City Comparison

Chesapeake vs Rockville: How they compare

Chesapeake is a sprawling Hampton Roads city offering spacious homes, public schools, and access to the Great Dismal Swamp. Rockville is the seat of Montgomery County, offering a blend of urban amenities and suburban neighborhoods. The details differ. Here is the sourced context for price, schools, commute, taxes, walkability, and reported crime data.

Market Overview

Rockville is pricier ($560K median vs $380K), a difference of about $180K. Rockville moves faster, with homes averaging 17 days on market compared to 22 in Chesapeake. Chesapeake offers a lower entry point at $175K–$1M.

Chesapeake

VA

Rockville

MD

Median Price

$380K

$560K

Avg Days on Market

22 days

17 days

Price Range

$175K–$1M

$200K–$1.8M

Notable Neighborhoods

Great Bridge, Greenbrier, Hickory, Western Branch

Rockville Town Center, Twinbrook, King Farm, Fallsgrove

Schools

Chesapeake has a 79% average SOL pass rate; Rockville has 85% (2024 state assessment data). Public schools in Chesapeake include Grassfield High School and Hickory High School; in Rockville, Richard Montgomery High School and Thomas S. Wootton High School. See Chesapeake schools | See Rockville schools

Chesapeake

VA

Rockville

MD

Avg Pass Rate

79%

85%

Public schools

Grassfield High School, Hickory High School, Oscar F. Smith High School

Richard Montgomery High School, Thomas S. Wootton High School, Julius West Middle School

These are district-wide assessment results. Verify current school assignments, boundaries, and programs with each local district for a specific address.

Commute

Chesapeake is closer to downtown at ~20 minutes vs ~30 minutes. Rockville has 3 Metro stations, including Rockville on the Red line. Major highway access: Chesapeake (I-64, I-464, I-264), Rockville (I-270, I-495, Rt 355).

Chesapeake

VA

Rockville

MD

Drive to Downtown

~20 min

~30 min

Metro Stations

No Metro access

3 Metro stations (nearest: Rockville)

Metro Lines

N/A

Red

Major Highways

I-64, I-464, I-264, Rt 168, Rt 17

I-270, I-495, Rt 355, Rt 28

Commuter Rail

None

MARC (Brunswick Line)

Walkability

Rockville is more walkable with a Walk Score of 52 (Somewhat Walkable), compared to 18 in Chesapeake. Transit scores: Chesapeake (8) vs Rockville (42). Walkability varies significantly by neighborhood. Urban corridors like Great Bridge and Rockville Town Center score much higher than suburban areas.

Chesapeake

VA

Rockville

MD

Walk Score

18Almost All Errands Require a Car
52Somewhat Walkable

Transit Score

8

42

Bike Score

22

55

Reported Crime Data

The cited public datasets report city-level violent- and property-crime rates for Chesapeake and Rockville. These historical figures do not describe a specific address or predict an individual's experience. Review the source period and local agency information for current context.

Chesapeake

VA

Rockville

MD

Reported Violent Crime

1.2/1K

1.1/1K

Reported Property Crime

13.5/1K

14.2/1K

VA

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MD

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chesapeake or Rockville more affordable?

Chesapeake is more affordable with a median home price of $380K, compared to $560K in Rockville. Both cities offer a wide range of housing options, from condos and townhomes to single-family homes. Chesapeake prices range from $175K–$1M. Rockville prices range from $200K–$1.8M.

What are the public-school pass rates in Chesapeake and Rockville?

Chesapeake public schools have a 79% average SOL pass rate; Rockville has 85% (2024 state assessment data). Public schools in Chesapeake include Grassfield High School and Hickory High School; in Rockville, Richard Montgomery High School and Thomas S. Wootton High School. Pass rates reflect district-wide assessment results; check the specific assigned schools for any address.

Which is easier to commute from, Chesapeake or Rockville?

Chesapeake has the shorter commute to downtown at ~20 minutes vs ~30 minutes. Chesapeake has no direct Metro access. Rockville has Metro access (Rockville).

How do Chesapeake and Rockville compare?

Chesapeake is a sprawling Hampton Roads city offering spacious homes, public schools, and access to the Great Dismal Swamp. Rockville is the seat of Montgomery County, offering a blend of urban amenities and suburban neighborhoods. The right choice depends on your priorities: budget, commute length, home types, and neighborhood feel. smover lets you compare agent profiles and available transaction records in either city.

Market data verified by smover using real transaction records. School data from Virginia DOE, Maryland MSDE, and DC OSSE public reports. Property tax rates from Virginia Dept. of Taxation (2024). Walkability scores from Walk Score (2024). Crime data from FBI UCR and Virginia State Police (2023). Commute times are approximate rush-hour estimates. Updated September 2026.

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