← Map/← Virginia/Counties/Chesapeake city

Chesapeake city
Virginia

249K

Population

$93K

Median Income

$423K

Median Home

D+6

Politics

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What stands out

If you had to describe Chesapeake city in numbers, start here: the median household income is in the top 5% of American counties ($92,703), the typical two-bedroom rent is in the top 7% of American counties ($1,365 a month), and home internet speed is in the top 7% of American counties (292 Mbps). Within Virginia it ranks 25th of 133 counties for the median household income.

Where you are

You live in Chesapeake city, Virginia. 249,377 people live here with you. The population grew 0.6% last year, and more Americans moved in than out (net +235).

Virginia has a graduated income tax with a 5.75% top rate that begins at just $17,000 of income, so most residents pay near the top rate. It does not tax Social Security and allows an age deduction of up to $12,000 for residents 65 and over. Northern Virginia's federal and defense economy produces incomes closer to the Washington suburbs of Maryland than to the rest of the state. Localities levy annual property tax on vehicles.

Money

The typical household here brings in $92,703 a year, higher than 95% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $58,825. Unemployment runs 2.9%, lower than 67% of American counties. 10% of workers work from home.

Virginia takes 5.5% of that median income in state income tax, about $5,073 a year.

Home

The median home costs $426K, pricier than 88% of American counties, about 3.1 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $1,365 a month. Property tax is 0.84% of home value, roughly $2,865 a year on that median home, lower than 52% of American counties. 73% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.4 per 1,000 residents, lower than 74% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 16 people per 100,000 in 2024.

A child born here can expect to live 77.2 years, longer than 66% of American counties. There are 600 active physicians in the county, about 24.1 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 3.0 of 5 stars. 6.3% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 3.31 where 3.0 is national grade level, higher than 85% of American counties. 93% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Democratic by 6 points. 71% of eligible voters turned out. Under Virginia law you can get a concealed-carry permit on request, abortion is legal with limits, and marijuana is legal for adults.

Weather and risk

The year averages 61°F, highs near 71 and lows near 51, warmer than 70% of American counties. About 46 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 91 out of 100, riskier than 91% of American counties; the county has had 18 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 292 Mbps down, faster than 93% of American counties. There are 3 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.8 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 1 brewery.

Written from the figures below. Percentiles compare this county with every other county that reports the same figure; missing figures are left out rather than guessed.

Economy

Median Household Income$93K
This county
national avg ~$75K
Poverty Rate8.7%
This county
national avg ~11.5%
Unemployment Rate2.9%
This county
national avg ~3.8%
GDP per Capita$57,229
Federal Spending per Capita$2,237
Median Individual Earnings$49K
This county
national avg $45K
Professional/Management Workers43.9%
Average Adjusted Gross Income$80K
Avg Credit Score667
Work From Home %9.8%
This county
national avg 17.0%
Population Under 1824.1%
This county
national avg 22.0%
Single-Person Households22.3%
This county
national avg 28.0%
Banks & Finance Firms122
Income (20th Percentile)$42K
Income (80th Percentile)$168K
Income (95th Percentile)$250K
Bachelor's Degree or Higher35.8%
This county
national avg 34.3%
Less Than High School6.7%
This county
national avg 11.0%
Knowledge Economy GDP %19.2%
Dependency Ratio0.61
Medicare Spending / Person$2,073
SS Benefits / Person$3,204
Education Wage Premium2.14x
Median Earnings (Bachelor's)$66K
Median Earnings (Graduate)$89K
Median Earnings (HS Diploma)$41K
Public Assistance Recipients1.7%
Average Annual Wage$59K
Professional Services Concentration1.12x national
This county
1.0 = national average share
Federal Government Jobs Located Here1,364
Federal Share of Jobs Located Here1.3%
Residents Who Work for the Federal Government10.7%
Federal Civilian Share of Earnings1.8%
Federal Contract Dollars Performed Here (FY2025)$631M
Contract Dollars Relative to Local Wages0.10x wages
Largest Award's Share of Contract Dollars16%

Housing

Sources: Zillow ZHVI · Census ACS 2022 · Tax Foundation 2023 (effective rates)

Median Home Value$423K
This county
$390K state avg
$303K national
Median Sale Price$384K
This county
$303K national
Market Rent (ZORI)$2034/mo
This county
$1700/mo state avg
$1400/mo national
Property Tax Rate0.84%
This county
0.74% state avg
1.10% national

Annual tax on median home: $2,865

Affordability & Supply

HUD Fair Market Rent (2BR)$1,713/mo
Home Price Change (1 yr)+3.5%−+4.0% since 2024
Home Value to Income Ratio3.1x income
Severely Cost-Burdened Households12.0%
Homeownership Rate73.3%
This county
national avg ~65%

Market Activity

Sources: Zillow Research monthly · Redfin

Sale-to-List Ratio— Buyers market — homes selling below list
99.9%
Listings with Price Cuts— Low — market moving fast
17.1%
Sold Above List Price
32.9%
Median Days to Close
21 days
Active Listings
744
New Listings / Month
328

Source: Zillow Research · Updated monthly

Health

Life Expectancy77.2 yrs
This county
national avg ~78.5 years
Hospital Rating3.0 / 5
This county
national avg 3.0 stars
Food Insecurity5.8%
This county
national avg ~11%
Food Environment Index9.1 / 10
This county
higher = better access
Primary Care Shortage Score12
This county
national avg 5
Mental Health Shortage Score15
Dental Care Shortage Score6
Healthcare Shortage Score11.0
Healthcare Offices509
Obesity Rate (BRFSS)39.6%
This county
national avg 32.0%
Smoking Rate (BRFSS)12.4%
This county
national avg 14.0%
Poor Health Rate (BRFSS)17.9%
This county
national avg 18.0%
Physical Inactivity (BRFSS)22.2%
This county
national avg 24.0%
High Blood Pressure (BRFSS)34.2%
This county
national avg 32.0%
Active Physicians600
Nursing Home Rating2.8 / 5
This county
national avg ~3 stars
ER Visits per 1,000 Medicare Patients592 / 1,000
Medicare Cost per Beneficiary$11,629
Uninsured (under 65)6.3%
This county
national avg ~10%
Adults with Depression21.9%

Education

Reading Test Scores3.31 grade level
HS Diploma Holders33,024
Bachelor's Degree Holders37,311
HS Completion Rate93.3%
This county
national avg ~85%
Private Schools95

Safety

Violent Crime Rate3.4 / 1,000
This county
national avg ~4.0
Firearm Fatality Rate14.4 / 100K
This county
national avg ~13.6/100K
Homicide Rate7.1 / 100K
This county
national avg ~7.5/100K
Drug Overdose Rate21.1 / 100K
This county
national avg ~21/100K
Traffic Fatalities17
Social Vulnerability (CDC SVI)41th pct
Drug Overdose Deaths (2024)16.1 / 100K
Suicide Rate13.7 / 100K
This county
national avg ~14/100K

Climate & Air Quality

Natural Amenity Scale0.5
January Sunshine0.68
January Temperature0.63
Average Temp61°F-0.2% since 2022
Avg High Temp71°F-0.7% since 2022
Avg Low Temp51°F+0.6% since 2022
Median AQIAQI 44
Good Air Days229 days/yr
Unhealthy Air Days3 days/yr
Annual Precipitation45.5 in/yr+1.1% since 2022
Avg Storm Events12.6 storms/yr
Avg Annual Storm Damage$36K
Drought Index (2022)-0.50
Heating Degree Days3,229 HDD/yr
This county
national avg ~4,500 HDD/yr
Cooling Degree Days1,634 CDD/yr
This county
national avg ~1,200 CDD/yr
Heating Degree Days (1901–2000 Baseline)3,577 HDD/yr
Cooling Degree Days (1901–2000 Baseline)1,357 CDD/yr
Avg Tornadoes / Year0.2
Avg Flood Events / Year2.6
Avg Hail Events / Year1.0
Avg Hurricane Events / Year0.00
Avg Wildfire Events / Year0.0
Avg Winter Storms / Year0.0
Avg Heat Events / Year0.0
Natural Hazard Risk (FEMA)91 / 100
Community Resilience (FEMA)95 / 100
Federal Disaster Declarations18 since 1953
Fine Particulate Pollution (PM2.5)6.8 µg/m³
This county
EPA standard 9 µg/m³

Outdoor & Recreation

Historic Places (NRHP)9 properties
FAA-Registered Airports5 total
Airports (excl. heliports)3 airports

Brewery Scene

Total Breweries1 breweries
Microbreweries1 microbreweries
Brewpubs0 brewpubs

Internet & Remote Work

Download Speed292 Mbps
This county
national avg ~120 Mbps
Upload Speed115 Mbps
Fixed Internet (Q1 2026)353 Mbps
Mobile Internet (Q1 2026)406 Mbps
Mobile Upload (Q1 2026)34 Mbps
Mobile Latency (Q1 2026)27 ms
Households with 100Mbps+99.6%
This county
national avg 75.0%
Cellular-Only Internet11.3%
This county
national avg 8.0%
Fixed Upload Speed (Q1 2026)205 Mbps

EV Infrastructure

EV Charging Stations33 stations
DC Fast Chargers32 chargers
Level 2 EV Chargers69

Commute & Transit

Remote Workers12,160 workers
Public Transit Commuters697 workers
Walk to Work (workers)1,489 workers
Extreme Commutes (90+ min)1,676 workers
Bike Commuters0.0%
Walk to Work1.2%

Agriculture

Farms133 farms

Families & Childcare

Childcare Cost Burden24.3%
This county
national median ~27% of household income
Childcare Centers7.3 per 10K residents
Childcare Facilities48

Civic & Community

Voter Turnout71.2%
This county
national avg ~55%
Volunteering Rate1.0%
Income Inequality (Gini)3.952
Nonprofit Organizations1,117
Veterans Share15.8%
This county
national avg 7.0%
Married Adults55.8%
Never-Married Adults29.5%
Divorced Adults9.7%
Religious Organizations166
Asian Population3.7%
Native American Population0.2%
Membership Associations9.0 per 10K residents

Lifestyle & Services

Full-Service Restaurants0.79 per 1K residents
Colleges & Universities3
Nursing & Care Facilities47
Grocery Stores70
Arts & Entertainment Venues15
Hotels & Lodging52
Recreation Businesses49
Professional Services Firms511
Veterinary Practices69
Real Estate Firms350
Debt Burden
Avg Mortgage Balance$83K
Avg Student Loan Balance$14K
Avg Credit Card Balance$5K
Loan Delinquency Rate52.2%
This county
national avg 4.0%

Innovation

Inventor Rate0.10%

Politics

D+6

2024 Presidential · Virginia was D+3 statewide

vs Virginia State

Income tax
5.75%Same (state law)
Property tax
0.84%0.74% state avg
Politics
D+6D+3
COL Index
102state index (no county figure)

Population & Migration

Net Domestic Migration 2023

↑ +235

More people arriving than leaving

IRS Wealth Migration

Lower-income migration pattern (IRS: 0.80x avg income)

Economic Mobility

38%

chance a low-income child reaches the middle class

Source: Opportunity Insights

Real Estate

Find Homes in Chesapeake city County

Median home value: $426K

View on Zillow →View on Realtor.com →

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Full Virginia profile

Taxes, cost of living, crime, schools, gun laws and more.

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Data: Census ACS, BLS, Zillow, USDA Natural Amenities, OpenElections 2024, CMS, NCES. Vintage 2022–2025. News via Google News.

Your Priorities

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Quick Profiles

Dial in your priorities

Annual Income

$150K

Affects effective income tax rate

$0$500K$5M+

Retirement Savings

$0

Affects pension and SS tax burden

None$500K$10M+

Social Security

None

Annual Social Security benefit

None$150K/yr

My Property Is Worth

$400K

Affects property tax burden

Tax burden ↓$1M$50M+

Home Buying Budget

$400K

Compared to state median home price

Hard to find$250K$5M+

Monthly Rent Budget

Don't care

Compared to state median 2BR rent

Don't care$10K/mo

Job Market

Don't care

State unemployment and job growth

Don't careHot market

Airport Access

Don't care

Direct flight destinations from state hubs

Don't careMust have hub

City vs Country

Mid-size city

% urban population

Deep countryBig city

Sunshine

Don't care

Annual sunny days per state

Don't careMax sunshine

Food Scene

Don't care

Restaurants per 100K residents

Don't careWorld-class

Political Preference

Neutral

State's political lean

LiberalConservative

Gun Laws

Neutral

State gun law grade (Giffords)

Gun Control2A Freedom

Abortion Access

Neutral

State abortion access policy

Pro-ChoiceNeutralPro-Life

Community

None

Congregations per 100K residents

AvoidDon't careSeek

Sports & Entertainment

Don't care

Pro sports teams and major venues

Don't careMust have pro teams

Cannabis Laws

Neutral

State cannabis legality

Prefer LegalNeutralPrefer Prohibition

Retiree Community

Neutral

% population 65+ (Census)

Young areaRetirement-heavy

Dating Market

Neutral

% adults never-married (Census)

Singles sceneFamily community

Safety / Low Crime

Don't care

Violent crime rate per 100K (FBI)

Don't careVery safe

School Quality

Don't care

K-12 rank (Education Week)

Don't careTop-ranked

Healthcare Access

Don't care

Healthcare system rank (Commonwealth Fund)

Don't careTop-ranked

Childcare Affordability

Don't care

Cost of living proxy for childcare affordability

Don't careMust be affordable