Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Norfolk, VA
🏆 Chesapeake leads 16 of 22 categories
Chesapeake
Virginia
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$92,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
249,377 ✓ Larger
Norfolk
Virginia
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$60,998
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
236,973
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Households earn $31,705 more per year on average
28% less violent crime than Norfolk
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $339,500
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Norfolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $85k less ($254,200 vs $339,500)
Rent averages $258/mo less ($1,188 vs $1,446)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Chesapeake by $31,705/yr
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3772.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Median Income
$31,705
$92,703 vs $60,998/yr
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
28% lower
339.4 vs 469.5 per 100k
Chesapeake
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.7% unemployment
Chesapeake
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 88.7°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 97.4 on the COL index
Norfolk
Median Home Value
$85k less
$254,200 vs $339,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Norfolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High | $254,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,188 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $60,998 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 7.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 32.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 89.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Norfolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F ✓ Warmer | 50.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 88.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 45.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" | 3.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 ✓ Larger | 236,973 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 32.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Norfolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 16 of 22 categories. Chesapeake wins 16 and Norfolk wins 6. 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 Norfolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $254,200 median home), income ($92,703 vs $60,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Norfolk, VA are about 17 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.