Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Pasadena, TX
🏆 Chesapeake leads 15 of 23 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
Pasadena
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,698
Violent Crime Index
149⚠ High
Population
150,620
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Households earn $28,005 more per year on average
40% less violent crime than Pasadena
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $339,500
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Pasadena, TX
Pros
Homes cost $168k less ($171,600 vs $339,500)
Rent averages $287/mo less ($1,159 vs $1,446)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 54°F
Cons
Median income trails Chesapeake by $28,005/yr
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 5.0%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Chesapeake
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Chesapeake
Median Income
$28,005
$92,703 vs $64,698/yr
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
40% lower
339.4 vs 566.1 per 100k
Chesapeake
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.9% unemployment
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$168k less
$171,600 vs $339,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Pasadena, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High | $171,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,159 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $64,698 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 73.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | PASADENA ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F | 92.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" ✓ Drier | 57.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 ✓ Larger | 150,620 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Pasadena's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Chesapeake is 3% 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 $171,600 median home), income ($92,703 vs $64,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Pasadena, TX are about 1,191 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.