County · Virginia
Chesapeake city, Virginia
Chesapeake city, Virginia. Chesapeake city had 255,332 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.4% since 2020, in line with Virginia (+2.9%). It holds 1 place (1 city, village or borough) and 61 census tracts. GEOID 51550.
Chesapeake city is one of the 18 counties of the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Chesapeake city is the same area as Chesapeake: the county and the city are one area with the same figures. This page lists its census tracts and the places within it; the city's page has its city ranks and its building permits.
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
How many people live in Chesapeake city, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 249,422 residents in Chesapeake city. The Census Bureau estimates 255,332 for July 1, 2025, up 2.4% since 2020, in line with Virginia (+2.9%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 252,583 over 338 square miles of land.
| Measure | Chesapeake city | 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 city'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. 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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Chesapeake city?
Chesapeake city holds 1 place: 1 city, village or borough (an incorporated place). The largest is Chesapeake with 255,332 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Chesapeake | 249,422 | $95,373 |
|---|
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Chesapeake city?
The median resident of Chesapeake city 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 city | 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% | – |
| 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% | – |
| 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 city earn?
Half of Chesapeake city's 93,626 households earn less than $95,373 a year (±$2,728), against $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 city | 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 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 city?
Owners occupy 74.4% of Chesapeake city'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 city | 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 |
| 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 1939 or earlier | 2.5%±0.4 pts | 7.0% | – |
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 city building?
Builders took permits for 846 new housing units across Chesapeake city in 2025 (551 single-family), 3.3 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Chesapeake city get to work?
75.7% of Chesapeake city'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 city | 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 are Chesapeake city's census tracts?
Chesapeake city is divided into 61 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $43,432 (Tract 203) to $169,427 (Tract 215.03).
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Chesapeake city compare with Virginia's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 7th of 133 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 55th of 133 |
| Residents per square mile | 42nd of 133 |
| Median household income | 27th of 133 |
| Median home value | 30th of 133 |
| Median gross rent | 23rd of 133 |
| Poverty rate | 87th of 133 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33rd of 133 |
| Median age | 105th of 133 |
Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 city 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' school search.