United States › Virginia › Chesapeake CITY · 2020 ACS
Chesapeake Virginia · 249,422 residents · 338 sq mi
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The short version
Chesapeake is a city of 249,422 people in Virginia. Growth has run 25% since 2000, or 50,238 more people. 6% of people here were born outside the United States. Owners hold 70% of the housing stock. Poverty is uncommon here, at 7.5% of people here. The median household earns $81,261, about 23% above the national median.
At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 38.0
US median: 38.8
Average education
35% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 59%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 34.7 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
142K 172K 202K 232K 263K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Chesapeake Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $81,261
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $50,743 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $20,949 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 44.2% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 7.3% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Public administration 4.6%
Professional, scientific, technical 4.6%
Arts, entertainment, food 2.2%
Transportation & warehousing 1.9%
Education & health services 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.2%
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$286,000
+59%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $119,700 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$1,300
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $642 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 74.9% in 2000
29.8% rent
from 2.73 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 3.9 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 65.9%(131,200)
Hispanic / Latino 2%(4,076)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 54.4%(135,679)
Hispanic / Latino 7.1%(17,824)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 8 more hispanic origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 44 more ancestry groups with data from 24.7% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 85.1% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 8.8% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 15.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 85.2% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 4.3% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 6.0% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 69.7% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 38.8% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 9.8% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 32.9%(32,398)
Women 15+
Never married 28.2%(29,382)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 9.8% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 43%(11,725)
Gulf War (1990s) 43.5%(11,875)
Share of the 27,280 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Explore
Neighborhoods in Chesapeake Drill deeper
Places similar to Chesapeake Head to head
Compare Chesapeake to nearby cities CHESAPEAKE VS
Portsmouth
Income $60,491 −26%
Home value $246,900 −14%
Population 96,777 −62%
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CHESAPEAKE VS
Virginia Beach
Income $92,968 +14%
Home value $382,500 +34%
Population 453,737 +78%
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CHESAPEAKE VS
Norfolk
Income $66,109 −19%
Home value $289,900 +1%
Population 231,013 −10%
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CHESAPEAKE VS
Suffolk
Income $92,666 +14%
Home value $347,400 +21%
Population 104,699 −59%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Chesapeake, Virginia? Chesapeake, Virginia has about 249,422 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Chesapeake, Virginia? The typical household in Chesapeake, Virginia earns about $81,261 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Chesapeake, Virginia expensive? In Chesapeake, Virginia, the median home is worth about $286,000, and the typical rent is about $1,300 a month.
How educated are people in Chesapeake, Virginia? About 34.6% of adults age 25 and over in Chesapeake, Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Chesapeake, Virginia? About 7.5% of people in Chesapeake, Virginia live below the federal poverty line.
Has Chesapeake, Virginia grown since 1990? Yes, Chesapeake, Virginia has grown since 1990. The population has added about 97,446 residents, a change of about 64 percent over that period.
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