Chesapeake, West Virginia, 2014
Chesapeake’s story
111 years in pictures
The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2004.
- 1915Chesapeake is settled
ChesapeakeWV
A town of 1,270, settled in 1915.
1 bordering townMap →
Photo: Magnolia677 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
1,270
2025 Census estimate · −5.1% since 2020
Typical home
$95K
+5.6% in a year
Household income
$61K
median
Median age
37.7
years
Jobs based here
122
A commuter town
Is Chesapeake a good place to live?
Chesapeake’s best subject grades are a B+ for cost of living and walkability; its weakest is a D− for hazard risk. No town in West Virginia scores lower than Chesapeake on hazard risk. CDC estimates put its residents' health behind 97% of the country. Of the 62 West Virginia towns we compare, none has a lower share of working residents who work in town than Chesapeake. Only 6 of West Virginia’s 89 towns score lower on civic life. Chesapeake has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Chesapeake stand out
Where Chesapeake beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
A shrinking town
Chesapeake has shrunk 18% since 2010
1,554 counted in 2010 and 1,335 in 2020; an estimated 1,270 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Chesapeake grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within West Virginia), ordered by how far Chesapeake is from typical.
Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listD−Open →HealthCharleston Area Medical Center 9.9 miles awayD−Open →Jobs & income$61K median household incomeC−Open →Cost of livingB+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 9.5 of 20; 11.9% of households have no car; 1.6% of workers walk, bike or ride transitB+Open →SchoolsC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsConserved land, trails and parksDOpen →History2 notable people born hereC−Open →Civic life1.3 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 37.7; 10% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Chesapeake: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Chesapeake, and how to reach them.
PowerAppalachian Power17.0¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterWest Virginia American WaterNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers98% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Chesapeake’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn West Virginia you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person until 21 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 21 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereKanawha Clerk of the County CommissionKanawha County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jan 2024
ZIP code2531525315 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Chesapeake.
HealthD−
For health, Chesapeake earns a D−
23% of adults smoke cigarettes in Chesapeake, where West Virginia’s towns sit at 18% and U.S. towns at 14%. 48% of adults have high blood pressure in Chesapeake. Chesapeake beats the West Virginia average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 5.
3%healthier than U.S. townsD−Health Grade
| Chesapeake | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 18% | 14% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 48% | 44% | 35% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 21% | 17% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 37% | 32% | 25% |
32 measures vs. West Virginia
0 better27 too close to call5 worse
| What stands out | Chesapeake | WV |
|---|---|---|
| More adults facing food insecurity | 20.7% | 16.2% |
| More adults facing housing insecurity | 15.2% | 12.4% |
| More adults facing a utility shut-off | 13.2% | 11% |
Charleston Area Medical Center
9.9 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SchoolsC+
On state tests, Chesapeake’s schools trail 59% of West Virginia districts
Its public schools are run by the Kanawha County Schools. Its one school is below.
41%of WV districts it outscoresC+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chesapeake Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 205 | C− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within WV on state tests and graduation
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D−
Chesapeake stands out in West Virginia and nationally, with the FEMA risk score higher than most
At 99 of 100, Chesapeake’s FEMA risk score is above both West Virginia’s towns (69 of 100) and U.S. towns (44 of 100). Since 2003, 7 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Chesapeake.
99risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland flooding
7
paid flood claims since 2003
6
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HousingCost of living grade B+
Chesapeake’s typical home value is about $95K
The typical Chesapeake home is worth about $95,000, up 5.6% in a year, 46% below the West Virginia typical home. 78% of Chesapeake households own their home.
$95KZillow home value
| Chesapeake | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 78% | 68% | 73% |
| Median rent | $967 a month | $878 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Chesapeake$95K
West Virginia$177K
+5.6%
value change, 1 year
1
homes sold in April
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C−
Most of Chesapeake’s workers commute out: the town has 0.3 jobs for each of them
Most working residents leave Chesapeake for work: only 1% work in town. Since 2013, Chesapeake has lost 323 jobs, to 122 in 2023. The top destinations are Charleston (38%), South Charleston (10%) and Beckley (2%).
1%work in town
| Chesapeake | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 22% | 16% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 22 minutes | 21 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $61,000 | $59,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Chesapeake1%
Charleston38%
South Charleston10%
Beckley2%
Cross Lanes2%
12 mi
median commute distance
122
jobs based in Chesapeake
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
B+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 65% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Chesapeake
Chesapeake has chilly, snowy winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 86°, January nights drop to 25° and about 32 inches of snow falls in a winter.
32″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter27–46°
Spring43–67°
Summer63–85°
Fall46–69°
Nov 4
typical first frost
Apr 7
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Chesapeake
18pages on Chesapeake
The big questions
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
2 within 15 miles of the center of Chesapeake
University of CharlestonUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Charleston8.8 mi$33,800 tuitionBridgeValley Community & Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · South Charleston12.6 mi$5,800 in-state tuition
About 1 of every 100 Chesapeake residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across West Virginia.
Small town
1,270 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
BelleChesapeake
About Chesapeake
Town in West Virginia, United States
Chesapeake is a town in Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 1,336 at the 2020 census. The town is situated on the Kanawha River.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.6 sq mi
- Elevation
- 607 ft
- Area code
- 304
Questions about Chesapeake
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Chesapeake, WV expensive?
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B+.
What is Chesapeake, WV known for?
2 notable people were born here, including Lou Myers and Chris Massey.