City comparison
No. Chesapeake's crime index is 97 versus 132 in Arlington, and its violent crime index is 96 versus 130, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Arlington is cheaper. Median rent is $1,470 a month versus $1,586 in Chesapeake.
Safety is where Arlington and Chesapeake split most clearly. Chesapeake scores 35 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,470 in Arlington and $1,586 in Chesapeake.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Arlington costs less and Chesapeake pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Chesapeake has rougher pockets and Arlington has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Arlington and Chesapeake are 1,213 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,470 a month in Arlington to $1,586 a month in Chesapeake, up $116 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $75,171 in Arlington to $95,373 in Chesapeake, up $20,202 (27%).
The crime index goes from 132 in Arlington to 97 in Chesapeake, down 35 points (27%).
The move
Chesapeake and Arlington are 1,213 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,586 a month in Chesapeake to $1,470 a month in Arlington, down $116 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $95,373 in Chesapeake to $75,171 in Arlington, down $20,202 (21%).
The crime index goes from 97 in Chesapeake to 132 in Arlington, up 35 points (36%).
Arlington, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Chesapeake, VA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Arlington and Chesapeake? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
Arlington rent is 7% cheaper than Chesapeake
Arlington
Winner$1,470/mo
Chesapeake
$1,586/mo
Typical rent runs $1,470 a month in Arlington versus $1,586 in Chesapeake, so Arlington is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $116, or $1,392 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Arlington? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
27% higher
Chesapeake's median income is 27% higher than Arlington
Arlington
$75,171
Chesapeake
Winner$95,373
Median household income is $95,373 in Chesapeake versus $75,171 in Arlington, so typical pay runs 27% higher in Chesapeake (about $20,202 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Chesapeake is the stronger labor market on paper. Arlington can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
27% lower crime
Chesapeake's crime index is 27% lower than Arlington
Arlington
132 (100 = avg)
Chesapeake
Winner97 (100 = avg)
Chesapeake's crime index is 97 versus 132 in Arlington (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 27% lower in Chesapeake. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Chesapeake is the easier city. Arlington can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Arlington weather is 20% more comfortable than Chesapeake
Arlington
Winner67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Chesapeake
59°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 83/100
Arlington averages about 67°F (74°F highs); Chesapeake averages about 59°F (66°F highs). Arlington sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Chesapeake averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Arlington scores 20% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Chesapeake if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Arlington is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 7% cheaper here at about $1,470 a month. Choose Arlington if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Arlington if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (67°F) beat Chesapeake on this page's weather index by 20%. Chesapeake may pay more or cost less, but Arlington is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Chesapeake is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 27% higher here ($95,373). Start with Chesapeake if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Chesapeake is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 27% lower than Arlington (97 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
This pair is really a paycheck comparison: Chesapeake at $95,373 median income versus $75,171 in Arlington. Housing ($1,470 in Arlington, $1,586 in Chesapeake) is secondary unless you are rent-burdened already.
Safety still diverges (61/100 in Chesapeake vs 52/100 in Arlington), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Weather averages land near 67°F in Arlington and 59°F in Chesapeake.
Chesapeake clears the bar on local pay in this dataset. Arlington deserves a serious look only when keeping rent near $1,470/month beats chasing $95,373 median income.
Common questions
Ready to move to Arlington?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Arlington when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Arlington and Chesapeake, plus other cities in TX and VA.
