Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Pomona, CA
🏆 Chesapeake leads 19 of 23 categories
Chesapeake
Virginia
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
249,377 ✓ Larger
Pomona
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,515
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
149,831
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Homes cost $185k less ($339,500 vs $524,700)
53% less violent crime than Pomona
Households earn $19,188 more per year on average
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Pomona
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Pomona, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 54°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $524,700
Violent crime (715.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Chesapeake by $19,188/yr
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
Median Income
$19,188
$92,703 vs $73,515/yr
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
53% lower
339.4 vs 715.9 per 100k
Chesapeake
Median Home Value
$185k less
$339,500 vs $524,700
Chesapeake
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Pomona, 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 | $524,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,631⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $73,515 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter | 32.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 ✓ Safer | 165⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 188⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 18.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 72.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Pomona Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 90.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 14.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 ✓ Larger | 149,831 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Pomona's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Chesapeake is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 19 of 23 categories. Chesapeake wins 19 and Pomona wins 4. 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 Pomona or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $524,700 median home), income ($92,703 vs $73,515), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Pomona, CA are about 2,325 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.