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

Norfolk, VA vs Chesapeake, VA

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

Summary

Norfolk spends 10.9% 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
Norfolk, VA
Pop. 236,973
D
46/100
Budget Balance62
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Chesapeake, VA
Pop. 249,377
D
41/100
Budget Balance30
Debt Burden68
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

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

Per Capita Spending by Department

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

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

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

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

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

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