Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Toledo, OH
🏆 Chesapeake leads 16 of 23 categories
Chesapeake
Virginia
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$92,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
249,377
Toledo
Ohio
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,405
Violent Crime Index
274⚠ High
Population
269,962 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Households earn $47,298 more per year on average
67% less violent crime than Toledo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 34°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $339,500
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Toledo
Toledo, OH
Pros
Homes cost $241k less ($98,800 vs $339,500)
Rent averages $592/mo less ($854 vs $1,446)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.4)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Chesapeake
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 93°F
Cons
Median income trails Chesapeake by $47,298/yr
Violent crime (1041.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2732.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Median Income
$47,298
$92,703 vs $45,405/yr
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
67% lower
339.4 vs 1041.1 per 100k
Chesapeake
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.2% unemployment
Chesapeake
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 84.6°F
Toledo
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.4 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Toledo
Median Home Value
$241k less
$98,800 vs $339,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Toledo, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 90.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High | $98,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $854 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $45,405 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 274⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 20.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 88.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Toledo City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 84.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" ✓ Less | 37.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 | 269,962 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Toledo's 90.4 (US average = 100).
Toledo is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 16 of 23 categories. Chesapeake wins 16 and Toledo 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 Toledo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $98,800 median home), income ($92,703 vs $45,405), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Toledo, OH are about 520 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.