Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Newark, NJ
🏆 Chesapeake leads 18 of 22 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
Newark
New Jersey
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Households earn $46,243 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.7 pts lower (5.0%)
42% less violent crime than Newark
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $339,500
Newark, NJ
Pros
Rent averages $173/mo less ($1,273 vs $1,446)
Homes cost $27k less ($312,300 vs $339,500)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Cons
Median income trails Chesapeake by $46,243/yr
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Chesapeake
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Chesapeake
Median Income
$46,243
$92,703 vs $46,460/yr
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
42% lower
339.4 vs 581.2 per 100k
Chesapeake
Unemployment
5.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 10.7% unemployment
Chesapeake
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 86.8°F
Newark
Median Home Value
$27k less
$312,300 vs $339,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Newark, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High | $312,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,273 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $46,460 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 17.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Newark Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 50.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 | 307,355 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 23.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 10.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Newark's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Chesapeake is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 18 of 22 categories. Chesapeake wins 18 and Newark wins 4. 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 Newark or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $312,300 median home), income ($92,703 vs $46,460), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Newark, NJ are about 302 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.