Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Vancouver, WA
🏆 Chesapeake leads 17 of 22 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
Vancouver
Washington
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,626
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
190,700
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
42% less violent crime than Vancouver
Households earn $19,077 more per year on average
Homes cost $64k less ($339,500 vs $403,400)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.0%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Vancouver
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Vancouver, WA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 93°F
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Chesapeake by $19,077/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $403,400
Property crime (3407.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Chesapeake
Median Income
$19,077
$92,703 vs $73,626/yr
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
42% lower
339.4 vs 582.3 per 100k
Chesapeake
Median Home Value
$64k less
$339,500 vs $403,400
Chesapeake
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.6% unemployment
Chesapeake
Summer Heat
11.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 80.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Vancouver, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $403,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,525⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $73,626 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 91.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Evergreen School District (Clark) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F ✓ Warmer | 47.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 80.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 44.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" | 4.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 ✓ Larger | 190,700 |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Vancouver's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Chesapeake is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 17 of 22 categories. Chesapeake wins 17 and Vancouver wins 5. 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 Vancouver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $403,400 median home), income ($92,703 vs $73,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Vancouver, WA are about 2,450 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.