The Town FilesChesapeake, Virginia
City in Chesapeake city · population 249,422 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $378,400
- Household income
- $95,373
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 5 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 37.9
Chesapeake is a city of 249,422 people in Chesapeake city, Virginia. The median home is worth $378,400, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks more vibrant than 73% of Virginia towns, better for cycling than 71% of Virginia towns.
How Chesapeake ranks
Percentile among Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Chesapeake is worth $378,400, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $95,373, which is more affordable than 42% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,586 a month. 74.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chesapeake | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $378,400 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $1,586 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $95,373 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 74.4% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Chesapeake
| People | Chesapeake | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.9 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.6% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.9% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.4% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 15.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.8% | — |
| Work from home | 13.1% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 25.8 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.6% | 91.8% |
Weather in Chesapeake
July highs average 92.5°F and January lows 33.6°F. About 48.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.7 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 66 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 53 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chesapeake since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on March 31, 2017 about 5.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 0 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on October 31, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 54 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 9, 2009.
Severe weather in Chesapeake city since 1996
Chesapeake city has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, freezing, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448: Covid-19 |
| September 11, 2018 | Hurricane | EM-3403: Hurricane Florence |
| November 2, 2016 | Hurricane | DR-4291: Hurricane Matthew |
Jobs and pay in Chesapeake city
Chesapeake city had 104,662 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,825 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Chesapeake itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in Chesapeake
50 public schools with 40,576 students, about 14.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oscar F. Smith High | 9-12 | 2,313 | 14.1 |
| Grassfield High | 9-12 | 2,306 | 16.0 |
| Western Branch High | 9-12 | 2,116 | 15.4 |
| Indian River High | 9-12 | 1,695 | 13.9 |
| Deep Creek High | 9-12 | 1,638 | 15.2 |
| Hickory High | 9-12 | 1,606 | 14.7 |
| Great Bridge High | 9-12 | 1,530 | 13.8 |
| Grassfield Elementary | PK-5 | 1,347 | 18.2 |
| Hugo A. Owens Middle | 6-8 | 1,307 | 15.6 |
| Hickory Middle | 6-8 | 1,298 | 14.0 |
| Great Bridge Middle | 6-8 | 1,294 | 15.4 |
| Oscar Smith Middle | 6-8 | 970 | 12.3 |
Towns near Chesapeake
- Portsmouth, VA12.8 mi · 97,915 people · home $246,900
- Moyock, NC14.2 mi · 5,154 people · home $405,100
- Virginia Beach, VA16.6 mi · 459,470 people · home $382,500
- Norfolk, VA17.1 mi · 238,005 people · home $289,900
- Suffolk, VA18.5 mi · 94,324 people · home $347,400
- Carrollton, VA21.7 mi · 7,498 people · home $423,900
- Hampton, VA25.5 mi · 137,148 people · home $245,700
- Windsor, VA25.8 mi · 2,746 people · home $280,800
Chesapeake questions
Is Chesapeake, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chesapeake scores better for retirees than 16% of Virginia towns and quieter than 28%. 14.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.9).
How much does a house cost in Chesapeake?
The median owner-occupied home in Chesapeake is valued at $378,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $95,373, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $1,586 a month.
What is the weather like in Chesapeake?
July highs average 92.5°F and January lows 33.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.6 inches of precipitation a year and 4.7 inches of snow.
Does Chesapeake get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chesapeake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on March 31, 2017. The typical Virginia town has had 11.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)