Special Area No. 3Alberta

1,043 residents make their home in this town in Alberta. Its census division is Division No. 4.

Photo: Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center · Public domain

Population

1,043

people, 2025 estimate

Median age

45.2

years · Alberta’s towns: 40.8

Postsecondary

49%

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%

Is Special Area No. 3 a good place to live?

Housing is within reach (A+). Its weakest is walkability (D). It lags on safety as well (C). Elsewhere it is close to typical: B for schools and B for jobs & income.

With fewer than 2,500 residents, Special Area No. 3 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 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.

StrongestA⁺Cost of living A⁺Hazard riskWeakestDWalkability

What makes Special Area No. 3 stand out

The 3 things Special Area No. 3 does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Home value ÷ household income

Housing

1.3 times household income

The middle of Canadian towns: 4.7 times

Median owner’s estimate $100,000, Census 2021; income for 2020.

Cost of living

Better than 99%

of Canadian towns on cost of living

Its cost of living grade: A+.

Hazard risk

Better than 98%

of Canadian towns on hazard risk

Its hazard risk grade: A+.

How Special Area No. 3 grades

Each subject compares Special Area No. 3 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, Special Area No. 3 gets subject grades but no overall one among Canadian towns.

Cost of livingHomes are very affordable for local incomesA⁺Open →Hazard riskNear the top of the towns comparedA⁺Open →WalkabilityGraded on how easily people get around without a carDOpen →SafetyMore crime than in most townsCOpen →HealthBehind most towns comparedCOpen →SchoolsBased on how pupils do in exams and testsBOpen →Jobs & incomeClose to the middle of the towns comparedBOpen →

How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Special Area No. 3.

HousingCost of living A⁺

Rent takes less of local pay in Special Area No. 3 than in Alberta’s towns or Canadian towns: 11% of household income

The owner-occupied share of households is 88%. Shelter took 30% or more of income for 22% of households, about level with Alberta’s towns (21%) and above Canadian towns (18%).

$100,000median home value, 2021A⁺Cost of living Grade

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

Special Area No. 3$100,000

Alberta$400,000

Canadian towns$406,000

Census 2021	Special Area No. 3	Alberta	Canada
Rent as a share of income	11%	20%	20%
Households owning their home	88%	74%	74%
Households spending 30%+ on shelter	22%	21%	18%

$608

monthly rent for a two-bedroom

$715

median monthly shelter cost for owners, 2021

Full pageSpecial Area No. 3’s cost of living pageOpen the full Cost of living page

Renting$608 a month · The median rent at the 2021 census Cost of living1.3 times household income · The median owner’s estimate, $100,000, against the median household income Owners and renters88% own their home

Statistics Canada, Census 2021; CMHC Rental Market Survey via Statistics Canada · These are 2021 census values, as owners judged them, set against household income in 2020.

Natural hazardsHazard risk A⁺

For hazard risk, Special Area No. 3 gets an A+

The radon tests numbers here cover the Palliser Health Region

Radon is about average around Special Area No. 3: 4.4% of tested homes in the survey area topped the guideline, against 6.6% for the typical town. Shaking is less of a worry than in most places, at $0.006 a year per $1,000 of building value ($0.030 typical).

Lowwildfire bandA⁺Hazard risk Grade

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

Special Area No. 34.4%

Alberta’s towns7.5%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	Special Area No. 3	Alberta	Canada
Radon tests above the guideline	4.4%	7.5%	6.6%
Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year	$0.006	$0.013	$0.030

$0.006

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

Low

wildfire band

Full pageSpecial Area No. 3’s flood & hazards pageOpen the full Flood & hazards page

WildfireLow wildfire band · No land burned within 25 km since 1986 FloodNo flood study on record Earthquakes$0.006 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

SafetySafety C

Violent crime weighs more where Special Area No. 3 is policed than in Alberta’s towns or Canadian towns: a violent severity index of 136

No police detachment reports under Special Area No. 3’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 86 over 2023–25, below Alberta’s towns (110) but above Canadian towns (67). Its police area records 15.8 violent incidents per 1,000 residents a year. Thefts, break-ins and damage add up to 29 per 1,000 residents a year where it is policed. Nobody publishes Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000 for Special Area No. 3 alone, so this card uses the figure for the Oyen detachment area.

86Crime Severity Index

Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year

202363

2024122

202572

2023–2025	Special Area No. 3	Alberta	Canada
Violent Crime Severity Index	136	109	86
Property crime per 1,000	29	45	31.2
Crime Severity Index	86	110	67
Violent crime	15.8	14.2	12

non-violent Crime Severity Index

49%

of incidents cleared, 2023–25

Full pageSpecial Area No. 3’s safety reportOpen the full Safety report

Safety86 Crime Severity Index · The index weighs each crime Special Area No. 3’s police recorded by how serious it is.Questions“Is Special Area No. 3 safe?”

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

HealthHealth C

Special Area No. 3’s region trails the typical Canadian town by 2.8 years: life expectancy 78.7

Health survey and life expectancy for the South Zone

The survey finds 52% of adults in very good or excellent health, above Alberta’s towns (51%) and close to Canadian towns (52%). What sets Special Area No. 3 apart within its region is a longer trip to hospital, 25 km for the average resident (3.7 km typical).

52%very good or excellent healthCHealth Grade

Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised

Special Area No. 352%

Alberta’s towns51%

Canadian towns52%

Health	Special Area No. 3	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

25 km

from homes to a hospital, on average

84 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

Full pageSpecial Area No. 3’s health pageOpen the full Health page

Health survey52% very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised Getting care25 km to a hospital · A pharmacy 84 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

Climate

July highs in Special Area No. 3: 25.9°C, against 23.5°C in Alberta’s towns and 25.5°C in Canadian towns

In January the thermometer sinks to −17.9°C overnight, below both Alberta’s towns (−14.7°C) and Canadian towns (−13.5°C). A normal June brings 69 mm of precipitation, more than any other month.

25.9°CJuly afternoons

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter−5.5°C

Spring10.4°C

Summer24.4°C

Autumn10.8°C

Normals, 1991–2020	Special Area No. 3	Alberta	Canada
Precipitation a year	339 mm	431 mm	883 mm
July afternoon high	25.9°C	23.5°C	25.5°C
January night low	−17.9°C	−14.7°C	−13.5°C
Days with frost a year	200	193	159

200

days with frost a year

days with precipitation a year

Full pageSpecial Area No. 3’s climate pageOpen the full Climate page

The yearJuly highs 25.9°C, January lows −17.9°C Rain and snow339 mm a year · Canadian towns: 883 mm Weather station49 km to the station · Esther

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

SchoolsSchools B

In the lower two fifths in Alberta: 3 of the 5 schools around Special Area No. 3 with results

Its elementary schools are small, 32 students on average, against 274 in Alberta. Secondary school means a trip of 23 km at the nearest, higher than both Alberta’s towns (0.7 km) and Canadian towns (1.2 km). Within 3 km of Special Area No. 3 are 7 elementary schools, 1 secondary school and 1 school for every grade, teaching 442 students.

9schools within 3 kmBSchools Grade

School	Level	Students	System
Oyen Public School Bottom fifth in AlbertaLargest elementary schoolElementary · Grades K–6	Elementary · Grades K–6	99	English public
South Central High School Bottom fifth in AlbertaLargest secondary schoolSecondary · Grades 7–12	Secondary · Grades 7–12	181	English public
New Brigden School Top fifth in AlbertaResults in the top fifth in AlbertaElementary · Grades 2–6	Elementary · Grades 2–6	13	English public

See all 9 schools →

Schools by system · Schools within 3 km

English public8

English Catholic1

Schools within 3 km	Special Area No. 3	Alberta	Canada
Nearest elementary school	23 km	0.5 km	0.5 km
Nearest secondary school	23 km	0.7 km	1.2 km

442

students at the schools within 3 km, 2025/26

23 km

to the nearest secondary school

23 km

to the nearest elementary school

Full pageSpecial Area No. 3’s schools pageOpen the full Schools page

Results1 of 5 in the top two fifths · of the schools with results, placed against every school in Alberta Every school9 schools within 3 km · 7 elementary schools, 1 secondary school and 1 school for every grade Language0 of 9 teach in French · 2% of schools in Alberta The boards3 school boards · The Prairie Rose School Division Questions“What schools are there in Special Area No. 3?”

Provincial school lists and results, 2025/26

Work & commuteJobs & income B

Commuters in Special Area No. 3 travel further than in Alberta’s towns or Canadian towns, 30 min on average

The car took 96% of commuters, above both Alberta’s towns (88%) and Canadian towns (89%).

0%walk, cycle or take transit

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van96%

Census 2021	Special Area No. 3	Alberta	Canada
Average trip	30 min	26 min	26 min
Car or van	96%	88%	89%

$73,000

median household income, 2020

62%

worked from home, May 2021

10%

of commuters work inside the municipality

Full pageSpecial Area No. 3’s work & commute pageOpen the full Work & commute page

Unemployment4.7% unemployed · Of the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Getting to work0% walk, cycle or take transit Where people commute to125 commuters · The biggest flow out: to Oyen

Statistics Canada, Census 2021 (labour and commuting) · These are May 2021 figures, gathered while COVID-19 kept many people home or out of work.

Weather

A normal November in Special Area No. 3 runs from −9°C to 1°C

By December, a normal day reaches −5°C and a night falls to −16°C. Rain and snow over a typical November come to 15 mm. For today and the week ahead, the Weather page carries ECCC’s Esther forecast.

1°Ca normal November afternoon

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

November1°C

December−5°C

January−7°C

February−5°C

Season	High	Low	Rain and snow
Winter	−6°C	−17°C	30 mm
Spring	10°C	−3°C	77 mm
Summer	24°C	10°C	172 mm
Autumn	11°C	−2°C	60 mm

−9°C

a normal November night

15 mm

of rain and snow in a normal November

Full pageSpecial Area No. 3’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 (Esther); the forecast is on the Weather page

Town hall

Pierre Poilievre (Conservative Party of Canada) holds Battle River—Crowfoot, the riding that includes Special Area No. 3

33 of the 37 MPs from Alberta belong to the Conservative Party of Canada.

Full pageSpecial Area No. 3’s town hall & politics pageOpen the full Town hall & politics page

Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada

Library & civic lifeCivic life grade A⁺

Special Area No. 3’s public library is Youngstown Public Library

The library is 31 km from the centre of Special Area No.

Full pageSpecial Area No. 3’s library & civic life pageOpen the full Library & civic life page

The libraries1 Libraries Places to belong17.3 charities per 1,000 residents

Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada

Outdoors

Dinosaur Provincial Park is 12 km from Special Area No. 3

2.1 km out lies the largest, Antelope Park, at 14,146 ha. Within 10 km of the town, 1.1% of the land is protected, against 2.3% around a typical Canadian town. The nearest national park is more than 100 km away. Count 4 protected areas within 10 km of town.

1.1%of the land within 10 km protected

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

Special Area No. 31.1%

Alberta’s towns0.4%

Canadian towns2.3%

Outdoors	Special Area No. 3	Alberta	Canada
Protected land within 10 km	1.1%	0.4%	2.3%
Public protected areas within 10 km	3	2	4

12 km

to Dinosaur Provincial Park

beaches within 5 km

Full pageSpecial Area No. 3’s outdoors pageOpen the full Outdoors page

Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas4 protected areas within 10 km · Antelope Park National & provincial parks12 km to a provincial park · Dinosaur Provincial Park

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

Who lives here

A town of families: 21% of people in Special Area No. 3 are under 15, more than in Alberta’s towns or Canadian towns

Retirement age and beyond: 20% of residents are 65 or older. 0.9% of residents belong to a visible minority, lower than both Alberta’s towns (29%) and Canadian towns (15%).

45.2median age

Special Area No. 3AlbertaCanada

AlbertaCanada

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

20%

Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over

No certificate, diploma or degree13%

Postsecondary qualification49%

Women and men · all residents

Women make up 47.6% of Special Area No. 3

Of the 2021 count, 545 were women and 600 men (women across Canada: 50.9%).

Who lives in Special Area No. 3
	Special Area No. 3	Alberta	Canada
Under 15	21%	18%	16%
15 to 64	59%	67%	64%
65+	20%	15%	19%
No certificate, diploma or degree	13%	15%	16%
Postsecondary qualification	49%	54%	56%

Full pageSpecial Area No. 3’s Who lives here pageOpen the full Who lives here page

Ages45.2 median age · 20% are 65 or over Households435 households · 2.4 people per household Immigrants4% are immigrants · 1% 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+

Nearby attractions

Alsask Radar Dome and 2 more in and around Special Area No. 3

From museums to parks and historic sites: Special Area No. 3’s places to visit and those just beyond its edge, most famous first.

All attractions →

MuseumMuseumAlsask Radar Dome100 m outside town, to the east

MuseumMuseumOyen Crossroads Museum300 m outside town, to the southeast

MuseumMuseumRCAF Alsask - Heritage Site1 km outside town, to the east

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Special Area No. 3

15pages on Special Area No. 3

The big questions

SafetyCCrime Severity Index 86 Housing & costA⁺Homes 1.3 × income Property pricesSchoolsB9 schools within 3 km HealthCLife expectancy 78.7 in its region Work & commuteB71% of adults in work Natural hazardsA⁺Wildfire band: low

Out and about

Outdoors1.1% of the land within 10 km protected AttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 26°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 45.2 HistoryTown hallFamous people

Famous people from Special Area No. 3

6 notable people were born in Special Area No. 3.

See all 6 →

Marlene StreitCanadian amateur golfer · born 1934

Norm BurnsCanadian ice hockey player · 1918–1995

Vincent C. RideoutCanadian–American academic · 1914–2003

Debby CarlsonCanadian politician · born 1957

Rick StrankmanAlberta politician · born 1953

Len WerryCanadian politician · 1927–1973

Questions about Special Area No. 3

What kind of homes are in Special Area No. 3?

Single-detached houses make up 91% of the homes here, where Canadian towns sit at 64%; 0% are in high-rise apartments. 25% of households are one person, and the average is 2.4.

Who are the people of Special Area No. 3?

Visible minorities are 1% of the population, where the middle of Canadian towns is 15%. Immigrants make up 4%, and Indigenous people 0%.

Has Special Area No. 3 grown?

It went from 1,153 people in 2016 to 1,142 in 2021, down 1%, while the median of Canadian towns grew 4.1%. StatCan’s 2025 estimate is 1,043.

About Special Area No. 3

Town in Alberta

Special Area No. 3 is a municipality in Alberta, read by TownRatings as Statistics Canada draws it: one census subdivision, so its figures cover the whole municipality.

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

Population: 1,043 (people, 2025 estimate)
Province or territory: Alberta
Census division: Division No. 4
Census subdivision: 4804012

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).