City · Virginia
Chesapeake, Virginia
Chesapeake, city, in Chesapeake city, Virginia. Chesapeake had 255,332 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.4% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 249,422 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 252,583 (controlled total). GEOID 5116000.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
255,332
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 249,422 · ACS 2020-2024: 252,583
Median household income
$95,373
±$2,728 (90% margin)
Virginia: $93,170
Median home value
$378,400
±$5,621 (90% margin)
Virginia: $383,700
Median gross rent
$1,586
±$39 (90% margin)
Virginia: $1,579
Where is Chesapeake and what county is it in?
Chesapeake is a city in Chesapeake city, Virginia. It covers 338.5 square miles of land, 737 residents per square mile in 2020.
Chesapeake is in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 18 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Chesapeake covers the same area as Chesapeake city: the city and the county are one area, so the county's figures are Chesapeake's; the county page lists its census tracts.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Chesapeake, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 255,332 people lived in Chesapeake on July 1, 2025, up 2.4% since 2020, in line with Virginia (+2.9%). The 2020 Census counted 249,422 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 252,583.
| Measure | Chesapeake | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 252,583 | 8,705,170 | +12,601 |
| Households | 93,626 ±629 | 3,365,732 | +8,777 |
| Average household size | 2.65 ±0.02 | 2.52 | −0.11 |
| Housing units | 96,816 ±135 | 3,684,756 | +6,014 |
Chesapeake's population since 2000
From 199,184 in 2000 to 255,332 in 2025: up 28.2%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Chesapeake as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Chesapeake?
The median resident of Chesapeake is 37.9 years old; 24.2% are under 18 and 14.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 53.8%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 28.5%. 5.8% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Chesapeake | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.9 ±0.2 | 39.0 | +1.0 |
| Under 18 years | 24.2% ±0.1 pts | 21.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 14.6% ±0.1 pts | 16.7% | – |
| Male | 49.1% ±0.1 pts | 49.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 7.7% | 11.0% | +1.5 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 53.8% ±0.4 pts | 58.4% | −3.6 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 28.5% ±0.4 pts | 18.3% | −0.8 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 3.8% ±0.2 pts | 6.9% | +0.7 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.4% ±0.5 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±0.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 5.8% ±0.5 pts | 13.1% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 8.4% ±0.6 pts | 17.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 15.6% ±0.8 pts | 9.4% | – |
| With a disability | 13.0% ±0.8 pts | 12.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.8% ±0.6 pts | 6.9% | −1.5 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 94.2% ±0.5 pts | 91.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 36.9% ±1.1 pts | 42.2% | +3.7 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 14.4% ±0.7 pts | 18.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 87.5% ±0.8 pts | 86.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.9% ±0.6 pts | 3.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Chesapeake earn?
Half of Chesapeake's 93,626 households earn less than $95,373 a year (±$2,728), against $95,373 in Chesapeake city and $93,170 in Virginia. In 2015-2019 it was $96,782 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 9.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Chesapeake | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $95,373 ±$2,728 | $93,170 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $118,762 ±$2,836 | $128,260 | – |
| Per capita income | $44,985 ±$1,041 | $50,666 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 9.4% ±1.1 pts | 9.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 12.5% ±2.8 pts | 12.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 7.2% ±0.8 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Households with a computer | 96.3% ±0.5 pts | 95.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 92.6% ±0.9 pts | 91.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Chesapeake?
Owners occupy 74.4% of Chesapeake's occupied homes and renters 25.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $378,400 by its owner (±$5,621). The median renter pays $1,586 a month including utilities, and 47.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Chesapeake | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $378,400 ±$5,621 | $383,700 | +$41,559 |
| Median gross rent | $1,586 ±$39 | $1,579 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 47.8% ±3.9 pts | 39.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,142 ±$36 | $2,127 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 74.4% ±1.3 pts | 67.3% | +3.0 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 25.6% ±1.3 pts | 32.7% | – |
| Housing units | 96,816 ±135 | 3,684,756 | +6,014 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.5% ±0.3 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.8% ±1.6 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 67.4% ±1.2 pts | 61.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.6% ±0.4 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.9% ±0.3 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 13.7% ±1.0 pts | 9.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 2.5% ±0.4 pts | 7.0% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 5.0% ±0.6 pts | 6.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Chesapeake building?
Builders took permits for 846 new housing units in Chesapeake in 2025 (551 in single-family houses), 3.3 per 1,000 residents against 3.7 across Virginia.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Chesapeake work and get to work?
75.7% of Chesapeake's workers drive alone and 13.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 25.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.9%.
| Measure | Chesapeake | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 66.8% ±0.7 pts | 65.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.9% ±0.8 pts | 4.3% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 75.7% ±1.4 pts | 67.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.0% ±1.0 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.6% ±0.4 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Walked | 1.0% ±0.3 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 13.1% ±1.0 pts | 18.3% | +9.0 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 25.8 min ±0.5 | 27.3 min | −0.9 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Chesapeake?
61 census tracts lie mostly in Chesapeake (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $43,432 (Tract 203) to $169,427 (Tract 215.03).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 208.04Chesapeake city | 11,323 | $134,538 |
| Tract 210.04Chesapeake city | 9,828 | $130,919 |
| Tract 213.01Chesapeake city | 8,228 | $112,258 |
| Tract 215.07Chesapeake city | 7,140 | $116,345 |
| Tract 214.02Chesapeake city | 7,010 | $90,507 |
| Tract 212Chesapeake city | 6,876 | $149,699 |
| Tract 200.03Chesapeake city | 6,354 | $77,357 |
| Tract 201Chesapeake city | 6,019 | $49,098 |
| Tract 210.10Chesapeake city | 5,969 | $149,886 |
| Tract 216.02Chesapeake city | 5,922 | $90,301 |
| Tract 215.05Chesapeake city | 5,829 | $93,179 |
| Tract 210.12Chesapeake city | 5,699 | $125,779 |
Every census tract in Chesapeake: the tract table of Chesapeake city
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Chesapeake) · Census block assignment files
How does Chesapeake compare with other places in Virginia?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Chesapeake is the 92nd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 2nd-most populous of 227 in Virginia.
Chesapeake ranks 158th of 365 places in Virginia with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 2nd | 227 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 52nd | 139 |
| Residents per square mile | 263rd | 374 |
| Median household income | 158th | 365 |
| Per capita income | 159th | 374 |
| Median home value | 160th | 359 |
| Median gross rent | 155th | 341 |
| Poverty rate | 140th | 263 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 171st | 359 |
| Median age | 223rd | 372 |
| Owner-occupied share | 143rd | 368 |
| Work from home | 190th | 286 |
| Travel time to work | 196th | 372 |
Chesapeake's figures with every place in Virginia (CSV)
Every place in Virginia, sortable · Compare Chesapeake with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Chesapeake?
3 of the 57 figures for Chesapeake on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Chesapeake are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Chesapeake.