Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Chesapeake leads 14 of 22 categories
Chesapeake
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$92,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
249,377
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,416
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High
Population
249,571 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Households earn $38,287 more per year on average
58% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $339,500
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $152k less ($187,400 vs $339,500)
Rent averages $490/mo less ($956 vs $1,446)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Chesapeake
Cons
Median income trails Chesapeake by $38,287/yr
Violent crime (809.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2921.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Median Income
$38,287
$92,703 vs $54,416/yr
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
58% lower
339.4 vs 809.7 per 100k
Chesapeake
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.2% unemployment
Chesapeake
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 88.0°F
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$152k less
$187,400 vs $339,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| 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+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 43.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 23.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 14 of 22 categories. Chesapeake wins 14 and Winston-Salem wins 8. 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 Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $187,400 median home), income ($92,703 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Winston-Salem, NC are about 224 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.