Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Santa Maria, 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 ✓ Larger
Santa Maria
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,237
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
109,543
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
49% less violent crime than Santa Maria
Homes cost $99k less ($339,500 vs $438,100)
Rent averages $322/mo less ($1,446 vs $1,768)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.0%)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 93°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 54°F
Cons
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $438,100
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Chesapeake
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Chesapeake
Median Income
$11,466
$92,703 vs $81,237/yr
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
49% lower
339.4 vs 660.6 per 100k
Chesapeake
Median Home Value
$99k less
$339,500 vs $438,100
Chesapeake
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.3% unemployment
Chesapeake
Summer Heat
19.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 73.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $438,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $81,237 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 ✓ Larger | 109,543 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 51.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Santa Maria's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Chesapeake is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 18 of 23 categories. Chesapeake wins 18 and Santa Maria 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 Santa Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $438,100 median home), income ($92,703 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Santa Maria, CA are about 2,454 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.