ArmstrongBritish Columbia
Statistics Canada places it in the North Okanagan census division. In British Columbia, this town has 5,643 residents.
Is Armstrong a good place to live?
Housing is expensive (D). Safety is weaker too (C+). Its strongest subject is jobs & income (A−). The overall grade comes out at C+, better than just over two fifths of Canadian towns. That places it #122 of 250 in British Columbia.
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. 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 Armstrong grades
Each subject compares Armstrong 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 Armstrong stand out
The 2 things Armstrong does most differently from other towns.
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Armstrong.
Armstrong is a town of owners: 84% of households own their home, above British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns
Rent took 21% of household income, about level with Canadian towns (20%) and below British Columbia’s towns (24%). The median home value was $500,000, between British Columbia’s towns ($720,000) and Canadian towns ($406,000).
What homes were worth · The median owner’s estimate at the 2021 census
| Census 2021 | Armstrong | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households owning their home | 84% | 76% | 74% |
| Median home value, 2021 | $500,000 | $720,000 | $406,000 |
| Households spending 30%+ on shelter | 17% | 21% | 18% |
| Rent as a share of income | 21% | 24% | 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.
Summer runs warm in Armstrong: July highs of 28.4°C, above British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns
In January the thermometer sinks to −6.4°C overnight, lower than British Columbia’s towns (0.5°C) yet higher than Canadian towns (−13.5°C). The most precipitation falls in June: 55 mm in a normal year. A normal December brings 31 cm of snow, the most of any month.
Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Normals, 1991–2020 | Armstrong | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| July afternoon high | 28.4°C | 23.1°C | 25.5°C |
| Precipitation a year | 447 mm | 1,152 mm | 883 mm |
| January night low | −6.4°C | 0.5°C | −13.5°C |
| Days with frost a year | 135 | 60 | 159 |
Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Vernon)
Commuters in Armstrong have a short way to work, 22 min on average, less than in British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns
The car took 87% of commuters, about level with both British Columbia’s towns (87%) and Canadian towns (89%).
How working residents got to work · census 2021
| Census 2021 | Armstrong | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip | 22 min | 26 min | 26 min |
| Car or van | 87% | 87% | 89% |
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.
52% of adults around Armstrong rate their health very good or excellent
Across the region, life runs to 81.0 years on average: women 84.1, men 78.2, in 2022/2024. Smoking is commoner than in the province: 12% of adults, against 8.9% for British Columbia. On average 16% of adults live with arthritis, diabetes or high blood pressure, between British Columbia’s towns (15%) and Canadian towns (17%). Measured from where Armstrong’s residents live, the nearest hospital is 1.2 km away, under the typical 3.7 km. For health survey and life expectancy, the only official count covers all of the Okanagan Health Service Delivery Area, Armstrong included.
Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised
| Health | Armstrong | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smokers | 12% | 9% | 12% |
| Chronic conditions (average share) | 16% | 15% | 17% |
| Very good or excellent health | 52% | 50% | 52% |
Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities
17% of homes tested in Armstrong’s area are above the radon guideline
Shaking is about as much of a worry in Armstrong as in most places, at $0.020 a year per $1,000 of building value ($0.030 typical). The national inventory holds one flood map for it, from City of the town. Wildfire is a moderate presence around Armstrong: 7.2% of the land within 25 km has burned since 1986, 0.18% a year, short of the band that counts against Risk.
Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³
| Hazards | Armstrong | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radon tests above the guideline | 17% | 1.8% | 6.6% |
| Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year | $0.020 | $0.36 | $0.030 |
NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory · Radon tests: one figure for all of the Okanagan health region
For safety, Armstrong gets a C+
Property crime runs at 21 per 1,000 people a year. Violent incidents came to 15 per 1,000 residents a year, higher than both British Columbia’s towns (12.5) and Canadian towns (12).
Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year
| 2023–2025 | Armstrong | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crime per 1,000 | 21 | 31 | 31.2 |
| Violent crime | 15 | 12.5 | 12 |
Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average
For schools, Armstrong gets a C+
Counting a 3 km margin, Armstrong has 3 elementary schools and 1 secondary school.
| School | Level | Students | System |
|---|---|---|---|
| Armstrong Elementary Middle fifth in British ColumbiaIn ArmstrongElementary | Elementary | – | English public |
| Pleasant Valley Secondary Fourth fifth in British ColumbiaIn ArmstrongSecondary | Secondary | – | English public |
Provincial school lists and results, 2025/26
Protected land around Armstrong beats 8 in 10 Canadian towns
One protected area is close by. 3.6 km from town is Silver Star Park, the nearest provincial park. For a national park, Mount Revelstoke National Park is 92 km away.
Protected land · of the land within 10 km
| Outdoors | Armstrong | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protected land within 10 km | 8% | 6.7% | 2.3% |
| Public protected areas within 10 km | 1 | 14 | 4 |
Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches
A median age of 50: Armstrong is older than 85% of Canadian towns
7.1% of residents came to Canada as immigrants, between British Columbia’s towns (12%) and Canadian towns (6.4%). First Nations, Métis and Inuit people make up 7.3% of residents, above British Columbia’s towns (5%) and Canadian towns (2.8%) alike.
Ages · Share of residents in each age group, Census 2021
Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over
Women and men · all residents
52.5% of Armstrong’s residents are women
2,530 men and 2,795 women lived here in 2021, against a share of women of 50.9% for Canada.
| Armstrong | British Columbia | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 16% | 14% | 16% |
| 15 to 64 | 55% | 64% | 64% |
| 65+ | 30% | 21% | 19% |
| No certificate, diploma or degree | 17% | 13% | 16% |
| Postsecondary qualification | 51% | 56% | 56% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; British Columbia and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+
In Armstrong, November normally means 5°C afternoons and −2°C nights
The year peaks in July (28°C) and bottoms out in January (−6°C). November normally sees 49 mm of precipitation. Snowfall in a normal November: 18 cm. ECCC’s forecast for Vernon is on the Weather page, hour by hour.
Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Season | High | Low | Rain and snow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | 1°C | −6°C | 106 mm |
| Spring | 15°C | 3°C | 95 mm |
| Summer | 27°C | 12°C | 122 mm |
| Autumn | 13°C | 3°C | 124 mm |
ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Vernon); the forecast is on the Weather page
Mel Arnold (Conservative Party of Canada) holds Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, the riding that includes Armstrong
20 of the 43 MPs from British Columbia belong to the Liberal Party of Canada.
Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada
Armstrong’s public library is Armstrong Branch
From the centre of Armstrong, it is 1.2 km away.
Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada
Everything we know about Armstrong
Famous people from Armstrong
4 notable people were born in Armstrong.
About Armstrong
Town in British Columbia
Armstrong is a municipality in British Columbia, 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
- 5,643 (people, 2025 estimate)
- Province or territory
- British Columbia
- Census division
- North Okanagan
- Census subdivision
- 5937028
Armstrong’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Statistics Canada
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armstrong | 5,643 | — | C+ | D | C+ | B+ |
| Spallumcheen | 5,843 | 3.5 | C+ | D | B+ | B |
| Enderby | 3,292 | 13 | C− | D | B− | B |
| Electoral Area D, Columbia-Shuswap | 4,829 | 14 | D | D | A− | C |
| Electoral Area B, North Okanagan | 3,415 | 16 | B− | D | B− | B |
| Electoral Area C, North Okanagan | 5,029 | 17 | B | C− | B− | B |
People: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about Armstrong
Who are the people of Armstrong?
At the 2021 census, 7% were immigrants and 4% belonged to a visible minority (Canadian towns’ median: 15%). 7% identify as First Nations, Métis or Inuit.
How old are the people of Armstrong?
Its median age is 50, where Canadian towns sit at 45.2.
What kind of homes are in Armstrong?
Single-detached houses make up 69% of the homes here, where Canadian towns sit at 64%; 0% are in high-rise apartments. 28% of households are one person, and the average is 2.3.
Has Armstrong grown?
It added people: 5,114 in 2016, 5,323 in 2021, 4.1% more, where the middle of Canadian towns grew 4.1%. Statistics Canada’s 2025 estimate is 5,643.
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).