Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,257
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
105,797
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Households earn $45,446 more per year on average
39% less violent crime than Tuscaloosa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.0%)
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $339,500
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Homes cost $111k less ($228,300 vs $339,500)
Rent averages $466/mo less ($980 vs $1,446)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Chesapeake
Cons
Median income trails Chesapeake by $45,446/yr
Violent crime (553.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2731.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Median Income
$45,446
$92,703 vs $47,257/yr
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
39% lower
339.4 vs 553.4 per 100k
Chesapeake
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.8% unemployment
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Median Home Value
$111k less
$228,300 vs $339,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High | $228,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ 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 | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 92.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 16 of 23 categories. Chesapeake wins 16 and Tuscaloosa 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 Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $228,300 median home), income ($92,703 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 678 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.