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

Chesapeake, VA vs Richmond, VA

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

Summary

Richmond spends 25.6% more per capita than Chesapeake ($15,802/person difference). Richmond, VA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (D, 45/100).

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
Richmond, VA
Pop. 227,171
D
45/100
Budget Balance58
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Chesapeake
Richmond
Total Spending
$11.4B
$14.0B
Spending / Capita
$45,860
$61,661
Total Revenue
$24.3M
$17.5B
Revenue / Capita
$98
$77,122
Total Debt
$170.5M
$296.3M
Debt / Capita
$684
$1,304
Population
249,377
227,171
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Chesapeake$2,306
Richmond$2,108
Fire Protection
Chesapeake$755
Richmond$921
Highways & Roads
Chesapeake$413
Richmond$738
Parks & Recreation
Chesapeake$559
Richmond$1,154
Education
Chesapeake$25,005
Richmond$20,033
Health
Chesapeake$481
Richmond$341

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

ChesapeakeRichmond
Property Tax
$12
$0
Sales Tax
$39
$930
Income Tax
$0
$879
Intergovernmental
$5
$3,985
Charges & Fees
$1,780
$3,949
Other
$3,671
$7,690

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

ChesapeakeRichmond
Police
$2,306
$2,108
Fire Protection
$755
$921
Highways & Roads
$413
$738
Education
$25,005
$20,033
Public Welfare
$2,106
$1,535
Health
$481
$341
Hospitals
$1,086
$3,770
Parks & Recreation
$559
$1,154
Housing
$3,550
$5,951
Sewerage
$331
$17
Utilities
$3,148
$7,265
Interest on Debt
$0
$3,048
Other
$6,120
$14,781
D
Chesapeake, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 41/100
Below average fiscal health
D
Richmond, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 45/100
Below average fiscal health

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