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Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Chesapeake, VA vs Norfolk, VA

Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)

Summary

Norfolk spends 9.9% more per capita than Chesapeake ($5,020/person difference). Norfolk, VA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (D, 46/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Chesapeake, VA
Pop. 249,377
D
41/100
Budget Balance30
Debt Burden68
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
Norfolk, VA
Pop. 236,973
D
46/100
Budget Balance62
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Chesapeake
Norfolk
Total Spending
$11.4B
$12.1B
Spending / Capita
$45,860
$50,880
Total Revenue
$24.3M
$17.4B
Revenue / Capita
$98
$73,324
Total Debt
$170.5M
$324.7M
Debt / Capita
$684
$1,370
Population
249,377
236,973
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Chesapeake$2,306
Norfolk$1,718
Fire Protection
Chesapeake$755
Norfolk$832
Highways & Roads
Chesapeake$413
Norfolk$1,186
Parks & Recreation
Chesapeake$559
Norfolk$1,601
Education
Chesapeake$25,005
Norfolk$19,019
Health
Chesapeake$481
Norfolk$519

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

ChesapeakeNorfolk
Property Tax
$12
$97
Sales Tax
$39
$1,289
Income Tax
$0
$896
Intergovernmental
$5
$4,946
Charges & Fees
$1,780
$4,679
Other
$3,671
$3,596

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

ChesapeakeNorfolk
Police
$2,306
$1,718
Fire Protection
$755
$832
Highways & Roads
$413
$1,186
Education
$25,005
$19,019
Public Welfare
$2,106
$1,311
Health
$481
$519
Hospitals
$1,086
$5,390
Parks & Recreation
$559
$1,601
Housing
$3,550
$3,939
Sewerage
$331
$96
Utilities
$3,148
$5,495
Other
$6,120
$9,773
D
Chesapeake, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 41/100
Below average fiscal health
D
Norfolk, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 46/100
Below average fiscal health

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