Bow IslandAlberta

Some 2,310 people live in this town, in Alberta. Its census division is Division No. 1.

Photo: Jason Woodhead · CC BY 2.0

Population

2,310

people, 2025 estimate

Median age

30.6

years · Alberta’s towns: 40.8

Postsecondary

25%

of residents 15 and over hold a postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree · Canadian towns: 56%

Walk, cycle, transit

13%

walk, cycle or take transit to work · Canadian towns: 8%

Is Bow Island a good place to live?

Bow Island is a safe place by the numbers (A). The typical owner put their home at $262,000 in 2021: 3.4 years of the median household’s income. Schools do well (A). Its remaining grades are unremarkable: B for health and B for jobs & income.

Figures: home values and income: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. With fewer than 2,500 residents, Bow Island gets subject grades but no overall one among Canadian towns.

This town's rent is the 2021 census rent scaled to 2025 by its province's ratio of surveyed to census rents: no rental survey covers it, so its Cost Grade is less sure. Safety is the police detachment's figure, shared with the towns and countryside around it. Health is graded on the health region's survey figures and life expectancy, with the distance to hospital giving the town its own spread.

StrongestA⁺Walkability ASafety AHazard risk

How Bow Island grades

Each subject compares Bow Island with Canadian towns of 2,500 or more, ordered by how far it is from the middle. Towns in other countries are graded separately.

How grading works

With fewer than 2,500 residents, Bow Island gets subject grades but no overall one among Canadian towns.

WalkabilityBased on walking, cycling and transit to everyday placesA⁺Open →SafetyVery little crime by comparisonAOpen →Hazard riskIn the top fifth of the towns comparedAOpen →SchoolsGraded on exam and test resultsAOpen →Jobs & incomeIncomes and work beat most townsBOpen →HealthClose to the middle of the towns comparedBOpen →Cost of livingBased on what homes cost against what households earnB⁻Open →

How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →

What makes Bow Island stand out

The 3 things Bow Island does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree

Education

25% have a postsecondary qualification

Next to 56%, the median among Canadian towns

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

Unemployment rate, Census 2021

Work

3% unemployment

Of the labour force, against 10% for the median of Canadian towns

63% of residents 15 and over were in work, May 2021.

Immigrants

Who lives here

20% are immigrants

Canadian towns centre on 6%

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Bow Island.

SafetySafety A

The police who cover Bow Island record less serious crime than Alberta’s towns or Canadian towns: a Crime Severity Index of 34

34Crime Severity Index

Where it is policed, thefts, break-ins and damage came to 15.3 per 1,000 a year, lower than both Alberta’s towns (45) and Canadian towns (31.2). The force’s area logs 5.5 violent incidents per 1,000 residents a year.

Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year

202325

202439

202540

2023–2025	Bow Island	Alberta	Canada
Crime Severity Index	34	110	67
Violent Crime Severity Index	27	109	86
Property crime per 1,000	15.3	45	31.2
Violent crime	5.5	14.2	12

non-violent Crime Severity Index

25%

of incidents cleared, 2023–25

Full pageBow Island’s safety reportOpen the full Safety report

Safety34 Crime Severity Index · The index weighs each crime Bow Island’s police recorded by how serious it is.Questions“Is Bow Island safe?”

Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average · Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000: one figure for all of the Bow Island detachment area

Natural hazardsHazard risk A

Bow Island faces fewer hazards than 87% of Canadian towns

Lowwildfire bandAHazard risk Grade

Health Canada’s survey found radon above the guideline in 4.4% of homes, below both Alberta’s towns (7.5%) and Canadian towns (6.6%). Wildfire is rare near Bow Island: 0.1% of the land within 25 km has burned since 1986, a burn rate of 0.002% a year. No one has filed a flood map for Bow Island on the national inventory. For radon tests, the only official count covers all of the Palliser Health Region, Bow Island included.

Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³

Bow Island4.4%

Alberta’s towns7.5%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	Bow Island	Alberta	Canada
Radon tests above the guideline	4.4%	7.5%	6.6%
Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year	$0.015	$0.013	$0.030

Low

wildfire band

11 km

to the nearest land burned since 1986

Full pageBow Island’s flood & hazards pageOpen the full Flood & hazards page

WildfireLow wildfire band · 0.1% of the land within 25 km burned since 1986 FloodNo flood study on record Earthquakes$0.015 a year per $1,000 · Canadian towns: $0.030 Radon4.4% of tests above the guideline Be readyAlerts, FireSmart and radon tests

NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory

SchoolsSchools A

Bow Island’s schools mostly beat the middle in Alberta, 2 of the 3 with results

4schools within 3 kmASchools Grade

The 3 km around Bow Island counts 1 elementary school and 3 schools for every grade, 504 students between them.

School	Level	Students	System
Bow Island Elementary SchoolLargest elementary schoolElementary · Grades K–3	Elementary · Grades K–3	68	English public
Senator Gershaw School Second fifth in AlbertaLargest secondary schoolAll grades · Grades 4–12	All grades · Grades 4–12	233	English public

See all 4 schools →

Schools by system · Schools within 3 km

English public2

Independent1

English Catholic1

Schools within 3 km	Bow Island	Alberta	Canada
School boards	2	3	3

504

students at the schools within 3 km, 2025/26

0.4 km

to the nearest secondary school

Full pageBow Island’s schools pageOpen the full Schools page

Results2 of 3 in the top two fifths · of the schools with results, placed against every school in Alberta Every school4 schools within 3 km · 1 elementary school and 3 schools for every grade Language0 of 4 teach in French · 2% of schools in Alberta The boards2 school boards · The Prairie Rose School Division Questions“What schools are there in Bow Island?”

Provincial school lists and results, 2025/26

Who lives here

A town of families: 28% of people in Bow Island are under 15, more than in Alberta’s towns and across Canadian towns

30.6median age

Visible minorities make up 2.6% of the population, below Alberta’s towns (29%) and Canadian towns (15%) alike. People 65 and over make up 14% of the town.

Bow IslandAlbertaCanada

AlbertaCanada

Ages · Share of residents in each age group, Census 2021

28%

Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over

No certificate, diploma or degree49%

Postsecondary qualification25%

Women and men · all residents

50.0% of Bow Island’s residents are women

1,020 men and 1,020 women lived here in 2021, against a share of women of 50.9% for Canada.

Who lives in Bow Island
	Bow Island	Alberta	Canada
Under 15	28%	18%	16%
15 to 64	58%	67%	64%
65+	14%	15%	19%
No certificate, diploma or degree	49%	15%	16%
Postsecondary qualification	25%	54%	56%

Full pageBow Island’s Who lives here pageOpen the full Who lives here page

Ages30.6 median age · 14% are 65 or over Households675 households · 2.9 people per household Immigrants20% are immigrants · 3% belong to a visible minority English and French1% speak both · 0% speak French but not English

Statistics Canada, Census 2021; Alberta and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+

Climate

Summer runs warm in Bow Island: July highs of 27.7°C, above Alberta’s towns and Canadian towns

27.7°CJuly afternoons

January is the snowiest month, with 17 cm on average. Counting rain and snow alike, 331 mm falls in a year, below Alberta’s towns (431 mm) and Canadian towns (883 mm) alike. Gardeners get 135 frost-free days, from 12 May to 25 September. For the wettest month, look to June: 76 mm on average.

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter−1.6°C

Spring12.9°C

Summer26.0°C

Autumn13.0°C

Normals, 1991–2020	Bow Island	Alberta	Canada
July afternoon high	27.7°C	23.5°C	25.5°C
Precipitation a year	331 mm	431 mm	883 mm
Snowfall a year	85 cm	127 cm	141 cm
Days with frost a year	176	193	159

85 cm

of snow a year

176

days with frost a year

135

frost-free days, 12 May to 25 Sep

days with precipitation a year

Full pageBow Island’s climate pageOpen the full Climate page

The yearJuly highs 27.7°C, January lows −14.1°C Rain and snow331 mm a year · Canadian towns: 883 mm Snow85 cm of snow a year Weather station50 km to the station · Medicine Hat

Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Medicine Hat)

Work & commuteJobs & income B

Commuters in Bow Island have a short way to work, 16 min on average, less than in Alberta’s towns and across Canadian towns

13%walk, cycle or take transit

88% of commuters drove, close to both Alberta’s towns (88%) and Canadian towns (89%).

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van88%

Walk10%

Public transit3%

Census 2021	Bow Island	Alberta	Canada
Average trip	16 min	26 min	26 min
Car or van	88%	88%	89%

$76,500

median household income, 2020

10%

worked from home, May 2021

81%

of commuters work inside the municipality

Full pageBow Island’s work & commute pageOpen the full Work & commute page

Unemployment3.4% unemployed · Of the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Getting to work13% walk, cycle or take transit Where people commute to55 commuters · The biggest flow out: to Taber

Statistics Canada, Census 2021 (labour and commuting) · Census day was in May 2021, mid-pandemic, so commuting and work figures carry the lockdowns’ mark.

HealthHealth B

People in Bow Island’s health region live to 78.7 on average, 2.8 years short of the typical Canadian town

52%very good or excellent healthBHealth Grade

Health survey and life expectancy for the South Zone

About as many adults call their health very good or excellent here as across Alberta, 52% against 53%. Chronic conditions run at nearly a fifth of adults, age-standardised, above both Alberta’s towns (18%) and Canadian towns (17%). The town’s own part is the trip to care, and Bow Island is well placed: 0.6 km to a hospital on average, against 3.7 km typical.

Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised

Bow Island52%

Alberta’s towns51%

Canadian towns52%

Health	Bow Island	Alberta	Canada
Life expectancy at birth	78.7	81.2	81.5
Chronic conditions (average share)	19%	18%	17%
Very good or excellent health	52%	51%	52%

78.7

years of life expectancy, 2022/2024

0.6 km

from homes to a hospital, on average

51 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

Full pageBow Island’s health pageOpen the full Health page

Health survey52% very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised Getting care0.6 km to a hospital · A pharmacy 51 km away on average The wider areaLife expectancy: women 80.6, men 76.8 Conditions and habits19% with chronic conditions · adults, age-standardised

Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities

Weather

What November brings in Bow Island: −7°C at night, 5°C by day

5°Ca normal November afternoon

November usually brings some 13 cm of snow. In November, the normal is 14 mm of rain and snow. The year peaks in July (28°C) and bottoms out in January (−14°C). ECCC’s forecast for Bow Island is on the Weather page, hour by hour.

Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

November5°C

December−1°C

January−3°C

February−1°C

Season	High	Low	Rain and snow
Winter	−2°C	−13°C	36 mm
Spring	13°C	−1°C	84 mm
Summer	26°C	11°C	145 mm
Autumn	13°C	0°C	65 mm

−7°C

a normal November night

14 mm

of rain and snow in a normal November

Full pageBow Island’s weather pageOpen the full Weather page

Next 24 hoursTemperature and chance of rain, hour by hour The week aheadECCC’s days ahead, beside the normals The yearWarmest July, coldest January

ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Medicine Hat); the forecast is on the Weather page

Town hall

Glen Motz won Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner by 24,832 votes in 2021, a wider lead than in 96% of Canada’s ridings

Bow Island sends one MP to Ottawa from Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, its riding (a federal electoral district, which elects one MP): Glen Motz (Conservative Party of Canada).

Full pageBow Island’s town hall & politics pageOpen the full Town hall & politics page

Who runs itTown

Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada

Library & civic lifeCivic life grade B⁻

Each person Bow Island Library serves borrows 13.8 items, more than at 88% of Alberta’s town libraries

Bow Island Library has one location for the 2,043 people it serves.

Full pageBow Island’s library & civic life pageOpen the full Library & civic life page

A year at the library2.6 visits per person served Places to belong5.2 charities per 1,000 residents

Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada

HousingCost of living B⁻

Rent takes less of local pay in Bow Island than in Alberta’s towns or Canadian towns: 17% of household income

$262,000median home value, 2021B⁻Cost of living Grade

Shelter took 30% or more of income for 16% of households, below Alberta’s towns (21%) and Canadian towns (18%) alike. Owners make up 70% of households.

What homes were worth · The median owner’s estimate at the 2021 census

Bow Island$262,000

Alberta$400,000

Canadian towns$406,000

Census 2021	Bow Island	Alberta	Canada
Rent as a share of income	17%	20%	20%
Households spending 30%+ on shelter	16%	21%	18%
Median home value, 2021	$262,000	$400,000	$406,000
Households owning their home	70%	74%	74%

$890

monthly rent for a two-bedroom

$1,250

median monthly shelter cost for owners, 2021

Full pageBow Island’s cost of living pageOpen the full Cost of living page

Renting$890 a month · The median rent at the 2021 census Cost of living3.4 times household income · The median owner’s estimate, $262,000, against the median household income Owners and renters70% own their home

Statistics Canada, Census 2021; CMHC Rental Market Survey via Statistics Canada · Home values are owners’ own estimates at the May 2021 census, and incomes are for 2020.

Outdoors

Protected land is absent from the 10 km around Bow Island

0%of the land within 10 km protected

A provincial park, Kinbrook Island Provincial Park, lies 67 km away. The nearest national park is more than 100 km away.

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

Bow Island0%

Alberta’s towns0.4%

Canadian towns2.3%

Outdoors	Bow Island	Alberta	Canada
Protected land within 10 km	0%	0.4%	2.3%
Public protected areas within 10 km	0	2	4

67 km

to Kinbrook Island Provincial Park

Full pageBow Island’s outdoors pageOpen the full Outdoors page

Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas0 protected areas within 10 km National & provincial parks67 km to a provincial park · Kinbrook Island Provincial Park

Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Bow Island

15pages on Bow Island

The big questions

SafetyACrime Severity Index 34 Housing & costB⁻Homes 3.4 × income Property pricesSchoolsA4 schools within 3 km HealthBLife expectancy 78.7 in its region Work & commuteB63% of adults in work Natural hazardsAWildfire band: low

Out and about

OutdoorsAttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 28°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 30.6 HistoryTown hallFamous people

Famous people from Bow Island

5 notable people were born in Bow Island.

See all 5 →

Troy LoneyCanadian ice hockey player · born 1963

Nicholas TaylorCanadian politician · 1927–2020

Pauline van RoesselCanadian rower · born 1967

Skyler StromsmoeBaseball player · born 1984

Nelson HenricksCanadian artist · born 1963

About Bow Island

Town in Alberta

The boundary here is Statistics Canada’s: Bow Island is one census subdivision in Alberta, and TownRatings describes all of it.

Statistics Canada: population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155), Census of Population 2021, 2021 census boundaries.

Population: 2,310 (people, 2025 estimate)
Province or territory: Alberta
Census division: Division No. 1
Census subdivision: 4801014

Questions about Bow Island

What kind of homes are in Bow Island?

Mostly 83% single-detached houses (the median of Canadian towns: 64%), with 0% of homes in buildings of five or more storeys. Households hold 2.9 people on average, and 24% have just one.

Is Bow Island growing?

It grew from 1,983 people in 2016 to 2,036 in 2021, up 2.7%; the median of Canadian towns grew 4.1%. StatCan’s 2025 estimate is 2,310.

How old are the people of Bow Island?

At 30.6, its median age compares with 45.2 across Canadian towns. Children make up 28% of the population and seniors 14%.

Sources: Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021 · population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155) and 2021 census boundaries · Uniform Crime Reporting Survey 2023–25 (35-10-0026, 35-10-0183 to 35-10-0190) · CMHC rents as published by Statistics Canada (34-10-0133) · grades by TownRatings. Under the Statistics Canada Open Licence.

Adapted from Statistics Canada (Census of Population 2021, population estimates 2025, 2021 census boundaries) under the Statistics Canada Open Licence; this does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada. Neighbourhood names in some cities © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).