City comparison
No. Chesapeake's crime index is 97 versus 212 in Aurora, and its violent crime index is 96 versus 248, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Chesapeake is cheaper. Median rent is $1,586 a month versus $1,835 in Aurora.
Safety is where Aurora and Chesapeake split most clearly. Chesapeake scores 115 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,835 in Aurora and $1,586 in Chesapeake.
Chesapeake is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Aurora makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Chesapeake is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Chesapeake has rougher pockets and Aurora has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Aurora and Chesapeake are 1,555 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $1,586 a month in Chesapeake, down $249 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $95,373 in Chesapeake, up $7,005 (8%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 97 in Chesapeake, down 115 points (54%).
The move
Chesapeake and Aurora are 1,555 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,586 a month in Chesapeake to $1,835 a month in Aurora, up $249 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $95,373 in Chesapeake to $88,368 in Aurora, down $7,005 (7%).
The crime index goes from 97 in Chesapeake to 212 in Aurora, up 115 points (119%).
Aurora, CO
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 Aurora and Chesapeake? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Chesapeake rent is 14% cheaper than Aurora
Aurora
$1,835/mo
Chesapeake
Winner$1,586/mo
Typical rent runs $1,586 a month in Chesapeake versus $1,835 in Aurora, so Chesapeake is 14% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,988, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Chesapeake still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Aurora.
Planning to buy in Chesapeake? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
8% higher
Chesapeake's median income is 8% higher than Aurora
Aurora
$88,368
Chesapeake
Winner$95,373
Median household income is $95,373 in Chesapeake versus $88,368 in Aurora, so typical pay runs 8% higher in Chesapeake (about $7,005 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
54% lower crime
Chesapeake's crime index is 54% lower than Aurora
Aurora
212 (100 = avg)
Chesapeake
Winner97 (100 = avg)
Chesapeake's crime index is 97 versus 212 in Aurora (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 54% 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. Aurora can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
7% more comfortable
Aurora weather is 7% more comfortable than Chesapeake
Aurora
Winner61°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 89/100
Chesapeake
59°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 83/100
Aurora averages about 61°F (71°F highs); Chesapeake averages about 59°F (66°F highs). Aurora averages around 61°F. Chesapeake averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Aurora scores 7% 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
Pick Aurora if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (61°F) beat Chesapeake on this page's weather index by 7%. Chesapeake may pay more or cost less, but Aurora is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Chesapeake is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% cheaper here at about $1,586 a month. Choose Chesapeake if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Chesapeake is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 8% 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 54% lower than Aurora (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Chesapeake: Chesapeake scores 61/100 versus 37/100 in Aurora, with typical rent at $1,586 versus $1,835. I would vet the exact ZIP in Aurora before trading 24 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (61/100 in Chesapeake vs 37/100 in Aurora), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $95,373 in Chesapeake versus $88,368 in Aurora.
Chesapeake clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Aurora deserves a serious look only when you already know the Aurora block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Aurora and Chesapeake, plus other cities in CO and VA.
