Chesapeake, VA Local Data & Statistics

State: VA

Total population: 252,583 Household income: $95,373 Rent: $1,586

Overview

Total population

252,583

Rent

$1,586

Year built

1989

Household income

$95,373

Per capita income

$44,985

Poverty rate

9.4%

Unemployment rate

2.5%

Household size

2.7 persons

Rent over 30% of income

54.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Virginia

Total population

252,583

Adults over 25

171,369

Total households

93,626

Household size

2.7 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$95,373

Per capita income

$44,985

Poverty rate

9.4%

Unemployment rate

2.5%

Rent over 30% of income

54.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,586

Year built

1989

Households that rent

25.6%

Households that own

74.4%

Rooms per home (all homes)

6.6

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

55.1%

Black

29.1%

Asian

3.9%

Two or more races

9.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

7.7%

Not Hispanic or Latino

92.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

86.9%

Commute time to work

26 mins

Work from home

13.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

27.9%

High school graduate or GED

24.5%

Some college or associate degree

10.7%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

36.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Chesapeake, VA with: Virginia United States

Chesapeake, VA

Total population252,583

Rent$1,586

Year built1989

Household income$95,373

Per capita income$44,985

Poverty rate9.4%

Unemployment rate2.5%

Virginia State

Total population8,705,170

Rent$1,579

Year built1984

Household income$93,170

Per capita income$50,666

Poverty rate9.9%

Unemployment rate2.8%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityChesapeake, VA	StateVirginia	CountryUnited States
Total population	252,583	8,705,170	334,922,499
Rent	$1,586	$1,579	$1,413
Year built	1989	1984	1980
Household income	$95,373	$93,170	$80,734
Per capita income	$44,985	$50,666	$44,673
Poverty rate	9.4%	9.9%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	2.5%	2.8%	4%

View the complete comparison of Chesapeake, VA, Virginia and United States →

Summary for Chesapeake, VA

Chesapeake is located in Virginia.

Rent & Income

In Chesapeake, the typical monthly rent is $1,586 and the typical household income is $95,373. Rent here is similar to Virginia and higher than the U.S., and household income is similar to Virginia and higher than the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 9.4%, which is lower than in both Virginia and national.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 25.6% of households. About 54.6% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is high, with about 36.9% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 2.5%, which is lower than both Virginia and the national rate.

Chesapeake, VA — Rent vs Household Income

Chesapeake, VA — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Chesapeake, VA compares in Virginia (24 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,586	19 / 24	from lower rent	$996 – $2,089
Household income	$95,373	3 / 24	from higher income	$55,378 – $119,681
Poverty rate	9.4%	5 / 24	from lower poverty	7.9% – 25.7%
Unemployment rate	2.5%	3 / 24	from lower unemployment	2.2% – 3.7%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Virginia with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Chesapeake, VA

Rent

Rent prices put Chesapeake in 19th place among 24 large communities in Virginia. Across Virginia, rents range from $996 in Roanoke, VA up to $2,089 in Alexandria, VA.

Household income

For median household income, Chesapeake is ranked 3rd out of 24 large areas. Statewide incomes span from $55,378 in Roanoke, VA to $119,681 in Alexandria, VA.

Poverty rate

For poverty rates, Chesapeake is ranked 5th among 24 major areas. Across Virginia, poverty runs from 7.9% in Alexandria, VA to 25.7% in Harrisonburg, VA.

Unemployment rate

Unemployment levels put Chesapeake in 3rd place among 24 large places. Statewide unemployment spans from 2.2% in Alexandria, VA to 3.7% in Portsmouth, VA.

💰 Rent in Chesapeake, VA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,586 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Chesapeake, VA

Annual Household Income: $95,373

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Chesapeake, VA

Estimated Rate: 9.4%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Chesapeake, VA

In Chesapeake, VA, households that rent: 24,011 (25.6%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	24,011	25.6%
Owner-Occupied	69,615	74.4%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Chesapeake, VA

In Chesapeake, VA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 13,119 (54.6%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	13,119	54.6%
Other renter households	10,892	45.4%
Total renter households	24,011	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Chesapeake, VA

Less than High School: 47,755 people (27.9%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 42,025 people (24.5%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 18,375 people (10.7%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 63,214 people (36.9%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 171,369

📊 Unemployment Rate in Chesapeake, VA

Estimated Rate: 2.5%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

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ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.