Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Chesapeake, VA

    Is Chesapeake a good place to live?

    Watch Chesapeake

    Chesapeake ranks #19 of 45 Virginia cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (55/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 0.7% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $359,100
    +5.8% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,523
    per month
    Household income
    $94,189
    median
    Unemployment
    4.9%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Chesapeake

    The median home value in Chesapeake is $359,100 and median rent is $1,523 a month, against a median household income of $94,189. Homes cost about 3.8× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Chesapeake crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Virginia the 2025 rate was 210 violent and 1,394 property crimes per 100,000 people — #33 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Chesapeake, VA

    Chesapeake has about 251,153 residents, 4.9% unemployment and 22% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Chesapeake with

    Chesapeake vs Virginia BeachChesapeake vs ArlingtonChesapeake vs NorfolkChesapeake vs RichmondChesapeake vs Newport NewsChesapeake vs AlexandriaChesapeake vs HamptonChesapeake vs Roanoke

    More: Where to move in Virginia · Best counties in Virginia

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report