Chesapeake, VA vs Virginia Beach, VA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Chesapeake, VA and Virginia Beach, VA spend within 7.9% of each other per resident — $45,860 versus $42,515 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Virginia Beach, VA edges Chesapeake, VA on the Fiscal Health Score by 6 points — 47/100 (grade D) to 41/100 (grade D). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, Virginia Beach, VA carries the lighter load at $297 per resident versus $684 for Chesapeake, VA. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: education leads in Chesapeake, VA at $25,005 per resident and in Virginia Beach, VA at $21,342.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Chesapeake, VA at 3764% of total revenue, whereas Virginia Beach, VA relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.
Summary
Chesapeake spends 7.9% more per capita than Virginia Beach ($3,345/person difference). Virginia Beach, VA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (D, 47/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $12 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $39 | $673 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $831 |
| Intergovernmental | $5 | $31,808 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,780 | $1,462 |
| Other | $3,671 | $3,301 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $2,306 | $1,126 |
| Fire Protection | $755 | $512 |
| Highways & Roads | $413 | $0 |
| Education | $25,005 | $21,342 |
| Public Welfare | $2,106 | $2,071 |
| Health | $481 | $426 |
| Hospitals | $1,086 | $1,036 |
| Parks & Recreation | $559 | $1,574 |
| Housing | $3,550 | $2,788 |
| Sewerage | $331 | $140 |
| Utilities | $3,148 | $3,523 |
| Other | $6,120 | $7,978 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.