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

Chesapeake, VA vs Virginia Beach, VA

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

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

City A
Chesapeake, VA
Pop. 249,377
D
41/100
Budget Balance30
Debt Burden68
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
Virginia Beach, VA
Pop. 457,900
D
47/100
Budget Balance28
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Chesapeake
Virginia Beach
Total Spending
$11.4B
$19.5B
Spending / Capita
$45,860
$42,515
Total Revenue
$24.3M
$14.6B
Revenue / Capita
$98
$31,808
Total Debt
$170.5M
$135.8M
Debt / Capita
$684
$297
Population
249,377
457,900
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Chesapeake$2,306
Virginia Beach$1,126
Fire Protection
Chesapeake$755
Virginia Beach$512
Highways & Roads
Chesapeake$413
Virginia Beach$0
Parks & Recreation
Chesapeake$559
Virginia Beach$1,574
Education
Chesapeake$25,005
Virginia Beach$21,342
Health
Chesapeake$481
Virginia Beach$426

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

ChesapeakeVirginia Beach
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)

ChesapeakeVirginia Beach
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
D
Chesapeake, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 41/100
Below average fiscal health
D
Virginia Beach, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 47/100
Below average fiscal health

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