Chesapeake, VA Homes For Rent

Homes for Rent in Chesapeake, VA: What You Need to Know

Chesapeake is one of the cities in the scenic Hampton Roads region, the gateway to southeastern Virginia. 

Tourist Attractions

If you love the outdoors, you’re going to love Chesapeake’s more than 22 miles of canals, rivers, and waterways. The Dismal Swamp Canal, built in the 1790s, is the oldest, continuously operating waterway in America. It connects southeastern Virginia to northeastern North Carolina. The canal is part of the Intracoastal Waterway, a popular destination for boating. The Chesapeake African American Heritage Trail begins at Battlefield Park and ends at Cuffeytown, a historic community that traces its roots to the 1700s. It was established by African Americans who were free. The area includes the Gabriel Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church and the Cuffeytown Historic Cemetery.

Job Opportunities

The Hampton Roads region is known for its ports, shipyards, and maritime-related industries, including warehousing, distribution, and logistics, but Chesapeake’s economy is also growing more diverse. Top employers include Canon Information Technology, Cox Communications, Capital One, and General Dynamics Information Technology. The discount store Dollar Tree Corp. is based in Chesapeake.

Shopping Local

Greenbrier Mall, with over 100 national and regional stores, and Chesapeake Square Mall, with 67 shops, are major shopping destinations in the city. At Chesapeake Square Mall, you can also catch a movie or dine in a restaurant or café in addition to shopping. The Towne Place at Greenbrier is another popular shopping and dining hub, with a number of upscale retailers and restaurants to choose from.

Cost of Living

If you’re moving to Chesapeake (population: 244,835), you can save on food, but you might need to shell out more on housing. The city’s cost of living rate and food costs are 0.3% and 29.2% lower than the national average respectively. Housing costs are 11.9% higher than the national average, with median gross rent at $1,279. On the bright side, the Old Dominion doesn’t tax Social Security benefits. Virginia levies 2% to 5.75% in income tax and 5.3% to 7% in sales tax.

Know Your Neighborhoods

Locals are proud of their hometown’s top-ranked public schools and consistently low crime rate. Some residents say the military bases in the region help boost the population but create a transient environment, with many people coming and going. For people who prefer the suburbs, Colonial Place is a short drive from Chesapeake. It has good schools, although lower in ranking than Chesapeake schools.