County profile · Virginia
Chesapeake city, VA market data
How Chesapeake city compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 255,332
- +2.3% since 2020
- Households
- 93,626
- Median household income
- $95,373
- +21.3% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $378,400
- Jobs located here
- 110,716
- Highest market score
- 81
- Coffee shops and cafes, #86 of 2,063 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Chesapeake city by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Chesapeake city. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
Chesapeake city has an estimated 255,332 people and 93,626 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Chesapeake city grew 2.3%, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Chesapeake city is $95,373, 18% above the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 21.3%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Chesapeake city runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 135, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (94).
Of the business types scored in Chesapeake city, coffee shops and cafes (81), gas stations (81) and pet grooming and boarding businesses (80) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For coffee shops and cafes, that ranks #86 of 2,063 scored counties.
Chesapeake city is part of the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk metro area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for pest control companies (2.3 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for property management companies (50% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Chesapeake city
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Chesapeake city with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee shops and cafes | 81 | #86 of 2,063 | 54 | 5.8 | $7.5M | 204 | 35 |
| Gas stations | 81 | #127 of 2,358 | 69 | 7.4 | $4.2M | 177 | 73 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 80 | #59 of 1,461 | 25 | 2.7 | $3.9M | 154 | 16 |
| Grocery stores | 80 | #193 of 2,070 | 48 | 5.1 | $12.8M | 137 | 27 |
| Insurance agencies | 72 | #415 of 2,272 | 121 | 12.9 | $2M | 163 | 70 |
| Chiropractors | 71 | #206 of 1,490 | 33 | 3.5 | $3.6M | 149 | 20 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 71 | #249 of 1,889 | 80 | 8.5 | $5.1M | 123 | 38 |
| Pet businesses | 69 | #304 of 2,200 | 86 | 9.2 | $1.1M | 130 | 60 |
| Property management | 68 | #154 of 910 | 14 | 1.5 | Index only | 201 | 40 |
| Child care and preschools | 68 | #314 of 1,611 | 49 | 5.2 | $1.1M | 111 | 49 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 68 | #494 of 2,402 | 153 | 16.3 | $4M | 118 | 72 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 67 | #120 of 777 | 9 | 1.0 | $9.7M | 238 | 31 |
| Pet stores | 65 | #229 of 974 | 13 | 1.4 | $7.6M | 167 | 12 |
| Laundromats | 64 | #211 of 785 | 10 | 1.1 | $20.1M | 161 | 9 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 64 | #333 of 1,327 | 24 | 2.6 | $3.9M | 127 | 23 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 62 | #664 of 2,405 | 829 | 88.5 | $491K | 133 | 473 |
| Funeral homes | 61 | #455 of 1,472 | 16 | 1.7 | $739K | 109 | 8 |
| Veterinarians | 60 | #487 of 1,485 | 39 | 4.2 | $2.5M | 92 | 32 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 60 | #682 of 2,087 | 120 | 12.8 | $1.7M | 132 | 70 |
| Auto repair shops | 60 | #724 of 2,378 | 180 | 19.2 | $522K | 117 | 94 |
| Car washes and detailing | 58 | #506 of 1,451 | 26 | 2.8 | $3.6M | 143 | 23 |
| Tire shops | 58 | #568 of 1,530 | 35 | 3.7 | $2.7M | 107 | 17 |
| Pizza | 58 | #713 of 2,090 | 72 | 7.7 | $5.7M | 111 | 232 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 58 | #814 of 2,405 | 493 | 52.7 | $826K | 125 | 204 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 57 | #185 of 479 | 5 | 0.5 | $18.8M | 137 | 9 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 57 | #532 of 1,493 | 62 | 6.6 | $2.5M | 86 | 107 |
| Convenience stores | 57 | #869 of 2,261 | 90 | 9.6 | $6.8M | 86 | 45 |
| Roofing and gutters | 56 | #451 of 1,177 | 42 | 4.5 | $7.2M | 86 | 21 |
| Gyms | 56 | #691 of 1,792 | 71 | 7.6 | $1.2M | 94 | 31 |
| Barbershops | 55 | #572 of 1,356 | 46 | 4.9 | $2.1M | 110 | 7 |
| Auto repair and car care | 55 | #965 of 2,401 | 309 | 33.0 | $304K | 113 | 154 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 54 | #955 of 2,210 | 183 | 19.5 | $1.1M | 125 | 92 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 53 | #898 of 2,088 | 126 | 13.5 | $690K | 104 | 63 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 53 | #1,020 of 2,222 | 135 | 14.4 | $3M | 99 | 232 |
| Dry cleaners | 52 | #240 of 507 | 11 | 1.2 | $18.3M | 117 | 13 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 50 | #438 of 887 | 32 | 3.4 | Index only | 125 | 24 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 49 | #703 of 1,334 | 46 | 4.9 | $1.9M | 94 | 32 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 48 | #1,018 of 1,886 | 112 | 12.0 | $1M | 107 | 69 |
| House cleaning | 47 | #484 of 847 | 29 | 3.1 | $5.4M | 84 | 74 |
| Electricians | 46 | #683 of 1,160 | 36 | 3.8 | $8.4M | 70 | 83 |
| Home inspectors | 44 | #254 of 415 | 9 | 1.0 | Index only | 66 | 7 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 44 | #1,046 of 1,656 | 84 | 9.0 | $1.4M | 79 | 131 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 44 | #1,101 of 1,771 | 121 | 12.9 | $1.3M | 77 | 205 |
| Physical therapy | 43 | #897 of 1,422 | 56 | 6.0 | $2.1M | 87 | 45 |
| Spas and skin care | 43 | #1,135 of 1,769 | 105 | 11.2 | $908K | 104 | 33 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 42 | #1,143 of 1,707 | 87 | 9.3 | $3.5M | 73 | 127 |
| Home repair trades | 42 | #1,413 of 2,057 | 165 | 17.6 | $1.8M | 76 | 231 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 41 | #898 of 1,302 | 48 | 5.1 | $2.4M | 78 | 20 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 40 | #1,681 of 2,394 | 789 | 84.3 | $149K | 98 | 290 |
| Hair salons | 39 | #1,698 of 2,339 | 265 | 28.3 | $360K | 84 | 78 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 36 | #1,912 of 2,385 | 503 | 53.7 | $190K | 89 | 165 |
| Pest control | 35 | #566 of 699 | 30 | 3.2 | $5.2M | 51 | 24 |
| Nail salons | 33 | #1,091 of 1,328 | 81 | 8.7 | $1.2M | 70 | 45 |
| Real estate | 33 | #1,986 of 2,229 | 453 | 48.4 | Index only | 80 | 301 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 32 | #1,978 of 2,176 | 398 | 42.5 | Index only | 72 | 200 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.2 | $58.7M | Too few | 5 |
Household spending in Chesapeake city
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $93.9M | $1,003 | 105 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $291.6M | $3,115 | 120 |
| Food away from home | $407.4M | $4,351 | 107 |
| Groceries | $612.7M | $6,544 | 104 |
| Personal care products and services | $95.4M | $1,019 | 101 |
| Child care and other personal services | $54.5M | $582 | 100 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $87M | $929 | 94 |
| Medical and dental services | $117.5M | $1,255 | 97 |
| Pets | $98.2M | $1,048 | 115 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $200.9M | $2,146 | 104 |
| Vehicle insurance | $247.3M | $2,641 | 135 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $304M | $3,247 | 108 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $155.9M | $1,665 | 118 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $1.6B | $16,728 | 100 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Chesapeake city
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 255,332+2.3% since 2020
- Households
- 93,626
- Median age
- 38.9
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 74%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.0
- Land area
- 339 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 746
- Median household income
- $95,373+21.3% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $118,762
- Median home value
- $378,400
- Jobs located here
- 110,716
- Daytime population
- 255,504Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Chesapeake city?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Chesapeake city. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Virginia 8
- Portsmouth city, VA97,190 people
- Norfolk city, VA233,596 people
- Virginia Beach city, VA456,349 people
- Suffolk city, VA98,796 people
- Hampton city, VA137,557 people
- Isle of Wight County, VA39,974 people
- Newport News city, VA184,216 people
- Poquoson city, VA12,639 people
Questions
How fast is Chesapeake city, VA growing?
Population estimates put Chesapeake city at 255,332 people in 2025, up 2.3% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 93,626 households. Median household income rose 21.3% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Chesapeake city, VA spend?
Households in Chesapeake city spend about $1.6B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $612.7M on groceries and $407.4M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Chesapeake city spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 135, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (94).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Chesapeake city, VA?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Chesapeake city are for coffee shops and cafes (81), gas stations (81) and pet grooming and boarding businesses (80). Chesapeake city ranks #86 of 2,063 scored counties for coffee shops and cafes.
How does Chesapeake city, VA compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Chesapeake city is $95,373 a year, 18% above the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 2.3% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $378,400, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Chesapeake city has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for pest control companies (2.3 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for property management companies (50% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 55 of the 56 business types have a score in Chesapeake city, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Chesapeake city. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Chesapeake city?
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The button opens the report at the center of Chesapeake city. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.