Chesapeake VA
Virginia · Pop. 252,583
Chesapeake, VA: median household income of $95,373, median rent of $1,586/mo, 4.9% unemployment. Our verdict: Solid Choice.
Score Breakdown
Key Metrics
Median Income
$95,373
per year
Median Rent
$1,586
per month
Median Home
$378k
home value
Unemployment
4.9%
of labor force
Poverty Rate
9.4%
below poverty line
Avg. Commute
26 min
one way
City Reality Check balanced
"Chesapeake, VA Reality Check"
In Chesapeake, the rent-to-income burden runs around 20% — refreshingly manageable by national standards. Median income sits at $95,373 and median rent is $1,586/month. A staggering 55% of renters here are housing-cost-burdened — spending 30% or more of their income just to keep a roof overhead. Median home value: $378,400 — that's 4× the median income. 74% of households own their home — unusually high for a major US city. Residents put down roots here. Employment picture: 4.91% unemployment — a healthy job market. Poverty rate: 9.4%. Average commute: 26 minutes — acceptable. Violent crime: 37.1/100k avg monthly rate (4418 reported); Property crime: 164.1/100k avg monthly rate (19563 reported). Chesapeake was founded in 1963 — that's 63 years of history baked into the streets. The city covers 350.9 sq miles at 720 people/sq mile — sprawling. Elevation: 10 ft — essentially flat — floods are a real conversation. RoastMyCity overall score: 70/100 — Solid Choice.
Local Context
Safety
/100Violent crime: 37.1/100k avg monthly rate (4418 reported); Property crime: 164.1/100k avg monthly rate (19563 reported).