Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Chesapeake leads 17 of 23 categories
Chesapeake
Virginia
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
249,377 ✓ Larger
Salem
Oregon
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,540
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
175,754
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
36% less violent crime than Salem
Households earn $25,163 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 48°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Salem
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Salem, OR
Pros
Rent averages $222/mo less ($1,224 vs $1,446)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Cons
Median income trails Chesapeake by $25,163/yr
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Chesapeake
Median Income
$25,163
$92,703 vs $67,540/yr
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
36% lower
339.4 vs 532.2 per 100k
Chesapeake
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.1% unemployment
Chesapeake
Summer Heat
9.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 83.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $349,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $67,540 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 12.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 46.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" | 1.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 ✓ Larger | 175,754 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Chesapeake is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 17 of 23 categories. Chesapeake wins 17 and Salem wins 6. 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 Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $349,500 median home), income ($92,703 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Salem, OR are about 2,473 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.