Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 Chesapeake leads 20 of 23 categories
Chesapeake
Virginia
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
249,377 ✓ Larger
Sparks
Nevada
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,938
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
108,025
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
14% less violent crime than Sparks
Homes cost $84k less ($339,500 vs $423,500)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.0%)
Households earn $9,765 more per year on average
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 48°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Sparks, NV
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,500
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Chesapeake by $9,765/yr
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 103.2 (100 = US avg)
Chesapeake
Median Income
$9,765
$92,703 vs $82,938/yr
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
14% lower
339.4 vs 394.4 per 100k
Chesapeake
Median Home Value
$84k less
$339,500 vs $423,500
Chesapeake
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $423,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $82,938 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 25.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 85.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F ✓ Warmer | 48.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 92.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" ✓ Less | 6.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 ✓ Larger | 108,025 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 59.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 23.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Chesapeake is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 20 of 23 categories. Chesapeake wins 20 and Sparks wins 3. 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 Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $423,500 median home), income ($92,703 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Sparks, NV are about 2,345 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.