Chesapeake, Virginia Population 2024

255,173

Chesapeake is a city located in Chesapeake City Virginia. Chesapeake has a 2024 population of 255,173. Chesapeake is currently growing at a rate of 0.53% annually and its population has increased by 2.15% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 249,803 in 2020.

The average household income in Chesapeake is $114,454 with a poverty rate of 7.64%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to - per month, and the median house value is -. The median age in Chesapeake is 37.4 years, 36.2 years for males, and 38.5 years for females.

Chesapeake is an independent city located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Chesapeake is not located within a county. Chesapeake is located on the border of North Carolina.

Chesapeake is the third-most populous city in Virginia and the second-largest city by land area in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population density in Chesapeake is 260% higher than the Virginia average and 660% higher than the national average.

Chesapeake Diversity and Language

English is the primary language in Chesapeake, with 92.41% of residents speaking only English. 7.59% of residents speak another non-English language. The most common non-English language spoken is Spanish, which is spoken by 3.76% of the population.

Chesapeake Population Growth

The Chesapeake population has had a generally steady growth with a few periods of decreasing population, such as a 48.1% decrease from 1950 to 1960. Chesapeake’s largest period of population growth happened between 1940 and 1950, with an increase from 35,828 people to 99.537, or 177.8%. Between 2010 and 2018, Chesapeake’s population is estimated to have grown 9.2%, a little over 1% per year.

Chesapeake has played a significant role in the birth of the United States since the arrival of colonial settlers to the area in 1620. The Virginia Colony was formed in 1691 and Norfolk County included the area encompassing what would become the cities of Norfolk, Portsmouth, and South Norfolk. South Norfolk would later become Chesapeake.

During the American Revolutionary War, the colonists fought and won the Battle of Great Bridge in 1775. The victory resulted in the removal of the British Government from the Colony of Virginia.

South Norfolk became an incorporated town in Norfolk County in 1919 and became an independent city in 1922. The residents of South Norfolk wanted to put their jurisdiction on equal ground with the larger cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth; however, South Norfolk was about to lose all of the county land adjoining it to the city of Norfolk. In 1963, Chesapeake was formed as a new independent city of South Norfolk consolidated with Norfolk County.

Up until the late 1980s and 1990s, Chesapeake remained relatively rural or suburban and served as a bedroom community for Norfolk and Virginia. Chesapeake residents typically commuted to these larger cities from Chesapeake. During and after this period, Chesapeake started to experience significant growth in both the population and industries and businesses. While the growth was mostly positive, it did come with several issues, such as strains on municipal infrastructure.

Chesapeake hosted the first trial of alleged Beltway sniper Lee Boyd Malvo for shootings in 2002. A jury convicted him of murder and sentenced him to life in prison without parole. Chesapeake made national headlines for the trial.

Chesapeake Demographics

According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Chesapeake was:

  • White: 57.28%
  • Black or African American: 29.29%
  • Two or more races: 7.13%
  • Asian: 3.68%
  • Other race: 2.4%
  • Native American: 0.17%
  • Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.06%
Land Area (mi²)
338.5 sq mi
Density (mi²)
753.80/sq mi
Growth Since 2020
2.15% (5,370)
The current population of Chesapeake, Virginia is 255,173 based on our projections of the latest US Census estimates.The last official US Census in 2020 recorded the population at 249,803.

Chesapeake, Virginia Population 2024

Population by Race

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Race
Population
Percentage (of total)
White142,84057.28%
Black or African American73,03429.29%
Two or more races17,7867.13%
Asian9,1793.68%
Other race5,9772.4%
Native American4170.17%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander1440.06%

White

Black or African American

Two or more races

Asian

Other race

Native American

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

Chesapeake Population by Race

Chesapeake Population Pyramid 2024

Chesapeake Median Age

37.4

Total

36.2

Male

38.5

Female

Chesapeake Adults

There are 189,273 adults, (34,375 of whom are seniors) in Chesapeake.

Chesapeake Age Dependency

61

Age Dependency Ratio

22.2

Old Age Dependency Ratio

38.8

Child Dependency Ratio

Chesapeake Sex Ratio

Female126,70550.81%
Male122,67249.19%

Chesapeake Population by Age

Chesapeake Renter vs Owner Occupied by Household Type

Household Type
Count
Average Size
Owner
Renter
All91,3682.6873.326.7
Married50,2833.2485.714.3
Non Family24,6081.2161.138.9
Female12,8413.2251.548.5
Male3,6362.9862.237.8

3.15

Average Family Size

2.68

Average Household Size

73.3%

Rate of Home Ownership

Married

Male

Female

NonFamily

owner

renter

Chesapeake Households and Families

Male

Female

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Less Than 9th Grade

9th to 12th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Associates Degree

Bachelors Degree

Graduate Degree

Chesapeake Educational Attainment by Sex (over 25)

Chesapeake Educational Attainment by Race

High School Graduation Rate

Bachelors Rate

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The highest rate of high school graduation is among white people with a rate of 94.89%.

The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 49.44%.

Chesapeake Educational Attainment by Race

All

Male

Female

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$54,283

Average Earnings

$65,243

Average Male

$43,743

Average Female

Chesapeake Earnings by Educational Attainment

Chesapeake Language by Age

Only English

Spanish

Other Indo-European Languages

Asian and Pacific Island Languages

Other Languages

Chesapeake Language

91.55% of Chesapeake residents speak only English, while 8.45% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 3.72% of the population.

Chesapeake Language

Chesapeake Poverty by Race

rate

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Name
Total
In Poverty
Poverty Rate
Black70,7888,44111.92%
White135,4256,9725.15%
Hispanic17,2392,11412.26%
Multiple17,5841,3997.96%
Other5,84579113.53%
Asian9,1375075.55%
Islander14485.56%

7.64%

Overall Poverty Rate

6.86%

Male Poverty Rate

8.37%

Female Poverty Rate

Poverty in Chesapeake

The race most likely to be in poverty in Chesapeake is Other, with 13.53% below the poverty level.

The race least likely to be in poverty in Chesapeake is White, with 5.15% below the poverty level.

The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 1.53%. Among those working part-time, it was 10.81%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 12.98%.

Chesapeake Poverty

rate

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Rate
Poverty
Less Than 9th Grade15.86%
High School8.32%
Some College6.24%
Bachelors or Greater2.87%

Chesapeake Poverty Rate by Education

rate

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Rate
Poverty
Male Unemployed13.87%
Female Unemployed12.4%
Female Employed5.11%
Male Employed2.92%

Chesapeake Poverty Rate by Employment Status and Sex

Chesapeake Income by Household Type

Households

Families

MarriedFamilies

NonFamilies

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mean

median

Income by Household Type

Chesapeake Marital Status

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Marriage Rates

53.8%

Overall Marriage Rate

56.4%

Male Marriage Rate

51.4%

Female Marriage Rate

Chesapeake Married by Age and Sex

male

female

Chesapeake Marriage

The age group where males are most likely to be married is 45-54, while the female age group most likely to be married is 35-44.

Chesapeake Marital Status by Race

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Chesapeake Marital Status

Second Gulf War

First Gulf War

Vietnam

Korea

World War II

28,497

Number of Veterans

22,376

Male Veterans

6,121

Female Veterans

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Chesapeake Veterans by War

count

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Chesapeake Veterans by Age

count

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Chesapeake Veterans by Race

Chesapeake Veterans by Education

Less Than 9th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Bachelors or Greater

3.11%

Veteran Poverty Rate

20.18%

Veteran Disability Rate

Chesapeake Veterans by Education

LaborForceParticipation

67.2%

Labor Force Participation

59.8%

Employment Rate

5%

Unemployment Rate

Chesapeake Employment by Age

LaborForceParticipation

Chesapeake Employment by Race

LaborForceParticipation

Chesapeake Employment by Education

Origin of Non-Citizens

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.

Origin of Naturalized Citizens

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

50.52%

Born in Chesapeake

93.98%

Native Born

6.02%

Foreign Born

2.25%

Non Citizen

3.77%

Naturalized

Place of Birth

93.98% of Chesapeake residents were born in the United States, with 50.52% having been born in Virginia. 2.25% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Asia.

Chesapeake Place of Birth

Note: data after 2022 is projected based on recent change

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Year
Population
Growth
Growth Rate
2029261,8851,3420.52%
2028260,5431,3430.52%
2027259,2001,3420.52%
2026257,8581,3430.52%
2025256,5151,3420.53%
2024255,1731,3430.53%
2023253,8301,3420.53%
2022252,4887490.3%
2021251,7391,9360.78%
2020249,8034,4001.79%
2019245,4032,6551.09%
2018242,7482,3320.97%
2017240,4162,7601.16%
2016237,6562,4031.02%
2015235,2531,7760.76%
2014233,4773,0621.33%
2013230,4152,2811%
2012228,1342,7741.23%
2011225,3601,8350.82%
2010223,525
2000199,18447,20831.06%
1990151,97637,49032.75%
1980114,48624,90627.8%
197089,580-172,305-65.79%

Chesapeake Population by Year