Virginia Beach, VA vs Chesapeake, 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 Virginia Beach, VA at $21,342 per resident and in Chesapeake, VA at $25,005.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Virginia Beach, VA at 100% of total revenue, whereas Chesapeake, VA relies most on other revenue at 3764%.
Summary
Chesapeake spends 7.3% 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 | $0 | $12 |
| Sales Tax | $673 | $39 |
| Income Tax | $831 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $31,808 | $5 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,462 | $1,780 |
| Other | $3,301 | $3,671 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $1,126 | $2,306 |
| Fire Protection | $512 | $755 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $413 |
| Education | $21,342 | $25,005 |
| Public Welfare | $2,071 | $2,106 |
| Health | $426 | $481 |
| Hospitals | $1,036 | $1,086 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,574 | $559 |
| Housing | $2,788 | $3,550 |
| Sewerage | $140 | $331 |
| Utilities | $3,523 | $3,148 |
| Other | $7,978 | $6,120 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.