Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 Chesapeake leads 15 of 23 categories
Chesapeake
Virginia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,703
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
249,377 ✓ Larger
Pasadena
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
137,554
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Homes cost $642k less ($339,500 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $654/mo less ($1,446 vs $2,100)
29% less violent crime than Pasadena
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $5,115/yr
Pasadena, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 54°F
Households earn $5,115 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Chesapeake
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
29% lower
339.4 vs 480.4 per 100k
Chesapeake
Median Home Value
$642k less
$339,500 vs $981,600
Chesapeake
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 89.1°F
Pasadena
Median Income
$5,115
$97,818 vs $92,703/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Pasadena, 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 | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 | $97,818 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter | 27.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 128⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 89.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 20.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 ✓ Larger | 137,554 |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Pasadena's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Chesapeake is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 15 of 23 categories. Chesapeake wins 15 and Pasadena 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 Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $981,600 median home), income ($92,703 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Pasadena, CA are about 2,343 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.