CochraneAlberta

Statistics Canada counts it in the Calgary metro area. 39,397 residents make their home in this town in Alberta.

5 places within 19 kmMap →

Photo: Thank you for visiting my page from Canada · CC BY 2.0

Population

39,397

people, 2025 estimate

Median age

39.2

years · Alberta’s towns: 40.8

Postsecondary

64%

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

Walk, cycle, transit

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

TownGrade

A⁻

#502 of 2,556

Is Cochrane a good place to live?

Much to like here, and you pay for it. Residents are healthier than most (A). Police record less crime here than in most towns (A). What counts against it is cost of living (C−). All told, that adds up to an A− overall and a rank of #102 of 473 in Alberta. That leaves it better than 77% of Canadian towns. Its remaining grades are unremarkable: B− for schools and B for jobs & income.

Rents here are the metro area's average, shared by every town and neighbourhood in 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.

StrongestAHealth ASafetyWeakestC⁻Cost of living

What makes Cochrane stand out

The 3 things Cochrane does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Population growth, 2016 to 2021

Growth

+25% more people than in 2016

Against 4% in the median of Canadian towns

Statistics Canada, Census 2016 and 2021

Immigrants

Who lives here

14% are immigrants

Canadian towns centre on 6%

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

Health

Better than 94%

of Canadian towns on health

Its health grade: A.

How Cochrane grades

Each subject compares Cochrane 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

HealthNear the top of the towns comparedAOpen →SafetyGraded on crime per residentAOpen →Cost of livingHomes are harder to afford than in most townsC⁻Open →WalkabilityAbove the middle of the towns comparedB⁺Open →Hazard riskGraded on earthquake risk and radon, with high wildfire risk able to lower itB⁺Open →Jobs & incomeIncomes and work beat most townsBOpen →SchoolsNear typical for the towns comparedB⁻Open →

How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Cochrane.

HealthHealth A

Cochrane’s grade for health: an A

Arthritis, diabetes and high blood pressure affect 16% of the region’s adults on average, below Alberta’s towns (18%) and Canadian towns (17%) alike. Life expectancy in the region is 83.0 years (85.0 for women, 80.9 for men, 2022/2024). Add to that, the survey puts the region’s share in very good or excellent health at 56%, ahead of the 53% for Alberta. What sets Cochrane apart within its region is a longer trip to hospital, 5.2 km for the average resident (3.7 km typical).

56%very good or excellent healthAHealth Grade

Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised

Cochrane56%

Alberta’s towns51%

Canadian towns52%

Health	Cochrane	Alberta	Canada
Very good or excellent health	56%	51%	52%
Smokers	7.9%	12%	12%
Chronic conditions (average share)	16%	18%	17%
Life expectancy at birth	83.0	81.2	81.5

83.0

years of life expectancy, 2022/2024

5.2 km

from homes to a hospital, on average

7.9%

of adults smoke, age-standardised

1.5 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

Full pageCochrane’s health pageOpen the full Health page

Health survey56% very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised Getting care5.2 km to a hospital · A pharmacy 1.5 km away on average The wider areaLife expectancy: women 85.0, men 80.9 Conditions and habits16% with chronic conditions · adults, age-standardised

Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities · Area behind the health survey and life expectancy figures: the Calgary Zone

SafetySafety A

Violent crime weighs less on Cochrane than on Alberta’s towns or Canadian towns: a violent severity index of 39

Police recorded 8 violent incidents per 1,000 residents a year, below both Alberta’s towns (14.2) and Canadian towns (12). Property crime accounts for 22.3 incidents per 1,000 residents a year.

40Crime Severity Index

Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year

202344

202438

202537

2023–2025	Cochrane	Alberta	Canada
Violent Crime Severity Index	39	109	86
Property crime per 1,000	22.3	45	31.2
Violent crime	8	14.2	12

non-violent Crime Severity Index

31%

of incidents cleared, 2023–25

Full pageCochrane’s safety reportOpen the full Safety report

Safety40 Crime Severity Index · The index weighs each crime Cochrane’s police recorded by how serious it is.Questions“Is Cochrane safe?”

Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average

HousingCost of living C⁻

Half the owned homes in Cochrane are worth more than $448,000, half less

Owners make up 84% of households. Nearly a fifth of households spent 30% or more of their income on shelter, lower than Alberta’s towns (21%) and near Canadian towns (18%).

$448,000median home value, 2021C⁻Cost of living Grade

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

Cochrane$448,000

Alberta$400,000

Canadian towns$406,000

Census 2021	Cochrane	Alberta	Canada
Households owning their home	84%	74%	74%
Median home value, 2021	$448,000	$400,000	$406,000
Households spending 30%+ on shelter	19%	21%	18%

$1,908

monthly rent for a two-bedroom

$1,820

median monthly shelter cost for owners, 2021

Full pageCochrane’s cost of living pageOpen the full Cost of living page

Cost of livingThe median owner’s estimate, $448,000, against the median household income Renting$1,908 a month · A two-bedroom apartment, CMHC’s survey Owners and renters84% own their home

Statistics Canada, Census 2021; CMHC Rental Market Survey via Statistics Canada · Values come from owners at the 2021 census and incomes from 2020, so they predate the later rise in rates. · Rent as a share of income and monthly rent for a two-bedroom: the Calgary metro area

Natural hazardsHazard risk B⁺

A flood study covers Cochrane: 1 on the national inventory, the newest from Government of Alberta

Measured across the Calgary Health Region: radon tests

Shaking is about as much of a worry in Cochrane as in most places, at $0.025 a year per $1,000 of building value ($0.030 typical). About as many homes carry radon around Cochrane as elsewhere, 8.1% over the guideline where the typical town has 6.6%. Burn scars are few around Cochrane, with 0.1% of the land within 25 km touched by fire since 1986 (0.003% a year).

Lowwildfire bandB⁺Hazard risk Grade

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

Cochrane8.1%

Alberta’s towns7.5%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	Cochrane	Alberta	Canada
Radon tests above the guideline	8.1%	7.5%	6.6%
Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year	$0.025	$0.013	$0.030

Low

wildfire band

0.4 km

to the nearest land burned since 1986

flood study on the national inventory

Full pageCochrane’s flood & hazards pageOpen the full Flood & hazards page

FloodOne flood study on record WildfireLow wildfire band · 0.1% of the land within 25 km burned since 1986 Earthquakes$0.025 a year per $1,000 · Canadian towns: $0.030 Radon8.1% 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

Work & commuteJobs & income B

Trips to work from Cochrane take longer than from Alberta’s towns or Canadian towns: 30 min on average

By car: that was how 91% of commuters travelled at the census.

6%walk, cycle or take transit

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van91%

Walk4%

Public transit1%

Bicycle1%

Census 2021	Cochrane	Alberta	Canada
Average trip	30 min	26 min	26 min
Car or van	91%	88%	89%

$113,000

median household income, 2020

25%

worked from home, May 2021

48%

of commuters work inside the municipality

Full pageCochrane’s work & commute pageOpen the full Work & commute page

Unemployment9.5% unemployed · Of the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Getting to work6% walk, cycle or take transit Where people commute to3,065 commuters · The biggest flow out: to Calgary

Statistics Canada, Census 2021 (labour and commuting) · Counted in May 2021, under pandemic rules: fewer commutes and more people between jobs than in a normal year.

Climate

Precipitation in Cochrane trails that of 82% of Canadian towns: 445 mm a year

The frost-free season runs from 21 May to 18 September, 119 days. For the wettest month, look to June: 113 mm on average. There are 193 days of frost in a typical year, near Alberta’s towns (193) and higher than Canadian towns (159). The warmest afternoons come in July, at around 23.5°C in Cochrane.

23.5°CJuly afternoons

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter−0.6°C

Spring10.3°C

Summer22.1°C

Autumn11.2°C

Normals, 1991–2020	Cochrane	Alberta	Canada
Precipitation a year	445 mm	431 mm	883 mm
July afternoon high	23.5°C	23.5°C	25.5°C
Days with frost a year	193	193	159

193

days with frost a year

119

frost-free days, 21 May to 18 Sep

days with precipitation a year

Full pageCochrane’s climate pageOpen the full Climate page

Rain and snow445 mm a year · Canadian towns: 883 mm The yearJuly highs 23.5°C, January lows −13.5°C Snow139 cm of snow a year Weather station33 km to the station · Calgary (Airport)

Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Calgary (Airport))

Who lives here

Children make up 21% of Cochrane, above Alberta’s towns and Canadian towns

Nearly one in ten residents belong to a visible minority, below Alberta’s towns (29%) and Canadian towns (15%) alike. People 65 and over make up 16% of the town.

39.2median age

CochraneAlbertaCanada

AlbertaCanada

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

21%

Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over

No certificate, diploma or degree10%

Postsecondary qualification64%

Women and men · all residents

Women make up 50.9% of Cochrane

Here the census found 16,405 women and 15,795 men; across Canada the share of women is 50.9%.

Who lives in Cochrane
	Cochrane	Alberta	Canada
Under 15	21%	18%	16%
15 to 64	63%	67%	64%
65+	16%	15%	19%
No certificate, diploma or degree	9.9%	15%	16%
Postsecondary qualification	64%	54%	56%

Full pageCochrane’s Who lives here pageOpen the full Who lives here page

Ages39.2 median age · 16% are 65 or over Households12,095 households · 2.6 people per household Immigrants14% are immigrants · 9% belong to a visible minority English and French9% speak both · 0.1% speak French but not English

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

Weather

In Cochrane, November normally means 4°C afternoons and −8°C nights

The forecast on the Weather page is ECCC’s for Cochrane. A normal December brings highs of freezing, lows of −12°C. In November, the normal is 16 mm of rain and snow. November usually brings some 19 cm of snow.

4°Ca normal November afternoon

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

November4°C

December0°C

January−2°C

February0°C

Season	High	Low	Rain and snow
Winter	−1°C	−12°C	34 mm
Spring	10°C	−2°C	108 mm
Summer	22°C	9°C	232 mm
Autumn	11°C	−1°C	71 mm

−8°C

a normal November night

16 mm

of rain and snow in a normal November

Full pageCochrane’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 (Calgary (Airport)); the forecast is on the Weather page

Town hall

Cochrane’s MP is Blake Richards (Conservative Party of Canada), for Airdrie—Cochrane

Across Alberta, 33 of the 37 MPs sit with the Conservative Party of Canada.

Full pageCochrane’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

Little Library and Nan Boothby Memorial Library are Cochrane’s two public libraries

From 2 branches, Cochrane Library serves 29,277 people.

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

A year at the library3.1 visits per person served Places to belong1.5 charities per 1,000 residents

Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada

SchoolsSchools B⁻

7 of Cochrane’s 10 tested schools score in the lower two fifths in Alberta

Within 3 km of Cochrane are 12 elementary schools, 3 secondary schools and 1 school for every grade, teaching 7,714 students. Its elementary schools are big ones, 436 students on average, against 274 in Alberta. One of the 16 teaches in French, against 2% of schools in Alberta.

16schools within 3 kmB⁻Schools Grade

School	Level	Students	System
Fireside School Bottom fifth in AlbertaLargest elementary schoolElementary · Grades K–8	Elementary · Grades K–8	905	English public
Cochrane High School Fourth fifth in AlbertaLargest secondary schoolSecondary · Grades 9–12	Secondary · Grades 9–12	1,004	English public
École Notre-Dame des Vallées FrenchTeaches in FrenchAll grades · Grades K–12	All grades · Grades K–12	215	French public

See all 16 schools →

Schools by system · Schools within 3 km

English public9

Independent4

English Catholic2

French public1

Schools within 3 km	Cochrane	Alberta	Canada
School boards	3	3	3

7,714

students at the schools within 3 km, 2025/26

1.1 km

to the nearest secondary school

Full pageCochrane’s schools pageOpen the full Schools page

Results2 of 10 in the top two fifths · of the schools with results, placed against every school in Alberta Every school16 schools within 3 km · 12 elementary schools, 3 secondary schools and 1 school for every grade Language1 of 16 teach in French · 2% of schools in Alberta The boards3 school boards · The Rocky View School Division Questions“What schools are there in Cochrane?”

Provincial school lists and results, 2025/26

Outdoors

A provincial park at Cochrane’s edge: Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park

Banff National Park is the closest national park, 45 km from town. Count 2 protected areas within 10 km of town. Within 10 km, 2.3% of the land is protected, about level with Canadian towns (2.3%) and above Alberta’s towns (0.4%).

2.3%of the land within 10 km protected

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

Cochrane2.3%

Alberta’s towns0.4%

Canadian towns2.3%

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

45 km

to Banff National Park

At the edge

to Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park

Full pageCochrane’s outdoors pageOpen the full Outdoors page

Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas2 protected areas within 10 km · Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park National & provincial parks45 km to a national park · Banff National Park

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

Nearby attractions

Cochrane Historical Museum and 12 more within 40 km

One place to visit is mapped within 5 km of Cochrane; with it, the best known within 40 km.

All attractions →

MuseumMuseumCochrane Historical Museumin town

MuseumGlenbow Museum33 km southeast · 149K visitors a year (2019)

AttractionCalgary Tower33 km southeast

ZooCalgary Zoo35 km southeast

MuseumTelus Spark Science Centre35 km southeast · 380K visitors a year

Theme parkCalaway Park14 km south

Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).

Photo credits (5)

Glenbow Museum: Darthrussel, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Calgary Tower: Qyd, CC BY 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
Calgary Zoo: Qyd, CC BY 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
Telus Spark Science Centre: CharlesAPhillips63, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Calaway Park: Qyd, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Cochrane

15pages on Cochrane

The big questions

SafetyACrime Severity Index 40 Housing & costC⁻Homes 4 × income Property pricesSchoolsB⁻16 schools within 3 km HealthALife expectancy 83 in its region Work & commuteB63% of adults in work Natural hazardsB⁺Wildfire band: low

Out and about

Outdoors2.3% of the land within 10 km protected AttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 24°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 39.2 HistoryTown hallFamous people

Famous people from Cochrane

12 notable people were born in Cochrane.

See all 12 →

Justin DowlingCanadian ice hockey player · born 1990

Ethan GageCanadian soccer player · born 1991

Tanner HouseCanadian ice hockey player · born 1986

Sarah WozniewiczCanadian ice hockey player · born 2003

Wacey HamiltonCanadian ice hockey player · born 1990

Billy DaweCanadian ice hockey player · 1924–2013

Photo credits

Justin Dowling: Ross Bonander, CC BY 2.0 · Ethan Gage: Longbomb, Public domain · Tanner House: TheAHL, CC BY 2.0 · Sarah Wozniewicz: Jenn G from Seattle, WA, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wacey Hamilton: TheAHL, CC BY 2.0

Cochrane’s neighbours

The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Statistics Canada

Rocky View CountyRocky RidgeTuscanyRoyal OakValley RidgeCochrane

How the neighbours grade

Town	People	km	Overall	Cost	Safety	Health
Cochrane	39,397	—	A⁻	C⁻	A	A
Rocky View County	50,260	15	B⁻	C⁺	D	A
Rocky Ridge	8,419	17	A⁻	C	B⁻	A⁺
Tuscany	19,986	17	A	B⁻	B⁻	A
Royal Oak	12,343	18	A⁻	C	B⁻	A⁺
Valley Ridge	7,782	18	A⁻	B	B⁻	A

People: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. Distances: centre to centre.

Questions about Cochrane

Is Cochrane growing?

It added people: 25,853 in 2016, 32,199 in 2021, 24.5% more, where the middle of Canadian towns grew 4.1%. Statistics Canada’s 2025 estimate is 39,397.

What kind of homes are in Cochrane?

Mostly 60% single-detached houses (the median of Canadian towns: 64%), with 0% of homes in buildings of five or more storeys. Households hold 2.6 people on average, and 21% have just one.

How old are the people of Cochrane?

The median resident is 39.2 years old, against 45.2 for the median of Canadian towns. 21% are under 15 and 16% are 65 or over.

About Cochrane

Town in Alberta

Statistics Canada treats Cochrane as a single census subdivision in Alberta, and TownRatings keeps to that line.

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

Population: 39,397 (people, 2025 estimate)
Province or territory: Alberta
Census division: Division No. 6
Metro area: Calgary
Census subdivision: 4806019

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).