Chesapeake, VA, known as 'A Great Place to Live,' offers a unique blend of suburban tranquility and modern urban amenities. Located in southeastern Virginia, Chesapeake is a large city that serves as a major cultural and economic hub. Major nearby cities like Norfolk and Virginia Beach enhance its status as a central point in the region. Chesapeake's blend of scenic landscapes, cultural festivals, and urban amenities creates a distinctive living experience.
Chesapeake is home to several iconic landmarks, including the Chesapeake Arboretum, the historic Great Bridge Lock Park, and the scenic Northwest River Park. The city offers a variety of attractions, from the beautiful Oak Grove Lake Park to the bustling Greenbrier Mall, known for its shopping and dining. Chesapeake's dining scene is diverse, offering everything from Southern cuisine to international dishes.
Annual events such as the Chesapeake Jubilee and the Battle of Great Bridge reenactment highlight the city's vibrant cultural scene and provide unique entertainment opportunities for residents and visitors. These events celebrate Chesapeake's rich cultural heritage and community spirit. Prestigious institutions like Tidewater Community College contribute to the city's academic and cultural vibrancy, fostering a thriving intellectual community.
The arts and culture scene in Chesapeake is dynamic and diverse, with numerous theaters, music venues, and art galleries. The Chesapeake Fine Arts Commission and the Portlock Galleries at SoNo are just a few of the cultural landmarks that showcase the city's commitment to the arts. Living in Chesapeake provides ample opportunities to engage with art, music, and history, making it an exciting place to call home.
Chesapeake’s community is welcoming and diverse, creating a friendly environment for newcomers. The city is home to professional sports teams like the Norfolk Admirals (ECHL) and the Virginia Beach Neptunes (Baseball), providing plenty of excitement for sports fans. Major industries in Chesapeake include healthcare, education, and retail, with significant employers such as Chesapeake Regional Healthcare and Dollar Tree driving economic growth. The city has extensive public transit options, including buses and bike-sharing programs, making commuting convenient and accessible.
Employment
The combination of higher than average median home income, income per capita and low unemployment rates results in a score that is well above average in the employment category.
Housing
This area has received high scores in the housing category. This could be due to a positive home affordability ratio, high appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Schools
High test scores, elevated graduation rates as well as the conveniently located elementary and high schools in this area have all contributed to the high score in the schools category.
Ratings
Local residents have positive things to say about the proximity of restaurants, grocery stores, parks, public transit, friendliness of neighbors, sense of community and overall safety of the area.
Amenities
A majority of amenities are not ideally situated within a reasonable walking distance, which may lead residents to rely on a vehicle or public transportation.
Commute
Public transportation is not readily available in this area and the average commute time to work could also be longer than the national average.
Health & Safety
Poor air quality and the inaccessibility of certain health related facilities like hospitals, clinics, doctors and pharmacies could have all contributed to the low score in this category.
Chesapeake, Virginia is a highly populated city with a population of 242,647 residents. Long travel times to work can be one of the most frustrating things in the world - right behind housework! If you decide that living in Chesapeake is the right fit for you, your one way commute time will average 26 minutes, which is about average when compared to the national commute time of 26 minutes.
Whether you’re moving to a new town to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Chesapeake could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Virginia if you know where to look. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. Finding the best places to live in Chesapeake and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes amenities, crime, commute, health & safety, housing and other important metrics.
With a livability score of 68 out of 100, Chesapeake is ranked #7,692 in the United States and #246 in Virginia. If we take a closer look at each of the categories individually, we see that Chesapeake ranks well for education (A+), employment (A) and housing (A). There is at least one category that you should be aware of in Chesapeake. The following was graded with a discouraging score: amenities (F).
Standardized school test scores offer a valuable benchmark for assessing the quality of educational programs, instructional methods, and curriculum effectiveness. Recognizing that Chesapeake schools excel in test scores is a crucial consideration when determining the suitability of this area for residence. The local schools boast an impressive average test score of 82%, significantly higher than the national average. This stellar academic performance not only attests to the excellence of the educational system but also underscores the area's commitment to providing a high-quality education, making Chesapeake an appealing choice for those prioritizing their children's educational prospects.
A robust real estate market serves as a crucial economic indicator, reflecting the local area's strength, stability and the confidence of its residents. Chesapeake excels in the housing sector, scoring high marks based on factors such as median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability. These calculations suggest that the apartment rental and real estate market in the region is exceptionally healthy, highlighting the area's economic vitality and attractiveness to potential homebuyers and renters.
Chesapeake real estate prices and overall affordability will play a huge role in determining if the area is the right fit for you. Of course there are probably some other items on your “wish list”, but even before they are considered, let’s take a look at the home prices and affordability in Chesapeake. The median home price for Chesapeake homes is $286,000, which is 15.1% higher than the Virginia average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Chesapeake, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 3.5, which is 7.9% lower than the Virginia average.
| Statistic | Chesapeake | Virginia | National |
| Average one way commute | 26min | 28min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 82.2% | 77.4% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 8.7% | 9.5% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 0.8% | 4.5% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.1% | 0.4% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 1.0% | 2.4% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 5.7% | 4.7% | 4.6% |
Here are the best places to live in Virginia
Safest Cities In The US
See the best places to live in Chesapeake
These are the largest cities in Virginia