Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
Rochester
New York
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
210,992
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Households earn $48,547 more per year on average
42% less violent crime than Rochester
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 33°F
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $339,500
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $228k less ($111,400 vs $339,500)
Rent averages $451/mo less ($995 vs $1,446)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Chesapeake by $48,547/yr
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.5% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Median Income
$48,547
$92,703 vs $44,156/yr
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
42% lower
339.4 vs 582.3 per 100k
Chesapeake
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.5% unemployment
Chesapeake
Summer Heat
10.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 82.5°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 97.4 on the COL index
Rochester
Median Home Value
$228k less
$111,400 vs $339,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 97.7 |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 35.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 ✓ Larger | 210,992 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Chesapeake is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 18 of 23 categories. Chesapeake wins 18 and Rochester 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 Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $111,400 median home), income ($92,703 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Rochester, NY are about 454 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.