Is private school cheaper in Cambridge or Chesapeake?

Chesapeake has lower average private school tuition at $14,300/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. That's $17,700/year less, or $230,100 over a K-12 career.

How much can I save on private school by choosing Chesapeake over Cambridge?

Average tuition in Chesapeake is $17,700/year less than Cambridge. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $230,100 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $17,300/year in Cambridge, $9,800/year in Chesapeake.

How do Cambridge and Chesapeake private school costs compare to the national average?

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Cambridge averages $32,000/year ($19,650 above average). Chesapeake averages $14,300/year ($1,950 above average).

Private School Cost: Cambridge vs Chesapeake

Chesapeake averages $17,700/year less for private school (124% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $230,100 per child.

Bottom Line

Chesapeake is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $14,300/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. Religious schools run $9,800/year on the low end.

Cambridge

$32,000

avg tuition/year

$19,650 above national avg

Chesapeake

$14,300

avg tuition/year

$1,950 above national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Cambridge	Chesapeake	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$32,000/yr	$14,300/yr	+$17,700
Religious Schools	$17,300/yr	$9,800/yr	+$7,500
Independent/Prep	$65,000/yr	$28,500/yr	+$36,500
Elementary (K-5)	$27,200/yr	$12,200/yr	+$15,000
Middle School (6-8)	$32,000/yr	$14,300/yr	+$17,700
High School (9-12)	$38,400/yr	$17,200/yr	+$21,200

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Cambridge

$416,000

Chesapeake

$185,900

Choosing Chesapeake saves $230,100 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $460,200.

Sample Schools

Cambridge

Cambridge School of Weston

Independent · 9–12 · $59,400/yr

Buckingham Browne & Nichols School

Independent · PK–12 · $58,800/yr

Chesapeake

Greenbrier Christian Academy

Christian · K–12 · $9,400-$11,800/yr

Norfolk Academy

Independent · K–12 · $23,800/yr

Full Cambridge breakdown → Full Chesapeake breakdown →

Massachusetts private school costs Virginia private school costs

About This Comparison

This comparison uses NCES Private School Universe Survey data, adjusted for metro-level cost-of-living differences. "Average tuition" blends religious schools (Catholic, Christian) and independent day/prep schools. Religious schools typically cost 60-70% less than independent schools in the same city.

Grade-level estimates (elementary, middle, high) are derived from the city average using national grade-level multipliers. High school tuition typically runs 15-25% above the city average; elementary runs 10-20% below.