Background: Multiple randomized controlled trials have shown that both neoadjuvant chemotherapy (CT) and chemoradiation (CRT) convey survival benefit as compared to upfront surgery in patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma. However, international practice remains variable. Therefore, the present study compares the outcomes of first-line CT to CRT for patients with adenocarcinoma arising from the distal esophagus. Methods: Patients with clinical stage T2-T3, N0-N+ esophageal adenocarcinoma originating from the distal esophagus who received first-line CT or CRT were identified from the National Cancer Data Base (2006-2014). Propensity-score were created for the odds of receiving CRT. Patients were matched 1:1 based on propensity score. Subset analysis was performed in patients who underwent esophagectomy. Pathological complete response was defined as ypT0N0M0. Results: In total, 709 and 8,877 patients who received first-line CT and CRT were identified, respectively. CT was associated with stage cT2 (27.2% vs. 23.3%; p = 0.017), and treatment at a high-volume center (27.2% vs. 20.2%; p < 0.001). After matching, resection rates were comparable for patients who received first-line CT and CRT (62.2% vs. 63.7%; p = 0.545). However, median overall survival was slightly lower for patients who receive CT compared to CRT (23.7 vs. 28.4 months; p = 0.044). Among patients who underwent esophagectomy, time to surgery (135 vs. 134 days; p = 0.689) and median overall survival (37.0 vs. 40.5 months; p = 0.630) was similar between matched cohorts. However, complete response (15.8% vs. 25.8%; p < 0.001) and negative margin (94.3% vs. 88.9%; p = 0.004) rates were significantly lower after CT compared to CRT. Conclusions: In patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma, first-line CRT results in significantly higher pathological complete response rates, negative resection margins rates, and improved survival. These findings suggest that first-line CRT is preferable over CT when tolerated in patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma.