City comparison
Yes. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 97 in Chesapeake, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 96, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Chesapeake is cheaper. Median rent is $1,586 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
Safety is where Plano and Chesapeake split most clearly. Plano scores 35 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,841 in Plano and $1,586 in Chesapeake.
Plano is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Chesapeake makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Plano is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Plano has rougher pockets and Chesapeake has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Plano and Chesapeake are 1,184 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,586 a month in Chesapeake, down $255 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $95,373 in Chesapeake, down $16,880 (15%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 97 in Chesapeake, up 35 points (56%).
The move
Chesapeake and Plano are 1,184 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,586 a month in Chesapeake to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $255 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $95,373 in Chesapeake to $112,253 in Plano, up $16,880 (18%).
The crime index goes from 97 in Chesapeake to 62 in Plano, down 35 points (36%).
Plano, 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 Plano and Chesapeake? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Chesapeake rent is 14% cheaper than Plano
Plano
$1,841/mo
Chesapeake
Winner$1,586/mo
Typical rent runs $1,586 a month in Chesapeake versus $1,841 in Plano, 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 $3,060, 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 Plano.
Planning to buy in Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
18% higher
Plano's median income is 18% higher than Chesapeake
Plano
Winner$112,253
Chesapeake
$95,373
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $95,373 in Chesapeake, so typical pay runs 18% higher in Plano (about $16,880 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, Plano is the stronger labor market on paper. Chesapeake can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
36% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 36% lower than Chesapeake
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Chesapeake
97 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 97 in Chesapeake (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 36% lower in Plano. 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, Plano is the easier city. Chesapeake can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Plano weather is 20% more comfortable than Chesapeake
Plano
Winner69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Chesapeake
59°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 83/100
Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs); Chesapeake averages about 59°F (66°F highs). Plano sits near 69°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. Plano 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
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 18% higher ($112,253), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 69°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Plano is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 36% lower than Chesapeake (62 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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Chesapeake
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.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Plano: Plano scores 75/100 versus 61/100 in Chesapeake, with typical rent at $1,841 versus $1,586. I would vet the exact ZIP in Chesapeake before trading 14 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (75/100 in Plano vs 61/100 in Chesapeake), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,586 in Chesapeake and $1,841 in Plano.
If safety drives your move, Plano is the stronger match (75/100 safety versus 61/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Chesapeake, treat $1,586/month rent and $95,373 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
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