Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 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
Population
249,377 ✓ Larger
Waterbury
Connecticut
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
114,480
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Households earn $41,252 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $339,500
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Waterbury
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $177k less ($162,800 vs $339,500)
Rent averages $306/mo less ($1,140 vs $1,446)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Chesapeake
Cons
Median income trails Chesapeake by $41,252/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 5.0%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Median Income
$41,252
$92,703 vs $51,451/yr
Chesapeake
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 9.8% unemployment
Chesapeake
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 84.0°F
Waterbury
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 95.1 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Waterbury
Violent Crime
5% lower
322.5 vs 339.4 per 100k
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$177k less
$162,800 vs $339,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 95.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 ✓ Safer | 107⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 52.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 36.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Waterbury is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 16 of 23 categories. Chesapeake wins 16 and Waterbury 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 Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $162,800 median home), income ($92,703 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Waterbury, CT are about 380 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.