Chesapeake, VA — City Profile & Demographics 2026
Population 251,153 · Virginia · Updated May 2026
Population
251,153
Median Income
$94,189
Home Price
$422,528
Unemployment
4.9%
Poverty Rate
8.7%
Bachelor's+
36.4%
Full Demographics — Chesapeake, VA
27 metrics across 8 categories, compared to US national averages.
Demographics
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 251,153 | — | |
| Pop. Density / sq mi | N/A | — | |
| Median Age | 37.7 | 38.9 | |
| Foreign Born | 6.1% | 13.8% | |
| White | 56.2% | 61.6% | |
| Black | 29.0% | 12.4% | |
| Asian | 3.7% | 6.0% | |
| Hispanic | 7.4% | 18.7% | |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | 13.2% |
Economy
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $94,189 | $74,580 | |
| Per Capita Income | $43,819 | $40,480 | |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $69,581 | $64,500 | |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9% | 3.8% | |
| Poverty Rate | 8.7% | 11.5% | |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 36.4% | 35.8% |
Housing
Source: Zillow ZHVI, Census ACS
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $422,528 | $410,000 | |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% | 65.4% |
Safety
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 240 | 380 | |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1726 | 1950 |
Health
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 40.1% | 33.0% | |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 12.9% | 11.6% | |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 16.8% | 14.0% | |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 8.2% | 9.6% | |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 15.1% | 15.5% | |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 12.9% | 12.5% |
Climate
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | N/A | 54.5°F | |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | N/A | 30.2 in |
Air Quality
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 8.2 µg/m³ | 8.5 µg/m³ | |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 70.0% |
Commute
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 27.3 min | 27.0 min |
Compare Chesapeake with Another City
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About Chesapeake, VA
Chesapeake is a city in Virginia, United States. With a population of 251,153, it is one of the notable cities in the region. Compared to the US average, Chesapeake shows stronger household income ($94,189 median HH income vs $74,580 median HH income US avg) and poverty rate (8.7% poverty rate vs 11.5% poverty rate US avg). However, the city has a higher unemployment at 4.9% unemployment, compared to the US average of 3.8% unemployment. Data sourced from US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Survey (2023), CDC PLACES, FBI CDE, NOAA, and EPA.