A nearby pier in the evening
Beach near Chesapeake

Chesapeake, VA Area Guide

Avg Rent

$1,770

Population

256,322

Renter Mix

30% Rent

Norfolk suburb is full of natural amenities and serenity.

Relaxed Affordable Convenient

Chesapeake, spanning 351 square miles in Hampton Roads, combines suburban living with natural surroundings. The city features diverse housing options from waterfront properties along the Elizabeth River to established neighborhoods in Great Bridge and Western Branch. Current rental data shows one-bedroom apartments averaging $1,607, while two-bedroom rentals average $1,737 monthly. The Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge stands as a centerpiece for outdoor recreation, offering miles of trails for hiking and wildlife observation. Residents enjoy convenient access to Virginia Beach's shoreline and Norfolk's downtown, while established areas like Greenbrier and Deep Creek maintain their own neighborhood character.

The Battle of Great Bridge site preserves the city's Revolutionary War heritage, while modern Chesapeake thrives as an economic center, home to Dollar Tree's corporate headquarters and Chesapeake Regional Medical Center. The city features outdoor spaces like the Chesapeake Arboretum and access to the Intracoastal Waterway. With a population approaching 250,000, Chesapeake maintains its community atmosphere while offering convenient access to shopping, dining, and recreation throughout Hampton Roads.

Explore the City

A nearby pier in the evening

Beach near Chesapeake

Demographics

Median Household Income

$92,251

Average: $111,821

Education

72,363

Residents Have a Degree

Job Market

124,683

Workers Employed

Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.

Median Age

39 Years

Largest Age Group

35-44 Years

Approximately 14% of Residents

Under 20

25%

Over 65

16%

Housing Distribution

Chesapeake has more homeowners than renters.

Renters
30%
Non-Renters
70%

Education Distribution

Review this city's overall education levels.

Bachelor's or Higher
24%
Other Education
76%

Rent Trends

As of July 2026, the average apartment rent in Chesapeake, VA is $1,883 for a studio, $1,767 for one bedroom, $1,864 for two bedrooms, and $2,327 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Chesapeake has increased by 5.5% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,767/month
774 Sq Ft
House
$2,544/month
1,582 Sq Ft
Townhome
$2,121/month
1,029 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Chesapeake, VA

Learn More About Chesapeake

Getting Around

Fairly Walkable

Walkability

40 / 100

Limited Public Transit

Transit

20 / 100

Very Drivable

Drivability

80 / 100

Fairly Bikeable

Bikeability

50 / 100

Schools

Grassfield Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

1,307 Students

Edwin W. Chittum Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

762 Students

Great Bridge Intermediate School

Public

Grades K-5

728 Students

Great Bridge Primary School

Public

Grades PK-5

612 Students

Butts Road Intermediate School

Public

Grades K-5

579 Students

Hickory Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

1,285 Students

Hugo A. Owens Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

1,288 Students

Hickory Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

1,336 Students

Great Bridge Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

1,223 Students

Great Bridge Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

1,223 Students

Hickory High School

Public

Grades 9-12

1,602 Students

Hickory High

Public

Grades 9-12

1,581 Students

Grassfield High School

Public

Grades 9-12

2,314 Students

Grassfield High

Public

Grades 9-12

2,314 Students

Great Bridge High

Public

Grades 9-12

1,624 Students

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Chesapeake Planetarium
  • Chesapeake Arboretum
  • Stumpy Lake
  • Nauticus
  • Children's Museum of Virginia

Commuter Rail

Airports

  • Norfolk International
  • Newport News/Williamsburg International

Top Apartments in Chesapeake

Houses for Rent in Chesapeake

Search Nearby Rentals

Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in June 2026.

Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.