Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Riverside, CA
🏆 Chesapeake leads 18 of 23 categories
Chesapeake
Virginia
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
249,377
Riverside
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
42% less violent crime than Riverside
Homes cost $146k less ($339,500 vs $485,500)
Rent averages $265/mo less ($1,446 vs $1,711)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.0%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Riverside, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 54°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $485,500
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Property crime (2832.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Chesapeake
Median Income
$9,255
$92,703 vs $83,448/yr
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
42% lower
339.4 vs 589.7 per 100k
Chesapeake
Median Home Value
$146k less
$339,500 vs $485,500
Chesapeake
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Riverside, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $485,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $83,448 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 8.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 82.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Riverside Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 | 316,076 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 55.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Riverside's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Chesapeake is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 18 of 23 categories. Chesapeake wins 18 and Riverside wins 5. 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 Riverside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $485,500 median home), income ($92,703 vs $83,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Riverside, CA are about 2,307 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.