Flagstaff CountyAlberta
With 3,724 residents, it is a town in Alberta. It lies in Division No. 7.
Is Flagstaff County a good place to live?
Low prices, and some weak spots to weigh against them. With a B overall, Flagstaff County is better than 62% of Canadian towns. In the ranking it comes #204 of 473 in Alberta. Jobs & income is where it shines (A−). Buying a home costs less than in most towns (A−). The trade-off is safety (C−).
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 less sure: no police service names this town, so its crime figure is the nearest police detachment's, shared with a wider area. Health is graded on the health region's survey figures and life expectancy, with the distance to hospital giving the town its own spread.
How Flagstaff County grades
Each subject compares Flagstaff County 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 TownRatings grades Canadian towns →
What makes Flagstaff County stand out
The 2 things Flagstaff County does most differently from other towns.
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Flagstaff County.
For hazard risk, Flagstaff County gets an A
Seismic risk runs low: $0.007 of expected damage per $1,000 of buildings a year, the typical town $0.030. About as many homes carry radon around Flagstaff County as elsewhere, 5.2% over the guideline where the typical town has 6.6%. Little of the land around Flagstaff County has burned: 0.2% within 25 km since 1986, or 0.007% a year. Behind radon tests sits data gathered across the East Central Health, with Flagstaff County one part of it.
Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³
| Hazards | Flagstaff County | Alberta | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radon tests above the guideline | 5.2% | 7.5% | 6.6% |
| Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year | $0.007 | $0.013 | $0.030 |
NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory
Flagstaff County has 0.1 jobs for every resident in work, so most leave town for work
92% of commuters drove, higher than both Alberta’s towns (88%) and Canadian towns (89%). The average trip to work took 26 min, near both Alberta’s towns (26 min) and Canadian towns (26 min).
How working residents got to work · census 2021
| Census 2021 | Flagstaff County | Alberta | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car or van | 92% | 88% | 89% |
| Average trip | 26 min | 26 min | 26 min |
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.
More households own their home in Flagstaff County than in Alberta’s towns or across Canadian towns: 91%
Shelter took 30% or more of income for 12% of households, lower than both Alberta’s towns (21%) and Canadian towns (18%). Rent took 15% of household income, below Alberta’s towns (20%) and Canadian towns (20%) alike.
What homes were worth · The median owner’s estimate at the 2021 census
| Census 2021 | Flagstaff County | Alberta | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households spending 30%+ on shelter | 12% | 21% | 18% |
| Households owning their home | 91% | 74% | 74% |
| Rent as a share of income | 15% | 20% | 20% |
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.
The force covering Flagstaff County records less serious violence than Alberta’s towns or Canadian towns, at 69
No police detachment reports under Flagstaff County’s name, so these are the nearest detachment’s figures, not the town’s own
Across the area its police cover, the Crime Severity Index averaged 105 over 2023–25, about level with Alberta’s towns (110) and above Canadian towns (67). The force’s area logs 48 thefts, break-ins and acts of damage per 1,000 residents a year.
Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year
| 2023–2025 | Flagstaff County | Alberta | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crime per 1,000 | 48 | 45 | 31.2 |
| Violent Crime Severity Index | 69 | 109 | 86 |
| Crime Severity Index | 105 | 110 | 67 |
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 Killam detachment area
Flagstaff County’s region trails the typical Canadian town by 2.4 years: life expectancy 79.1
Arthritis, diabetes and high blood pressure affect nearly a fifth of the region’s adults on average, above Alberta’s towns (18%) and Canadian towns (17%) alike, and at 15%, the share of adults who smoke tops the 11% for Alberta. Across the region, 52% of adults say their health is very good or excellent, much as in Alberta (53%). For Flagstaff County itself the measure is access, and it lags: 19 km to the nearest hospital, where 3.7 km is typical. For health survey and life expectancy, the only official count covers all of the Central Zone, Flagstaff County included.
Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised
| Health | Flagstaff County | Alberta | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 79.1 | 81.2 | 81.5 |
| Smokers | 15% | 12% | 12% |
| Chronic conditions (average share) | 19% | 18% | 17% |
Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities
1 above the middle in Alberta, 1 below: Flagstaff County’s 3 tested schools
From the town centre, high school starts 5.3 km away, above Alberta’s towns (0.7 km) and Canadian towns (1.2 km) alike. Counting a 3 km margin, Flagstaff County has 3 schools for every grade, for 662 students.
| School | Level | Students | System |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central High School Sedgewick Second fifth in AlbertaLargest secondary schoolAll grades · Grades 1–12 | All grades · Grades 1–12 | 330 | English public |
| Schools within 3 km | Flagstaff County | Alberta | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nearest elementary school | 5.3 km | 0.5 km | 0.5 km |
| Nearest secondary school | 5.3 km | 0.7 km | 1.2 km |
Provincial school lists and results, 2025/26
Precipitation in Flagstaff County trails that of 94% of Canadian towns: 407 mm a year
A normal June brings 79 mm of precipitation, more than any other month. Snow totals 87 cm over the year, lower than both Alberta’s towns (127 cm) and Canadian towns (141 cm). The warmest afternoons come in July, at around 24.4°C in Flagstaff County. Most of the snow comes in January, about 16 cm.
Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Normals, 1991–2020 | Flagstaff County | Alberta | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Precipitation a year | 407 mm | 431 mm | 883 mm |
| Snowfall a year | 87 cm | 127 cm | 141 cm |
| July afternoon high | 24.4°C | 23.5°C | 25.5°C |
| Days with frost a year | 180 | 193 | 159 |
Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Forestburg Plant Site)
A normal November in Flagstaff County runs from −7°C to 2°C
Then December: −4°C by day, −13°C at night. Snow is normal by November, about 14 cm over the month. Also worth knowing: across the year, normals run from −15°C nights in January to 24°C afternoons in July. For today and the week ahead, the Weather page carries ECCC’s Wainwright forecast.
Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Season | High | Low | Rain and snow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | −4°C | −14°C | 40 mm |
| Spring | 10°C | −1°C | 95 mm |
| Summer | 23°C | 11°C | 205 mm |
| Autumn | 10°C | 0°C | 68 mm |
ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Forestburg Plant Site); the forecast is on the Weather page
Battle River—Crowfoot, which takes in Flagstaff County, is held by Pierre Poilievre (Conservative Party of Canada)
The Conservative Party of Canada has 33 of the 37 MPs elected in Alberta.
Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada
Hardisty Public Library and Heisler Municipal Library are Flagstaff County’s two public libraries
Its libraries report as part of a wider system, so there are no figures for Flagstaff County in particular.
Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada
Flagstaff County borders Big Knife Provincial Park
Elk Island National Park is the closest national park, 63 km from town. Count 47 protected areas within 10 km of town. The protected share within 10 km is 0.4%, where a typical Canadian town has 2.3%.
Protected land · of the land within 10 km
| Outdoors | Flagstaff County | Alberta | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protected land within 10 km | 0.4% | 0.4% | 2.3% |
| Public protected areas within 10 km | 1 | 2 | 4 |
Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches
Fewer of Flagstaff County’s people belong to a visible minority than in Alberta’s towns or Canadian towns: 1.2%
People 65 and over make up 22% of the town, above both Alberta’s towns (15%) and Canadian towns (19%). 18% of residents are children under 15.
Ages · Share of residents in each age group, Census 2021
Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over
Women and men · all residents
Women make up 48.7% of Flagstaff County
Here the census found 1,800 women and 1,895 men; across Canada the share of women is 50.9%.
| Flagstaff County | Alberta | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 18% | 18% | 16% |
| 15 to 64 | 60% | 67% | 64% |
| 65+ | 22% | 15% | 19% |
| No certificate, diploma or degree | 20% | 15% | 16% |
| Postsecondary qualification | 46% | 54% | 56% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; Alberta and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+
Older housing stands out in Flagstaff County: 34% predates 1961
| Heritage | Flagstaff County | Alberta | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homes built before 1961 | 34% | 4.5% | 18% |
Canadian Register of Historic Places, Directory of Federal Heritage Designations, Québec’s Répertoire du patrimoine culturel, Wikidata; Census 2021 homes by period
Everything we know about Flagstaff County
Diplomat Mine and 3 more in and around Flagstaff County
A first look at Flagstaff County’s museums, historic sites and days out, and a few just outside town.
Famous people from Flagstaff County
6 notable people were born in Flagstaff County.
Photo credits
Kevin Martin: Resolute, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Kevin Sorenson: SFU Public Affairs and Media Relations, CC BY 2.0 · Ronald Ansley: Unknown author, Public domain
About Flagstaff County
Town in Alberta
For Flagstaff County, TownRatings uses Statistics Canada’s census-subdivision boundary in Alberta, and every figure on its pages covers that whole area.
Statistics Canada: population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155), Census of Population 2021, 2021 census boundaries.
- Population
- 3,724 (people, 2025 estimate)
- Province or territory
- Alberta
- Census division
- Division No. 7
- Census subdivision
- 4807031
Questions about Flagstaff County
Who are the people of Flagstaff County?
At the 2021 census, 5% were immigrants and 1% belonged to a visible minority (Canadian towns’ median: 15%). 3% identify as First Nations, Métis or Inuit.
What kind of homes are in Flagstaff County?
92% of homes are single-detached houses, against 64% for the median of Canadian towns, and 0% are in apartment buildings of five storeys or more. A household averages 2.5 people; 23% are one person living alone.
Has Flagstaff County grown?
It lost people: 3,728 in 2016, 3,694 in 2021, 0.9% fewer, while the middle of Canadian towns grew 4.1%. Statistics Canada’s 2025 estimate is 3,724.
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).