs New Haven's 98.6 (US average = 100).
Chesapeake is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 15 of 22 categories. Chesapeake wins 15 and New Haven wins 7. 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 New Haven or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $236,500 median home), income ($92,703 vs $54,305), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and New Haven, CT are about 368 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.