Between the two cities – Albuquerque and Chesapeake – the latter is better. Chesapeake banks on academic excellence. It has moderate crime rates and offers many job opportunities to its residents. All these reasons make Chesapeake a better option.
Albuquerque, on the other hand, is cheaper compared to Chesapeake. The traffic in Albuquerque is also better.
But generally, Chesapeake is the better city in so many ways.
Chesapeake is a fantastic city with a lot of unique characteristics. It is also an ideal retirement city with affordable housing costs and a tremendous educational system.
Let us talk more about these characteristics, shall we?
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What are the pros and cons of Chesapeake vs. Albuquerque?
There are many advantages when living in Chesapeake. Crime rates here are lower. It also has educational institutions that are way better. Albuquerque, on the other hand, has higher crime rates. Unemployment numbers are also higher.
Of course, a city presents its residents with advantages and disadvantages.
Chesapeake has better educational institutions, which is essential, especially if you are moving with your kids. And as mentioned, the crime rates are lower. There are also more jobs here than in Albuquerque.
However, these cities also have issues. One of these concerns is that the traffic can be bad on some days in Chesapeake. It is contrary to the manageable traffic in Albuquerque.
Plus, the cost of living may not be the cheapest around.
Chesapeake Living
Chesapeake is famous for its high-quality educational institutions. But aside from these, there are more reasons why you should move here.
Pros
Here are a few things I am sure you would love when you move to Chesapeake.
- Moderate Crime Rate
- Academic Excellence
- A Healthy Job Market
The crime rate in Chesapeake is not as high compared to other cities.
It is lower compared to the rest of Virginia. The crime rate here is also lower than the US national average.
The most number of crimes in the city are property crimes. These include theft, arson, and burglary.
Crimes like armed robbery and assault come in second.
Chesapeake is famous for its outstanding educational institutions.
Be it a private or a public school, they all excel.
As of this writing, about 30% of the city’s population has a Bachelor’s degree or higher.
Chesapeake has noteworthy schools like Hampton University, Norfolk State University, and Old Dominion University.
Aside from these three, there are a lot more.
Chesapeake has a healthy economy with a slightly higher income per capita than the national average.
Also, the unemployment rate sits at 2.5%, a much lower number than the national average.
As of this writing, the national average unemployment rate is 5%.
Cons
Of course, living in Chesapeake is not always about roses and rainbows.
Read on.
- Cost of Living
- Traffic
Chesapeake may not be the most expensive city in the US. But it is costly.
Compared to the national average, Chesapeake is about 17% more expensive. Health and transportation are two drivers that make the city’s cost of living more expensive than others.
Commuting in Chesapeake is not as attractive as commuting in another city.
The traffic here is terrible.
The worst time to commute is during rush hour. When traveling during these hours, expect to be on the road far longer than you planned.
If in a rush, leave early.
Albuquerque Living
Living in Albuquerque is synonymous with outdoor activities. But aside from these activities, you will also get to meet warmhearted and friendly locals.
The way of living in Albuquerque is also slower compared to other cities.
Plus, the traffic here is not that bad.
Pros
Here are a few things that should excite you when moving to Albuquerque.
- Parks
- The Balloon Fiesta
- The Old Town
Across the US, Albuquerque is at the top of the list when it comes to parks.
The city has more than 25% covered by photogenic parks among major cities. With this in mind, residents have many options to go to for some outdoor fun.
As a resident, you can either walk or go for a run. You can also bring your family for a weekend picnic. Or why not spend a day catching up on your reading in any of these parks?
During the first parts of October every year, Albuquerque hosts the largest balloon festival in the world.
It is a yearly event that attracts tourists from all walks of life.
The balloon festival had its humble beginnings in 1972 and featured about 13 hot air balloons. Now, it displays more than 500 balloons every year, which is a far cry from the 13 balloons that it started with.
Not many cities in the US have an Old Town.
It is a perfect spot for shopping and historical sightseeing.
It has narrow streets and adobe houses that are more than a hundred years old. These adobe houses are also home to New Mexican eateries that serve residents and tourists the most delicious and authentic empanadas and sopaipilla pastries.
Also, the city’s Old Town has tiny artisan shops that sell wares like jewelry, rugs, and pottery.
The area is a charming and Instagrammable spot that overlooks the 18th-century San Felipe de Neri Church.
The New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science is a few meters away, home to many dinosaur skeletons.
Stroll for a few more minutes, and you will find the Albuquerque Museum that houses a horde of Southwestern artworks.
Cons
Naturally, there will always be things you should notice when living in Albuquerque.
Here are a few of them.
- The Taste of Water
- The Drivers
I find that the water in some parts of Albuquerque tastes differently.
Perhaps, this could take some getting used to. But looking at the report on water quality in Albuquerque, you will find that the city has minerals and toxins in its water at varying levels, depending on which part of the city you are in.
Nob Hill is the area with the least content of arsenic.
Water tastes better here.
The same is true in the SE Heights area.
The only downfall with SE Heights is its crime rate, higher than most parts of the city.
Some drivers in the city tend to cut you off.
They can leave their blinkers on, or they do not use them at all.
They sometimes run the red light and can be pretty annoying, especially for drivers that follow traffic rules.
Although the description cannot apply to all, the drivers here can be reckless at times.
Albuquerque or Chesapeake – Which is cheaper?
It is evident that when you compare Albuquerque with Chesapeake, Albuquerque will always be the cheaper option. Housing costs here are more affordable. It is also true for groceries, food, and a lot more.
| Living Expenses | Albuquerque | Chesapeake |
| Housing | 88 | 116.9 |
| Food & Groceries | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 81.1 | 108.5 |
| Utilities | 97.2 | 97.4 |
| Transportation | 89.4 | 101.2 |
Data is based on 100 = US National Average
>100 means more than the national average
<100 means cheaper than the national average
Housing/Rent
If there is something, you should know, Chesapeake has housing costs above the national average.
Albuquerque’s housing and rental prices are among the most affordable in the US. The housing and rental costs are about 12% lower than the national average. And that already speaks volumes about how low the cost of living is in Albuquerque.
On the other hand, Chesapeake is 16.9% higher than the US national average regarding housing costs.
Housing costs in Chesapeake may not be super expensive compared to other mega-cities like LA or New York, but it still is expensive.
And comparing Chesapeake with Albuquerque, the variance in numbers is enormous.
Utility Costs
Albuquerque is still more affordable than Chesapeake in this aspect of your budget.
But if something you should note, the difference is relatively small. Albuquerque is cheaper than Chesapeake in utility costs by a mere 0.2%.
Both cities are also lower than the national average in utility costs.
And because the difference between the two cities may not amount to much, this could not determine your final decision.
Overall, your utility costs can vary. If you use too much electricity or too much heating, you will pay more, no matter where you are.
On average, Albuquerque is cheaper than Chesapeake by 0.2%.
But the difference is not that significant for it to matter.
Food and Groceries
Food and groceries are essential parts of your budget.
And consistent with earlier findings, Albuquerque is still cheaper in food and groceries than Chesapeake.
Chesapeake is at par with the national average. And it only means that when you are in Chesapeake, most likely, you will be spending as much as the residents in other cities.
On the other hand, Albuquerque is about 4% cheaper than the national average for food and groceries.
It is safe to assume that grocery items here are cheaper. And this should be beneficial, especially if you tend to cook and prepare food at home.
Transportation Costs
The cost of transportation in Chesapeake is more expensive than in Albuquerque.
In Chesapeake, transportation costs are about 1.2% higher than the national average. Albuquerque is lower than the national average by about 10.6% on the other side of the spectrum.
The cheaper transportation costs in Albuquerque can be beneficial, especially if you tend to live away from work.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs present another glaring evidence that Albuquerque is the cheaper option.
For starters, Albuquerque is lower than the national average. On the other hand, Chesapeake is higher.
Albuquerque has cheaper medicines.
They also have more affordable professional fees.
These fees should include doctors’ visits and the like.
The cost of healthcare in Chesapeake is 8.5% more expensive than the national average. Albuquerque is cheaper by 18.9%.
Health is an integral part of the budget.
After the pandemic, the priorities mostly shifted to health as an essential investment.
And with the differences in the cost of healthcare, this could be a determining factor before your move.
Is Albuquerque bigger than Chesapeake?
When it comes to the land area, Chesapeake is larger than Albuquerque. Albuquerque has a land area of about 187.2 square miles. Chesapeake has a land area of 351 square miles.
Despite the smaller land area, Albuquerque is more populated than Chesapeake.
In 2021, Albuquerque’s population stood at 562,000. Chesapeake was at 252,000.
It is also evident that the population density in Albuquerque is higher.
In Albuquerque, the population density is at 3,002 individuals per square mile. In Chesapeake, it is only at 745 people per square mile.
Is Albuquerque safer than Chesapeake?
One of the challenges of the city government of Albuquerque is pulling its crime rates down. The crime rate in Albuquerque is high. In Chesapeake, crimes are low to moderate. Chesapeake is safer than Albuquerque.
First of all, let us discuss the crime index.
Overall, Chesapeake has a crime index of 32.72. And this is a low number. It means that the residents of Chesapeake feel safe most of the time.
Albuquerque has a higher crime index which is at 70.66.
The difference between the two details is glaring. And this difference tells a lot about how safe one city is, compared to the other.
Chesapeake is safer than Albuquerque.
Vandalism and theft are at moderate levels in Chesapeake at 43.75%. In Albuquerque, the same types of crimes are at 85.05%. The variance is something you should look at closely.
The rest of the crimes are lower in Chesapeake.
For example, crimes related to drugs are only at 37.50% in Chesapeake, while at 85.16% in Albuquerque.
In all types of crimes, Chesapeake is lower.
These numbers should be enough to prove that Chesapeake is safer compared to Albuquerque.
Is Chesapeake better than Albuquerque?
Chesapeake is better than Albuquerque in a lot of ways. Albuquerque may be more affordable. But Chesapeake has more job opportunities. Besides, Chesapeake is safer.
It is never hard to choose between the two cities.
All you need to consider is your safety.
How safe are you in Albuquerque vs. how safe are you in Chesapeake?
When it comes to your job, how secure is it in Chesapeake? How safe is your position in Albuquerque?
Safety is a significant consideration when moving to another location.
Chesapeake is indeed more expensive than Albuquerque. But the city makes up to it with its competitive wages for its workers.
Plus, it is a city that offers a lot of job opportunities.
Chesapeake is better.
What do you think?
Tell me in the comments section below.