Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Quincy, MA
🏆 Chesapeake leads 13 of 23 categories
Chesapeake
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
249,377 ✓ Larger
Quincy
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,668
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
100,981
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Homes cost $224k less ($339,500 vs $563,200)
Rent averages $455/mo less ($1,446 vs $1,901)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.0%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Quincy
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 38°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Quincy, MA
Pros
More college-educated — 46.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $563,200
Higher rents — median is $1,901/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Chesapeake
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Chesapeake
Median Income
$2,035
$92,703 vs $90,668/yr
Chesapeake
Median Home Value
$224k less
$339,500 vs $563,200
Chesapeake
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.7% unemployment
Chesapeake
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 83.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Quincy, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $563,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,901⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $90,668 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter | 33.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 13.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% | 46.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 89.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Quincy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F ✓ Warmer | 37.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 52.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" ✓ Less | 50.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 ✓ Larger | 100,981 |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Quincy's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Chesapeake is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 13 of 23 categories. Chesapeake wins 13 and Quincy wins 10. 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 Quincy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $563,200 median home), income ($92,703 vs $90,668), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Quincy, MA are about 478 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.