Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Richmond, VA
🏆 Chesapeake leads 13 of 21 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
Richmond
Virginia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$59,606
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
227,171
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Households earn $33,097 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 48°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $339,500
Richmond, VA
Pros
Rent averages $219/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,446)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Homes cost $31k less ($308,300 vs $339,500)
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Chesapeake by $33,097/yr
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Chesapeake
Median Income
$33,097
$92,703 vs $59,606/yr
Chesapeake
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.1% unemployment
Chesapeake
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 89.5°F
Richmond
Median Home Value
$31k less
$308,300 vs $339,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Richmond, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High | $308,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $59,606 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 14.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 89 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Richmond City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F ✓ Warmer | 47.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 89.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 47.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" ✓ Less | 8.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 ✓ Larger | 227,171 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 43.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Richmond's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Chesapeake is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 13 of 21 categories. Chesapeake wins 13 and Richmond 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $308,300 median home), income ($92,703 vs $59,606), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Richmond, VA are about 87 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.