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

Virginia Beach, VA vs Chesapeake, VA

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

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

City A
Virginia Beach, VA
Pop. 457,900
D
47/100
Budget Balance28
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity0
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
Virginia Beach
Chesapeake
Total Spending
$19.5B
$11.4B
Spending / Capita
$42,515
$45,860
Total Revenue
$14.6B
$24.3M
Revenue / Capita
$31,808
$98
Total Debt
$135.8M
$170.5M
Debt / Capita
$297
$684
Population
457,900
249,377
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

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

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Virginia BeachChesapeake
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)

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

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