Smoky Lake CountyAlberta
It lies in Division No. 12. A town of 4,043 in Alberta.
Is Smoky Lake County a good place to live?
Good value, with catches elsewhere. Crime is the sore point (D). Smoky Lake County grades C overall, better than 27% of Canadian towns. The ranking puts it #376 of 473 in Alberta. Residents’ health trails most towns (D). Schools do well (A). At $240,000, the median home value in 2021 came to 3.4 times local household income. Jobs & income is weaker too (D).
Figures: home values and income: Statistics Canada, Census 2021.
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.
What makes Smoky Lake County stand out
The 3 things Smoky Lake County does most differently from other towns.
How Smoky Lake County grades
Each subject compares Smoky Lake 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 →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Smoky Lake County.
The police who cover Smoky Lake County record more serious crime than Alberta’s towns or Canadian towns: a Crime Severity Index of 255
Its police area recorded 26.3 violent incidents per 1,000 residents a year, above Alberta’s towns (14.2) and Canadian towns (12) alike. The force’s area logs 103 thefts, break-ins and acts of damage per 1,000 residents a year.
Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year
| 2023–2025 | Smoky Lake County | Alberta | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crime Severity Index | 255 | 110 | 67 |
| Property crime per 1,000 | 103 | 45 | 31.2 |
| Violent crime | 26.3 | 14.2 | 12 |
| Violent Crime Severity Index | 152 | 109 | 86 |
Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average · Area behind the Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000 figures: the Smoky Lake detachment area
Commuters in Smoky Lake County travel further than in Alberta’s towns or Canadian towns, 32 min on average
93% of commuters drove, higher than both Alberta’s towns (88%) and Canadian towns (89%).
How working residents got to work · census 2021
| Census 2021 | Smoky Lake County | Alberta | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip | 32 min | 26 min | 26 min |
| Car or van | 93% | 88% | 89% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021 (labour and commuting) · The 2021 census was taken in May 2021, during COVID-19 restrictions: more people than usual worked from home or were off work.
One school serves Smoky Lake County: H. A. Kostash School
Secondary school means a trip of 20 km at the nearest, above Alberta’s towns (0.7 km) and Canadian towns (1.2 km) alike.
| School | Level | Students | System |
|---|---|---|---|
| H. A. Kostash School Top fifth in AlbertaLargest secondary schoolAll grades · Grades K–12 | All grades · Grades K–12 | 375 | English public |
| Schools within 3 km | Smoky Lake County | Alberta | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nearest elementary school | 20 km | 0.5 km | 0.5 km |
| Nearest secondary school | 20 km | 0.7 km | 1.2 km |
Provincial school lists and results, 2025/26
Smoky Lake County scores below 94% of Canadian towns for health
Measured across the North Zone: health survey and life expectancy
Life expectancy in the region is 78.3 years (80.9 for women, 76.1 for men, 2022/2024). The region has more smokers than Alberta, 17% of adults to 11%. Across the region, 48% of adults say their health is very good or excellent; Alberta as a whole reaches 53%. Also worth knowing: a hospital lies 18 km from the typical home, above both Alberta’s towns (3.1 km) and Canadian towns (3.7 km).
Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised
| Health | Smoky Lake County | Alberta | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions (average share) | 21% | 18% | 17% |
| Smokers | 17% | 12% | 12% |
| Life expectancy at birth | 78.3 | 81.2 | 81.5 |
| Very good or excellent health | 48% | 51% | 52% |
Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities
Smoky Lake County’s hazards at a glance: a moderate wildfire record and 9.6% of area homes over the radon guideline
Fire reaches the land around Smoky Lake County now and then: 4.3% within 25 km since 1986 (0.11% a year), below the high band. Earthquakes matter little: NRCan’s model puts building losses at $0.005 a year per $1,000 of value, against $0.030 for the typical town. The national flood inventory has no study of the town. For radon tests, the only official count covers all of the Aspen Regional Health Authority, Smoky Lake County included.
Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³
| Hazards | Smoky Lake County | Alberta | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radon tests above the guideline | 9.6% | 7.5% | 6.6% |
| Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year | $0.005 | $0.013 | $0.030 |
NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory
Renting in Smoky Lake County costs 12% of household income, less than in Alberta’s towns or Canadian towns
17% of households spent 30% or more of their income on shelter, below Alberta’s towns (21%) and Canadian towns (18%) alike. The owner-occupied share of households is 80%.
What homes were worth · The median owner’s estimate at the 2021 census
| Census 2021 | Smoky Lake County | Alberta | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent as a share of income | 12% | 20% | 20% |
| Median home value, 2021 | $240,000 | $400,000 | $406,000 |
| Households spending 30%+ on shelter | 17% | 21% | 18% |
| Households owning their home | 80% | 74% | 74% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; CMHC Rental Market Survey via Statistics Canada · The 2021 census asked owners what their home was worth; those values, and 2020 incomes, are what this compares.
Winter nights bite in Smoky Lake County: January lows of −19.1°C, colder than Alberta’s towns or Canadian towns
Expect July highs of around 23.1°C in Smoky Lake County. There are 202 days of frost in a typical year, about level with Alberta’s towns (193) and above Canadian towns (159). Between the last spring frost, 22 May, and the first in autumn, 17 September, lie 118 days. Snow peaks in January: 30 cm in a normal year.
Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Normals, 1991–2020 | Smoky Lake County | Alberta | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| January night low | −19.1°C | −14.7°C | −13.5°C |
| Precipitation a year | 388 mm | 431 mm | 883 mm |
| July afternoon high | 23.1°C | 23.5°C | 25.5°C |
| Days with frost a year | 202 | 193 | 159 |
Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Lac la Biche)
A normal November in Smoky Lake County runs from −10°C to −1°C
A typical November adds 27 cm of snow. By December, a normal day reaches −7°C and a night falls to −17°C. For today and the week ahead, the Weather page carries ECCC’s Lac La Biche forecast.
Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Season | High | Low | Rain and snow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | −7°C | −18°C | 47 mm |
| Spring | 9°C | −4°C | 86 mm |
| Summer | 22°C | 10°C | 181 mm |
| Autumn | 8°C | −2°C | 75 mm |
ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Lac la Biche); the forecast is on the Weather page
A 30,730-vote win for Shannon Stubbs made Lakeland safer in 2021 than 98% of ridings
For local government, Smoky Lake County is a municipal district.
Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada
The nearest public library to Smoky Lake County is Mallaig Public Library, 53 km away
The next is Newbrook Library (Thorhild County), 55 km away.
Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada
An Indigenous protected and conserved area near Smoky Lake County: Métis Crossing Ranch
One unnamed beach is mapped within 5 km. The nearest provincial park, Long Lake Provincial Park, is 8.7 km away. Elk Island National Park is the closest national park, 33 km from town. Out to 10 km from the town’s edge, 0.7% of the land is protected; 2.3% is typical for a Canadian town.
Protected land · of the land within 10 km
| Outdoors | Smoky Lake County | Alberta | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public protected areas within 10 km | 7 | 2 | 4 |
| Protected land within 10 km | 0.7% | 0.4% | 2.3% |
Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches
More of Smoky Lake County’s residents have an Indigenous identity than in Alberta’s towns or Canadian towns: 43%
21% of residents have reached 65. Visible minorities make up 0.8% of the population, below both Alberta’s towns (29%) and Canadian towns (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 49.0% of Smoky Lake County
The 2021 census counted 1,895 women and 1,975 men here, where women make up 50.9% of Canada.
| Smoky Lake County | Alberta | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 21% | 18% | 16% |
| 15 to 64 | 58% | 67% | 64% |
| 65+ | 21% | 15% | 19% |
| No certificate, diploma or degree | 26% | 15% | 16% |
| Postsecondary qualification | 45% | 54% | 56% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; Alberta and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+
Smoky Lake County’s 1 historic place is a top designation
Before 1961 is when 13% of the homes went up, above Alberta’s towns (4.5%) but below Canadian towns (18%).
Historic places by designation · inside the town
Among them
- Victoria District 1863
| Heritage | Smoky Lake County | Alberta | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homes built before 1961 | 13% | 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 Smoky Lake County
Famous people from Smoky Lake County
4 notable people were born in Smoky Lake County.
Questions about Smoky Lake County
Who are the people of Smoky Lake County?
1% of residents belong to a visible minority, against 15% for the median of Canadian towns; 43% have an Indigenous identity and 3% are immigrants.
What kind of homes are in Smoky Lake County?
91% 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; 26% are one person living alone.
Has Smoky Lake County grown?
It lost people: 4,107 in 2016, 3,874 in 2021, 5.7% fewer, while the middle of Canadian towns grew 4.1%. Statistics Canada’s 2025 estimate is 4,043.
About Smoky Lake County
Town in Alberta
TownRatings follows Statistics Canada’s map: Smoky Lake County is one municipality in Alberta, figures and all.
Statistics Canada: population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155), Census of Population 2021, 2021 census boundaries.
- Population
- 4,043 (people, 2025 estimate)
- Province or territory
- Alberta
- Census division
- Division No. 12
- Census subdivision
- 4812022
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).