City comparison
No. Chesapeake's crime index is 97 versus 282 in Nashville, and its violent crime index is 96 versus 309, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Median rent is the same in both cities, $1,586 a month.
Safety is where Nashville and Chesapeake split most clearly. Chesapeake scores 185 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,586 in Nashville and $1,586 in Chesapeake.
This is a genuine split. Nashville wins on weather and Chesapeake wins on the job market and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. Chesapeake has rougher pockets and Nashville has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Nashville and Chesapeake are 585 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent stays $1,586 a month in both cities.
Median household income goes from $77,371 in Nashville to $95,373 in Chesapeake, up $18,002 (23%).
The crime index goes from 282 in Nashville to 97 in Chesapeake, down 185 points (66%).
The move
Chesapeake and Nashville are 585 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent stays $1,586 a month in both cities.
Median household income goes from $95,373 in Chesapeake to $77,371 in Nashville, down $18,002 (19%).
The crime index goes from 97 in Chesapeake to 282 in Nashville, up 185 points (191%).
Nashville, TN
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 Nashville and Chesapeake? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
Neck and neck
Nashville and Chesapeake are about even on rent.
Nashville
$1,586/mo
Chesapeake
$1,586/mo
Typical rent in Nashville is $1,586 a month versus $1,586 in Chesapeake, close enough that housing cost should not decide the move by itself. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets, then pick the city that wins the categories you actually live in: safety, schools, pay, or weather.
Planning to buy in Chesapeake? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
23% higher
Chesapeake's median income is 23% higher than Nashville
Nashville
$77,371
Chesapeake
Winner$95,373
Median household income is $95,373 in Chesapeake versus $77,371 in Nashville, so typical pay runs 23% higher in Chesapeake (about $18,002 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. Nashville can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
66% lower crime
Chesapeake's crime index is 66% lower than Nashville
Nashville
282 (100 = avg)
Chesapeake
Winner97 (100 = avg)
Chesapeake's crime index is 97 versus 282 in Nashville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 66% 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. Nashville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
17% more comfortable
Nashville weather is 17% more comfortable than Chesapeake
Nashville
Winner64°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 97/100
Chesapeake
59°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 83/100
Nashville averages about 64°F (74°F highs); Chesapeake averages about 59°F (66°F highs). Nashville averages around 64°F. Chesapeake averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Nashville 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
Pick Nashville if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (64°F) beat Chesapeake on this page's weather index by 17%. Chesapeake may pay more or cost less, but Nashville 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 23% 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 66% lower than Nashville (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 28/100 in Nashville, with matched rent near $1,586/month. I would vet the exact ZIP in Nashville before trading 33 safety points for an identical lease.
Median income is $95,373 in Chesapeake versus $77,371 in Nashville — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
Weather averages land near 64°F in Nashville and 59°F in Chesapeake.
Pick Chesapeake when you want the stronger safety signal (61/100). Otherwise, Nashville's case rests on a Nashville ZIP you trust at $1,586 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Nashville and Chesapeake, plus other cities in TN and VA.
