Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Redding, CA
🏆 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
Redding
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,323
Violent Crime Index
170⚠ High
Population
93,327
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
48% less violent crime than Redding
Households earn $25,380 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 100°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Redding
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Redding, CA
Pros
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Rent averages $168/mo less ($1,278 vs $1,446)
Cons
Median income trails Chesapeake by $25,380/yr
Violent crime (647.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 5.0%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 102.8 (100 = US avg)
Chesapeake
Median Income
$25,380
$92,703 vs $67,323/yr
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
48% lower
339.4 vs 647.8 per 100k
Chesapeake
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.9% unemployment
Redding
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 99.9°F vs 92.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Redding, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $343,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,278 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $67,323 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 16.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 170⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 83 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 26.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 92.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Redding Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F | 99.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 41.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" | 0.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 ✓ Larger | 93,327 |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 38.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Redding's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Chesapeake is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 15 of 23 categories. Chesapeake wins 15 and Redding 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 Redding or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $343,000 median home), income ($92,703 vs $67,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Redding, CA are about 2,473 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.