City comparison
No. Chesapeake's crime index is 97 versus 144 in Glendale, and its violent crime index is 96 versus 135, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Glendale is cheaper. Median rent is $1,528 a month versus $1,586 in Chesapeake.
Safety is where Glendale and Chesapeake split most clearly. Chesapeake scores 47 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,528 in Glendale and $1,586 in Chesapeake.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Glendale 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 Glendale has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Glendale and Chesapeake are 2,029 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,528 a month in Glendale to $1,586 a month in Chesapeake, up $58 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $73,530 in Glendale to $95,373 in Chesapeake, up $21,843 (30%).
The crime index goes from 144 in Glendale to 97 in Chesapeake, down 47 points (33%).
The move
Chesapeake and Glendale are 2,029 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,586 a month in Chesapeake to $1,528 a month in Glendale, down $58 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $95,373 in Chesapeake to $73,530 in Glendale, down $21,843 (23%).
The crime index goes from 97 in Chesapeake to 144 in Glendale, up 47 points (48%).
Glendale, AZ
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 Glendale and Chesapeake? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
Glendale rent is 4% cheaper than Chesapeake
Glendale
Winner$1,528/mo
Chesapeake
$1,586/mo
Typical rent runs $1,528 a month in Glendale versus $1,586 in Chesapeake, so Glendale is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $58, or $696 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 Glendale? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
30% higher
Chesapeake's median income is 30% higher than Glendale
Glendale
$73,530
Chesapeake
Winner$95,373
Median household income is $95,373 in Chesapeake versus $73,530 in Glendale, so typical pay runs 30% higher in Chesapeake (about $21,843 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. Glendale can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
33% lower crime
Chesapeake's crime index is 33% lower than Glendale
Glendale
144 (100 = avg)
Chesapeake
Winner97 (100 = avg)
Chesapeake's crime index is 97 versus 144 in Glendale (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 33% 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. Glendale can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
17% more comfortable
Glendale weather is 17% more comfortable than Chesapeake
Glendale
Winner81°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 97/100
Chesapeake
59°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 83/100
Glendale averages about 81°F (87°F highs); Chesapeake averages about 59°F (66°F highs). Glendale averages around 81°F. Chesapeake averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Glendale scores 17% 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
Glendale is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 4% cheaper here at about $1,528 a month. Choose Glendale if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Glendale if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (81°F) beat Chesapeake on this page's weather index by 17%. Chesapeake may pay more or cost less, but Glendale 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 30% 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 33% lower than Glendale (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
On weather alone, Glendale is the warmer market (81°F) and Chesapeake the cooler (59°F). Typical leases run $1,528 and $1,586; choose the climate you will tolerate year-round, not just on a visit weekend.
Glendale rent at $1,528/month is still below Chesapeake's $1,586, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $95,373 in Chesapeake versus $73,530 in Glendale.
Glendale wins on climate (81°F vs 59°F); Chesapeake is the better fit if $1,586 rent and $95,373 pay matter more than daily weather.
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