Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Philadelphia, PA
🏆 Chesapeake leads 17 of 23 categories
Chesapeake
Virginia
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
249,377
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Households earn $35,166 more per year on average
63% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 42°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $339,500
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $124k less ($215,500 vs $339,500)
Rent averages $196/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,446)
Cons
Median income trails Chesapeake by $35,166/yr
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Chesapeake
Median Income
$35,166
$92,703 vs $57,537/yr
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
63% lower
339.4 vs 908.7 per 100k
Chesapeake
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.6% unemployment
Chesapeake
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 89.3°F
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$124k less
$215,500 vs $339,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High | $215,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,250 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $57,537 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 ✓ Safer | 230⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 239⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 217⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 33.6% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 86.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Philadelphia City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 89.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 50.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" ✓ Less | 16.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 52.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Philadelphia's 103.5 (US average = 100).
Chesapeake is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 17 of 23 categories. Chesapeake wins 17 and Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $215,500 median home), income ($92,703 vs $57,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Philadelphia, PA are about 239 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.