Chesapeake VA vs Toledo OH — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Chesapeake, VA

Virginia · Population: 251,153

  • Median HH Income$94,189
  • Median Home Price$422,528
  • Unemployment4.9%
  • Bachelor's+36.4%

Toledo, OH

Ohio · Population: 268,461

  • Median HH Income$47,532
  • Median Home Price$130,101
  • Unemployment8.5%
  • Bachelor's+21.0%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Chesapeake
251,153
Toledo
268,461
Toledo +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Chesapeake
N/A
Toledo
N/A
Median Age
Chesapeake
37.7
Toledo
35.7
Toledo +
Foreign Born
Chesapeake
6.1%
Chesapeake +
Toledo
3.4%
White
Chesapeake
56.2%
Toledo
58.7%
Toledo +
Black
Chesapeake
29.0%
Chesapeake +
Toledo
28.7%
Asian
Chesapeake
3.7%
Chesapeake +
Toledo
1.4%
Hispanic
Chesapeake
7.4%
Toledo
8.9%
Toledo +
Spanish at Home
Chesapeake
N/A
Toledo
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Chesapeake
$94,189
Chesapeake +
Toledo
$47,532
Per Capita Income
Chesapeake
$43,819
Chesapeake +
Toledo
$27,407
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Chesapeake
$69,581
Chesapeake +
Toledo
$58,300
Unemployment Rate
Chesapeake
4.9%
Chesapeake +
Toledo
8.5%
Poverty Rate
Chesapeake
8.7%
Chesapeake +
Toledo
24.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
Chesapeake
36.4%
Chesapeake +
Toledo
21.0%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Chesapeake
$422,528
Toledo
$130,101
Toledo +
Homeownership Rate
Chesapeake
73.8%
Chesapeake +
Toledo
52.7%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Chesapeake
240
Chesapeake +
Toledo
319
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Chesapeake
1726
Chesapeake +
Toledo
1866

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Chesapeake
40.1%
Toledo
39.3%
Toledo +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Chesapeake
12.9%
Chesapeake +
Toledo
15.7%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Chesapeake
16.8%
Chesapeake +
Toledo
20.6%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Chesapeake
8.2%
Chesapeake +
Toledo
11.3%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Chesapeake
15.1%
Toledo
14.9%
Toledo +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Chesapeake
12.9%
Chesapeake +
Toledo
19.9%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Chesapeake
N/A
Toledo
50.6°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Chesapeake
N/A
Toledo
33.4 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Chesapeake
8.2 µg/m³
Chesapeake +
Toledo
10.3 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Chesapeake
75.0%
Chesapeake +
Toledo
55.0%

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Chesapeake
27.3 min
Toledo
21.3 min
Toledo +

Which City is Right for You?

Chesapeake leads in median household income at $94,189, while toledo offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $130,101. On public safety, Chesapeake is safer with a violent crime rate of 240 per 100,000 residents, compared to 319 in Toledo. Chesapeake has a lower unemployment rate at 4.9%, and Chesapeake has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Toledo scores better with a lower obesity rate of 39.3%.

Compare More Cities

About Chesapeake & Toledo