Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 Chesapeake leads 15 of 22 categories
Chesapeake
Virginia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
249,377
St. Paul
Minnesota
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,919
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
308,806 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
45% less violent crime than St. Paul
Households earn $22,784 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 24°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Paul
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $339,500
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Homes cost $75k less ($264,900 vs $339,500)
Rent averages $272/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,446)
More college-educated — 42.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 93°F
Cons
Violent crime (617.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Chesapeake by $22,784/yr
Property crime (2834.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Chesapeake
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Chesapeake
Median Income
$22,784
$92,703 vs $69,919/yr
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
45% lower
339.4 vs 617.7 per 100k
Chesapeake
Summer Heat
9.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 82.6°F
St. Paul
Median Home Value
$75k less
$264,900 vs $339,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High | $264,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $69,919 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 15.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ 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+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% | 42.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 82.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 29.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 | 308,806 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 53.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Chesapeake is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 15 of 22 categories. Chesapeake wins 15 and St. Paul wins 7. 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 St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $264,900 median home), income ($92,703 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and St. Paul, MN are about 1,045 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.