Fort MacleodAlberta

TownGrade

C⁻

#2,197 of 2,556

3,945 residents make their home in this town in Alberta. It is part of Division No. 3, a census division.

Photo: John Wiley User:Jw4nvc - Santa Barbara, California · CC BY 3.0

Population

3,945

people, 2025 estimate

Median age

42.4

years · Alberta’s towns: 40.8

Postsecondary

45%

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

Walk, cycle, transit

10%

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

Is Fort Macleod a good place to live?

Schools lag (D−). Fort Macleod’s overall grade of C− puts it better than 19% of Canadian towns, #407 of 473 in Alberta. Safety is weaker too (C−). Its best grade is for walkability (A). Elsewhere it is close to typical: C+ for cost of living, B for health and B− for jobs & income.

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.

StrongestAWalkabilityWeakestD⁻Schools C⁻Safety

How Fort Macleod grades

Each subject compares Fort Macleod 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

SchoolsBased on how pupils do in exams and testsD⁻Open →WalkabilityAmong the easiest places to get around without a carAOpen →SafetyBelow the middle of the towns comparedC⁻Open →Hazard riskBased on seismic risk and radon tests, lowered where wildfire runs highC⁺Open →HealthAbout average among the towns comparedBOpen →Cost of livingGraded on home prices against local incomesC⁺Open →Jobs & incomeNear typical for the towns comparedB⁻Open →

How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →

What makes Fort Macleod stand out

The 3 things Fort Macleod does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Schools

Behind 98%

of Canadian towns on schools

Its schools grade: D−.

Home value ÷ household income

Housing

3.2 times household income

Against 4.7 for the median of Canadian towns

Median owner’s estimate $240,000, Census 2021; income for 2020.

Walkability

Better than 88%

of Canadian towns on walkability

Its walkability grade: A.

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Fort Macleod.

SchoolsSchools D⁻

Fort Macleod earns a D− for schools

5schools within 3 kmD⁻Schools Grade

Counting a 3 km margin, Fort Macleod has 1 elementary school, 1 secondary school and 3 schools for every grade, for 846 students.

School	Level	Students	System
W. A. Day Elementary SchoolLargest elementary schoolElementary · Grades K–5	Elementary · Grades K–5	304	English public
F. P. Walshe School Fourth fifth in AlbertaLargest secondary schoolAll grades · Grades 6–12	All grades · Grades 6–12	381	English public

See all 5 schools →

846

students at the schools within 3 km, 2025/26

0.3 km

to the nearest secondary school

Full pageFort Macleod’s schools pageOpen the full Schools page

Every school5 schools within 3 km · 1 elementary school, 1 secondary school and 3 schools for every grade Results0 of 2 in the top two fifths · of the schools with results, placed against every school in Alberta Language0 of 5 teach in French · 2% of schools in Alberta Questions“What schools are there in Fort Macleod?”

Provincial school lists and results, 2025/26

SafetySafety C⁻

Fort Macleod earns a C− for safety

97Crime Severity Index

Area-wide: Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000, counted over the Fort Macleod detachment area

Across the area its police cover, the Crime Severity Index averaged 97 over 2023–25, lower than Alberta’s towns (110) yet higher than Canadian towns (67). Its police area records 20.2 violent incidents per 1,000 residents a year.

Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year

202397

202493

2025100

2023–2025	Fort Macleod	Alberta	Canada
Property crime per 1,000	67.4	45	31.2
Violent crime	20.2	14.2	12
Crime Severity Index	97	110	67
Violent Crime Severity Index	84	109	86

103

non-violent Crime Severity Index

36%

of incidents cleared, 2023–25

Full pageFort Macleod’s safety reportOpen the full Safety report

Safety97 Crime Severity Index · The index weighs each crime Fort Macleod’s police recorded by how serious it is.Questions“Is Fort Macleod safe?”

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

Natural hazardsHazard risk C⁺

Flood mapping exists for Fort Macleod: 1 on record, latest by Government of Alberta

Moderatewildfire bandC⁺Hazard risk Grade

For earthquakes Fort Macleod is middling, $0.047 a year per $1,000 against $0.030 for the typical town. Radon around Fort Macleod is ordinary for Canada: 8.9% of tested homes over the guideline (6.6% typical). Fire reaches the land around Fort Macleod now and then: 7.4% within 25 km since 1986 (0.19% a year), below the high band. Fort Macleod doesn’t get its own radon tests figures; the ones here come from the Chinook Regional Health Authority.

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

Fort Macleod8.9%

Alberta’s towns7.5%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	Fort Macleod	Alberta	Canada
Radon tests above the guideline	8.9%	7.5%	6.6%
Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year	$0.047	$0.013	$0.030

$0.047

expected earthquake loss a year per $1,000 of buildings

Moderate

wildfire band

13 km

to the nearest land burned since 1986

flood study on the national inventory

Full pageFort Macleod’s flood & hazards pageOpen the full Flood & hazards page

FloodOne flood study on record WildfireModerate wildfire band · 7.4% of the land within 25 km burned since 1986 Earthquakes$0.047 a year per $1,000 · Canadian towns: $0.030 Radon8.9% 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

Climate

July afternoons in Fort Macleod reach 25.2°C (Alberta towns 23.5°C, Canadian towns 25.5°C)

25.2°CJuly afternoons

Snowfall adds up to 111 cm a year, lower than both Alberta’s towns (127 cm) and Canadian towns (141 cm). Most of the snow comes in March, about 22 cm. Between the last spring frost, 25 May, and the first in autumn, 13 September, lie 110 days. Also worth knowing: a normal June brings 93 mm of precipitation, more than any other month.

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter1.0°C

Spring11.6°C

Summer23.7°C

Autumn12.8°C

Normals, 1991–2020	Fort Macleod	Alberta	Canada
Precipitation a year	428 mm	431 mm	883 mm
July afternoon high	25.2°C	23.5°C	25.5°C
Days with frost a year	191	193	159
Snowfall a year	111 cm	127 cm	141 cm

111 cm

of snow a year

191

days with frost a year

110

frost-free days, 25 May to 13 Sep

days with precipitation a year

Full pageFort Macleod’s climate pageOpen the full Climate page

The yearJuly highs 25.2°C, January lows −13.2°C Rain and snow428 mm a year · Canadian towns: 883 mm Snow111 cm of snow a year Weather station35 km to the station · Claresholm

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

HealthHealth B

Life expectancy around Fort Macleod is 78.7 years, 2.8 less than for the typical Canadian town

52%very good or excellent healthBHealth Grade

Shared with the rest of the South Zone: health survey and life expectancy

Homes here are 0.9 km from a hospital on average, below Alberta’s towns (3.1 km) and Canadian towns (3.7 km) alike. On self-rated health the region tracks the province: 52% very good or excellent, 53% for Alberta.

Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised

Fort Macleod52%

Alberta’s towns51%

Canadian towns52%

Health	Fort Macleod	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

0.9 km

from homes to a hospital, on average

36 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

Full pageFort Macleod’s health pageOpen the full Health page

Health survey52% very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised Getting care0.9 km to a hospital · A pharmacy 36 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

HousingCost of living C⁺

Fort Macleod earns a C+ for cost of living

$240,000median home value, 2021C⁺Cost of living Grade

17% of households spent 30% or more of their income on shelter, below Alberta’s towns (21%) and Canadian towns (18%) alike. Home ownership covers 77% of households.

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

Fort Macleod$240,000

Alberta$400,000

Canadian towns$406,000

Census 2021	Fort Macleod	Alberta	Canada
Households spending 30%+ on shelter	17%	21%	18%
Rent as a share of income	19%	20%	20%
Households owning their home	77%	74%	74%

$1,000

monthly rent for a two-bedroom

$960

median monthly shelter cost for owners, 2021

Full pageFort Macleod’s cost of living pageOpen the full Cost of living page

Cost of living3.2 times household income · The median owner’s estimate, $240,000, against the median household income Renting$1,000 a month · The median rent at the 2021 census Owners and renters77% 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.

Weather

In Fort Macleod, November normally means 5°C afternoons and −8°C nights

5°Ca normal November afternoon

A typical November adds 16 cm of snow. Rain and snow over a typical November come to 18 mm. For today and the week ahead, the Weather page carries ECCC’s Willow Creek (Provincial Park) forecast.

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

November5°C

December1°C

January0°C

February2°C

Season	High	Low	Rain and snow
Winter	1°C	−13°C	44 mm
Spring	12°C	−2°C	123 mm
Summer	24°C	8°C	182 mm
Autumn	13°C	−2°C	80 mm

−8°C

a normal November night

18 mm

of rain and snow in a normal November

Full pageFort Macleod’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 (Claresholm); the forecast is on the Weather page

Library & civic lifeCivic life grade A

Fort Macleod earns an A for civic life grade

Fort Macleod Library serves 2,967 people from a single building.

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

A year at the library5.2 visits per person served The libraries1 Libraries Places to belong4.6 charities per 1,000 residents

Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada

Who lives here

More of Fort Macleod’s residents have an Indigenous identity than in Alberta’s towns or Canadian towns: 18%

42.4median age

Children under 15 make up 19%, close to Alberta’s towns (18%) and above Canadian towns (16%). Over-65s are 23% of the population.

Fort MacleodAlbertaCanada

AlbertaCanada

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

23%

Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over

No certificate, diploma or degree24%

Postsecondary qualification45%

Women and men · all residents

51.5% of Fort Macleod’s residents are women

Here the census found 1,600 men and 1,700 women; the figure for women across Canada is 50.9%.

Who lives in Fort Macleod
	Fort Macleod	Alberta	Canada
Under 15	19%	18%	16%
15 to 64	58%	67%	64%
65+	23%	15%	19%
No certificate, diploma or degree	24%	15%	16%
Postsecondary qualification	45%	54%	56%

Full pageFort Macleod’s Who lives here pageOpen the full Who lives here page

Immigrants11% are immigrants · 7% belong to a visible minority Ages42.4 median age · 23% are 65 or over Households1,340 households · 2.4 people per household English and French2% speak both · 0% speak French but not English

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

Outdoors

Willow Creek Provincial Park, 48 km away, is the closest provincial park to Fort Macleod

0%of the land within 10 km protected

For a national park, Waterton Lakes National Park is 66 km away.

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

Fort Macleod0%

Alberta’s towns0.4%

Canadian towns2.3%

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

66 km

to Waterton Lakes National Park

48 km

to Willow Creek Provincial Park

Full pageFort Macleod’s outdoors pageOpen the full Outdoors page

Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas0 protected areas within 10 km National & provincial parks66 km to a national park · Waterton Lakes National Park

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

Work & commuteJobs & income B⁻

Trips to work from Fort Macleod are shorter than from Alberta’s towns or Canadian towns: 18 min on average

10%walk, cycle or take transit

The car took 88% of commuters, about level with both Alberta’s towns (88%) and Canadian towns (89%).

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van88%

Walk9%

Bicycle1%

Census 2021	Fort Macleod	Alberta	Canada
Average trip	18 min	26 min	26 min
Car or van	88%	88%	89%

$75,000

median household income, 2020

worked from home, May 2021

77%

of commuters work inside the municipality

Full pageFort Macleod’s work & commute pageOpen the full Work & commute page

Unemployment6.3% unemployed · Of the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Getting to work10% walk, cycle or take transit Where people commute to85 commuters · The biggest flow out: to Lethbridge

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.

History

4 historic places in Fort Macleod, 3 of them top designations

4historic places

Older housing, built before 1961, accounts for a third of homes, higher than both Alberta’s towns (4.5%) and Canadian towns (18%). Fort Macleod, begun in 1874, is the oldest by its record. Among the places are a provincial or municipal listing.

Historic places by designation · inside the town

Highest designations3

Other federal designations0

Provincial and local listings1

Among them

1874

oldest construction date on the record

33%

of homes built before 1961 · Canadian towns 18%

Heritage	Fort Macleod	Alberta	Canada
Homes built before 1961	33%	4.5%	18%

Full pageFort Macleod’s history pageOpen the full History page

On the registers4 historic places inside the town Highest designations3 top designations · Fort Macleod Older homes33% built before 1961 · Canadian towns: 18%Questions“How many historic places does Fort Macleod have?”

Canadian Register of Historic Places, Directory of Federal Heritage Designations, Québec’s Répertoire du patrimoine culturel, Wikidata; Census 2021 homes by period

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Fort Macleod

15pages on Fort Macleod

The big questions

SafetyC⁻Crime Severity Index 97 Housing & costC⁺Homes 3.2 × income Property pricesSchoolsD⁻5 schools within 3 km HealthBLife expectancy 78.7 in its region Work & commuteB⁻52% of adults in work Natural hazardsC⁺Wildfire band: moderate

Out and about

OutdoorsAttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 25°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 42.4 History4 places on the heritage registers Town hallFamous people

Famous people from Fort Macleod

5 notable people were born in Fort Macleod.

See all 5 →

Joni MitchellCanadian musician · born 1943

Archibald Hugh MitchellCanadian politician · 1903–1986

Tom WoodCanadian sportsperson · 1927–2015

David CouttsCanadian politician · born 1945

Howard ClarkCanadian bishop · 1903–1983

About Fort Macleod

Town in Alberta

Every figure TownRatings gives for Fort Macleod covers the municipality as Statistics Canada maps it, one census subdivision in Alberta.

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

Population: 3,945 (people, 2025 estimate)
Province or territory: Alberta
Census division: Division No. 3
Census subdivision: 4803019

Questions about Fort Macleod

Who are the people of Fort Macleod?

Visible minorities are 7% of the population, where the middle of Canadian towns is 15%. Immigrants make up 11%, and Indigenous people 18%.

Has Fort Macleod grown?

Yes: the census counted 2,967 in 2016 and 3,297 in 2021, a rise of 11.1%, against 4.1% for the median of Canadian towns. The 2025 estimate is 3,945.

What kind of homes are in Fort Macleod?

A household averages 2.4 people; 31% are one person living alone.

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).