Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 Chesapeake leads 12 of 23 categories
Chesapeake
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,703
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
249,377 ✓ Larger
Orange
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
138,728
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Homes cost $509k less ($339,500 vs $848,200)
Rent averages $702/mo less ($1,446 vs $2,148)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Orange
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Orange by $16,632/yr
Orange, CA
Pros
33% less violent crime than Chesapeake
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $16,632 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 54°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 93°F
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Higher rents — median is $2,148/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Chesapeake
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Chesapeake
Median Home Value
$509k less
$339,500 vs $848,200
Chesapeake
Summer Heat
10.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 82.5°F
Orange
Median Income
$16,632
$109,335 vs $92,703/yr
Orange
Violent Crime
33% lower
226.1 vs 339.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Orange, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $848,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 | $109,335 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% | 40.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 ✓ Larger | 138,728 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 58.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Chesapeake is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 12 of 23 categories. Chesapeake wins 12 and Orange 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 Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $848,200 median home), income ($92,703 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Orange, CA are about 2,336 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.