City comparison
Yes. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 97 in Chesapeake, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 96, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Madison is cheaper. Median rent is $1,413 a month versus $1,586 in Chesapeake.
The income gap between Madison and Chesapeake is significant: $78,050 median household versus $95,373. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,413 in Madison and $1,586 in Chesapeake.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Madison 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.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Madison and Chesapeake are 817 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,586 a month in Chesapeake, up $173 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $95,373 in Chesapeake, up $17,323 (22%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 97 in Chesapeake, up 6 points (7%).
The move
Chesapeake and Madison are 817 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,586 a month in Chesapeake to $1,413 a month in Madison, down $173 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $95,373 in Chesapeake to $78,050 in Madison, down $17,323 (18%).
The crime index goes from 97 in Chesapeake to 91 in Madison, down 6 points (6%).
Madison, WI
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 Madison and Chesapeake? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
11% cheaper
Madison rent is 11% cheaper than Chesapeake
Madison
Winner$1,413/mo
Chesapeake
$1,586/mo
Typical rent runs $1,413 a month in Madison versus $1,586 in Chesapeake, so Madison is 11% 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 $2,076, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Madison still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Chesapeake.
Planning to buy in Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
22% higher
Chesapeake's median income is 22% higher than Madison
Madison
$78,050
Chesapeake
Winner$95,373
Median household income is $95,373 in Chesapeake versus $78,050 in Madison, so typical pay runs 22% higher in Chesapeake (about $17,323 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. Madison can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
6% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 6% lower than Chesapeake
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Chesapeake
97 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 97 in Chesapeake (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 6% lower in Madison. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Madison, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Chesapeake. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
30% more comfortable
Chesapeake weather is 30% more comfortable than Madison
Madison
52°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 64/100
Chesapeake
Winner59°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 83/100
Madison averages about 52°F (62°F highs); Chesapeake averages about 59°F (66°F highs). Madison averages around 52°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Chesapeake averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Chesapeake scores 30% 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 Madison if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Madison is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 11% cheaper here at about $1,413 a month. Choose Madison if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Madison is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 6% lower than Chesapeake (91 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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 22% higher ($95,373), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 59°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Bottom line
On weather alone, Chesapeake is the warmer market (59°F) and Madison the cooler (52°F). Typical leases run $1,586 and $1,413; choose the climate you will tolerate year-round, not just on a visit weekend.
Madison rent at $1,413/month is still below Chesapeake's $1,586, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,413 in Madison and $1,586 in Chesapeake.
Most movers who prioritize climate land in Chesapeake; Madison only makes sense when 52°F matches how you want to live year-round.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Madison when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Madison and Chesapeake, plus other cities in WI and VA.
