Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 15 of 23 categories
Chesapeake
Virginia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,703
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
249,377 ✓ Larger
Scottsdale
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,197 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
240,537
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Homes cost $312k less ($339,500 vs $651,800)
Rent averages $322/mo less ($1,446 vs $1,768)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Scottsdale
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 99°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Scottsdale by $11,494/yr
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.5%)
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
55% less violent crime than Chesapeake
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.5%)
Households earn $11,494 more per year on average
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Chesapeake
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
Chesapeake
Median Home Value
$312k less
$339,500 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Median Income
$11,494
$104,197 vs $92,703/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
55% lower
152.5 vs 339.4 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.0% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 92.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 104.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 ✓ Larger | 240,537 |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 67.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Chesapeake is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 15 of 23 categories. Chesapeake wins 8 and Scottsdale wins 15. 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 Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $651,800 median home), income ($92,703 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Scottsdale, AZ are about 2,007 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.