Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Chesapeake leads 14 of 21 categories
Chesapeake
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
249,377
Sacramento
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
55% less violent crime than Sacramento
Homes cost $111k less ($339,500 vs $450,500)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.0%)
Households earn $13,749 more per year on average
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Sacramento
Rent averages $146/mo less ($1,446 vs $1,592)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $450,500
Median income trails Chesapeake by $13,749/yr
Property crime (2547.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Chesapeake
Median Income
$13,749
$92,703 vs $78,954/yr
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
55% lower
339.4 vs 754.9 per 100k
Chesapeake
Median Home Value
$111k less
$339,500 vs $450,500
Chesapeake
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $450,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $78,954 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% | 35.8% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 86.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 20.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 | 523,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 35.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 50.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Chesapeake is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 14 of 21 categories. Chesapeake wins 14 and Sacramento wins 7. 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 Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $450,500 median home), income ($92,703 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Sacramento, CA are about 2,450 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.