Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 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
Springfield
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Households earn $45,026 more per year on average
62% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $339,500
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Springfield, MA
Pros
Homes cost $141k less ($198,500 vs $339,500)
Rent averages $399/mo less ($1,047 vs $1,446)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Chesapeake by $45,026/yr
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Chesapeake
Median Income
$45,026
$92,703 vs $47,677/yr
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
62% lower
339.4 vs 891.4 per 100k
Chesapeake
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.7% unemployment
Chesapeake
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 84.9°F
Springfield
Median Home Value
$141k less
$198,500 vs $339,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High | $198,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,047 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F ✓ Warmer | 34.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 84.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 50.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 ✓ Larger | 155,305 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 47.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 24.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Chesapeake is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 17 of 23 categories. Chesapeake wins 17 and Springfield 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $198,500 median home), income ($92,703 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Springfield, MA are about 426 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.