WestlockAlberta
With 5,363 residents, it is a town in Alberta. Statistics Canada places it in the Division No. 13 census division.
Is Westlock a good place to live?
Several subjects drag its grade down. Safety lags (D). Westlock grades D overall, better than a tenth of Canadian towns. In the ranking it comes #449 of 473 in Alberta. Cost of living is weaker too (C−). Also worth knowing: it is easy to get around without a car (A).
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.
How Westlock grades
Each subject compares Westlock 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 Westlock stand out
The 3 things Westlock does most differently from other towns.
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Westlock.
Crime runs heavier where Westlock is policed than in Alberta’s towns or Canadian towns, at an index of 130
Property crime in its police area ran at 62.6 per 1,000 residents a year, above both Alberta’s towns (45) and Canadian towns (31.2). Violence across its police area runs at 17.8 per 1,000 residents a year.
Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year
| 2023–2025 | Westlock | Alberta | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crime per 1,000 | 62.6 | 45 | 31.2 |
| Crime Severity Index | 130 | 110 | 67 |
| Violent crime | 17.8 | 14.2 | 12 |
| Violent Crime Severity Index | 116 | 109 | 86 |
Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average · Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000 published for the Westlock detachment area, not by town
Measured against local pay, Westlock costs more to live in than 82% of Canadian towns
A year’s rent came to nearly a quarter of the median household income, higher than both Alberta’s towns (20%) and Canadian towns (20%). 69% of households own their home.
What homes were worth · The median owner’s estimate at the 2021 census
| Census 2021 | Westlock | Alberta | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households spending 30%+ on shelter | 24% | 21% | 18% |
| Median home value, 2021 | $250,000 | $400,000 | $406,000 |
| Rent as a share of income | 23% | 20% | 20% |
| Households owning their home | 69% | 74% | 74% |
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.
Westlock’s region trails the typical Canadian town by 3.2 years: life expectancy 78.3
Area-wide: health survey and life expectancy, counted over the North Zone
By their own account, 48% of adults here are in very good or excellent health, below both Alberta’s towns (51%) and Canadian towns (52%). At 17%, the share of adults who smoke tops the 11% for Alberta. The town’s own part is the trip to care, and Westlock is well placed: 1.3 km to a hospital on average, against 3.7 km typical.
Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised
| Health | Westlock | 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
Hazards in Westlock: wildfire low, radon over the guideline in 9.6% of tested homes
Earthquakes matter little: NRCan’s model puts building losses at $0.008 a year per $1,000 of value, against $0.030 for the typical town. Fire seldom reaches Westlock: since 1986, 0.2% of the land within 25 km has burned (0.005% a year). No flood study for Westlock is on the national inventory. Nobody publishes radon tests for Westlock alone, so this card uses the figure for the Aspen Regional Health Authority.
Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³
| Hazards | Westlock | Alberta | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radon tests above the guideline | 9.6% | 7.5% | 6.6% |
| Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year | $0.008 | $0.013 | $0.030 |
NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory
Commuters in Westlock have a short way to work, 19 min on average, less than in Alberta’s towns and across Canadian towns
86% of commuters drove to work at the census.
How working residents got to work · census 2021
| Census 2021 | Westlock | Alberta | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip | 19 min | 26 min | 26 min |
| Car or van | 86% | 88% | 89% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021 (labour and commuting) · These are May 2021 figures, gathered while COVID-19 kept many people home or out of work.
Winter nights bite in Westlock: January lows of −19.0°C, colder than Alberta’s towns or Canadian towns
A July afternoon in Westlock typically reaches 23.5°C. The thermometer drops below freezing on 216 days a year, higher than both Alberta’s towns (193) and Canadian towns (159). Frost usually lifts by 1 June and returns around 1 September: 91 days without it. July is the wettest month, with 86 mm of rain and snow on average.
Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Normals, 1991–2020 | Westlock | Alberta | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days with frost a year | 216 | 193 | 159 |
| January night low | −19.0°C | −14.7°C | −13.5°C |
| Precipitation a year | 466 mm | 431 mm | 883 mm |
| July afternoon high | 23.5°C | 23.5°C | 25.5°C |
Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Campsie)
Expect November days around freezing in Westlock, nights around −11°C
Hour-by-hour figures come from ECCC’s Westlock forecast, on the Weather page. Precipitation in November averages 25 mm. Into December, the normals move to −6°C and −18°C. About 24 cm of snow falls in a normal November.
Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Season | High | Low | Rain and snow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | −5°C | −18°C | 60 mm |
| Spring | 10°C | −4°C | 95 mm |
| Summer | 22°C | 8°C | 227 mm |
| Autumn | 9°C | −4°C | 84 mm |
ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Campsie); the forecast is on the Weather page
Westlock’s MP is Arnold Viersen (Conservative Party of Canada), for Peace River—Westlock
33 of the 37 MPs from Alberta belong to the Conservative Party of Canada.
Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada
Westlock has no public library of its own; the nearest is Jarvie Public Library, 34 km away
The next is Barrhead Public Library (Barrhead), 37 km away.
Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada
Westlock earns a B− for schools
The 3 km around Westlock counts 2 elementary schools, 2 secondary schools and 1 school for every grade, 1,371 students between them.
| School | Level | Students | System |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westlock Elementary School Fourth fifth in AlbertaLargest elementary schoolElementary · Grades K–6 | Elementary · Grades K–6 | 462 | English public |
| Richard F Staples Secondary School Middle fifth in AlbertaLargest secondary schoolSecondary · Grades 7–12 | Secondary · Grades 7–12 | 573 | English public |
Schools by system · Schools within 3 km
| Schools within 3 km | Westlock | Alberta | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| School boards | 2 | 3 | 3 |
Provincial school lists and results, 2025/26
Hubert Lake Wildland Provincial Park, 42 km away, is the closest provincial park to Westlock
For a national park, Elk Island National Park is 76 km away.
Protected land · of the land within 10 km
| Outdoors | Westlock | Alberta | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protected land within 10 km | 0% | 0.4% | 2.3% |
| Public protected areas within 10 km | 0 | 2 | 4 |
Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches
More of Westlock’s residents have an Indigenous identity than in Alberta’s towns or Canadian towns: 9.9%
Visible minorities make up 9.8% of the population, below both Alberta’s towns (29%) and Canadian towns (15%). 9% of residents came to Canada as immigrants, near Alberta’s towns (8.9%) and higher than Canadian towns (6.4%).
Ages · Share of residents in each age group, Census 2021
Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over
Women and men · all residents
52.7% of Westlock’s residents are women
Census 2021 put women at 2,590 and men at 2,325; women are 50.9% of Canada.
| Westlock | Alberta | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 15% | 18% | 16% |
| 15 to 64 | 57% | 67% | 64% |
| 65+ | 28% | 15% | 19% |
| No certificate, diploma or degree | 25% | 15% | 16% |
| Postsecondary qualification | 41% | 54% | 56% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; Alberta and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+
Everything we know about Westlock
Famous people from Westlock
10 notable people were born in Westlock.
Photo credits
Brent Regner: Leech44, CC BY 3.0
About Westlock
Town in Alberta
Westlock 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
- 5,363 (people, 2025 estimate)
- Province or territory
- Alberta
- Census division
- Division No. 13
- Census subdivision
- 4813031
Westlock’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Statistics Canada
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westlock | 5,363 | — | D | C− | D | C− |
| Westlock County | 7,556 | 9.5 | D− | C | D | D |
People: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about Westlock
How old are the people of Westlock?
The typical resident is 46.8 (Canadian towns: 45.2), with seniors at 28% of the population and under-15s at 15%.
Who are the people of Westlock?
Visible minorities are 10% of the population, where the middle of Canadian towns is 15%. Immigrants make up 9%, and Indigenous people 10%.
Has Westlock grown?
Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses it fell from 5,101 to 4,921 residents (3.5% down; Canadian towns’ median grew 4.1%); Statistics Canada now estimates 5,363.
What kind of homes are in Westlock?
68% 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 2.2 people; 36% 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).