MetrotownBurnaby

Some 36,594 people live in this neighbourhood, in Burnaby. Burnaby is split into 18 neighbourhoods, and this is one.

6 places within 19 kmMap →

Photo: Darren Kirby Darren Kirby · CC BY-SA 2.0

Population

36,594

people, Census 2021

Median age

years · British Columbia’s towns: 48

Postsecondary

69%

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

Walk, cycle, transit

43%

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

TownGrade

B⁻

#1,437 of 2,556

Is Metrotown a good place to live?

Cost of living is its weak spot (D−). It lags on jobs & income as well (D). Fewer journeys need a car (A+). The overall grade comes out at B−, better than 47% of Canadian towns. That places it #104 of 250 in British Columbia. Its other grades sit near the middle: C+ for safety and B for hazard risk.

Rents here are the metro area's average, shared by every town and neighbourhood in it. Safety less sure: this is the whole city's figure, because the city doesn't publish open neighbourhood crime rates. 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⁺Walkability AHealth A⁻SchoolsWeakestD⁻Cost of living DJobs & income

What makes Metrotown stand out

The 3 things Metrotown does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Walk, cycle or transit to work

Getting around

43% walk, cycle or take transit

For the middle of Canadian towns, 8%

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

Home value ÷ household income

Housing

11.8 times household income

The middle of Canadian towns: 4.7 times

Median owner’s estimate $750,000, Census 2021; income for 2020.

Walkability

Better than 99%

of Canadian towns on walkability

Its walkability grade: A+.

How Metrotown grades

Each subject compares Metrotown 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

WalkabilityNear the top of the towns comparedA⁺Open →Cost of livingBased on what homes cost against what households earnD⁻Open →Jobs & incomeIncomes and work are among the weakest comparedDOpen →HealthIn the top fifth of the towns comparedAOpen →SchoolsGraded on exam and test resultsA⁻Open →Hazard riskGraded on two hazards, earthquakes and radon, with nearby wildfire counted only against itBOpen →SafetyNear typical for the towns comparedC⁺Open →

How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →

Nearby attractions

Central Park and 10 more in and around Metrotown

Museums, historic sites, parks, gardens and days out in and near Metrotown, the best known first.

All attractions →

GardenCentral Parkin town

Theme parkBurnaby Village Museum1.7 km outside town, to the east

Art galleryBurnaby Art Gallery1.4 km outside town, to the east

Art galleryFairacres Mansion1.4 km outside town, to the east Art galleryArt galleryDeer Lake Art Gallery1.5 km outside town, to the east MuseumMuseumNikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre1.8 km outside town, to the southeast

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · ODCAF · federal and Québec heritage registers · CPCAD

Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).

Photo credits (4)

Central Park: Jeff Hitchcock from Seattle, WA, USA, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Burnaby Village Museum: Xiao23, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Burnaby Art Gallery: Xiao23, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Fairacres Mansion: Xiao23, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Metrotown.

HousingCost of living D⁻

Rent takes more of local pay in Metrotown than in British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: 45% of household income

Rent as a share of income and monthly rent for a two-bedroom for the Vancouver metro area

Owners make up nearly half of households, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (76%) and Canadian towns (74%). Nearly two in five households spent 30% or more of their income on shelter, above British Columbia’s towns (21%) and Canadian towns (18%) alike.

$750,000median home value, 2021D⁻Cost of living Grade

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

Metrotown$750,000

British Columbia$720,000

Canadian towns$406,000

Census 2021	Metrotown	British Columbia	Canada
Rent as a share of income	45%	24%	20%
Households spending 30%+ on shelter	39%	21%	18%
Households owning their home	49%	76%	74%

$2,364

monthly rent for a two-bedroom

Full pageMetrotown’s cost of living pageOpen the full Cost of living page

Renting$2,364 a month · A two-bedroom apartment, CMHC’s survey Cost of living11.8 times household income · The median owner’s estimate, $750,000, against the median household income Owners and renters49% 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.

Work & commuteJobs & income D

Commuters in Metrotown travel further than in British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns, 33 min on average

43%walk, cycle or take transit

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van54%

Public transit33%

Walk10%

Bicycle0%

Census 2021	Metrotown	British Columbia	Canada
Average trip	33 min	26 min	26 min

$63,800

median household income, 2020

32%

worked from home, May 2021

37%

of commuters work inside the municipality

Full pageMetrotown’s work & commute pageOpen the full Work & commute page

Unemployment11% unemployed · Of the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Getting to work43% walk, cycle or take transit

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.

HealthHealth A

For health, Metrotown is ahead of 89% of Canadian towns

Source area for health survey and life expectancy: the Fraser North Health Service Delivery Area

What sets Metrotown apart within its region is distance, and at 2.7 km to a hospital it is ordinary (3.7 km typical). Life expectancy at birth in the region is 84.4 years, above British Columbia’s towns (81.0) and Canadian towns (81.5) alike. Across the region, 48% of adults say their health is very good or excellent, much as in British Columbia (50%).

48%very good or excellent healthAHealth Grade

Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised

Metrotown48%

British Columbia’s towns50%

Canadian towns52%

Health	Metrotown	British Columbia	Canada
Life expectancy at birth	84.4	81.0	81.5
Smokers	7.5%	9%	12%
Very good or excellent health	48%	50%	52%
Chronic conditions (average share)	15%	15%	17%

84.4

years of life expectancy, 2022/2024

2.7 km

from homes to a hospital, on average

7.5%

of adults smoke, age-standardised

0.3 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

Full pageMetrotown’s health pageOpen the full Health page

Health survey48% very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised Getting care2.7 km to a hospital · A pharmacy 0.3 km away on average The wider areaLife expectancy: women 86.6, men 82.1 Conditions and habits15% 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

Metrotown has milder winters than British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: January lows of 3.3°C

July afternoons in Metrotown average 23.0°C. There are 17 days of frost in a typical year, below both British Columbia’s towns (60) and Canadian towns (159). Snow peaks in December: 14 cm in a normal year. A normal November brings 245 mm of precipitation, more than any other month.

23.0°CJuly afternoons

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter7.6°C

Spring14.1°C

Summer22.1°C

Autumn14.3°C

Normals, 1991–2020	Metrotown	British Columbia	Canada
Days with frost a year	17	60	159
January night low	3.3°C	0.5°C	−13.5°C
Precipitation a year	1,537 mm	1,152 mm	883 mm
Snowfall a year	37 cm	51 cm	141 cm

37 cm

of snow a year

days with frost a year

142

days with precipitation a year

Full pageMetrotown’s climate pageOpen the full Climate page

The yearJuly highs 23.0°C, January lows 3.3°C Rain and snow1,537 mm a year · Canadian towns: 883 mm Snow37 cm of snow a year Weather station12 km to the station · Vancouver (Harbour)

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

SchoolsSchools A⁻

Metrotown’s schools come under 3 different boards

The 44 with results split, 19 in the upper two fifths in British Columbia and 11 in the lower. Of the 55, one teaches in French (2% of schools in British Columbia). Within 3 km of Metrotown are 43 elementary schools, 5 secondary schools and 7 alternative or adult schools.

55schools within 3 kmA⁻Schools Grade

School	Level	Students	System
Chaffey-Burke Elementary Second fifth in British ColumbiaIn MetrotownElementary	Elementary	–	English public
Burnaby South Secondary Middle fifth in British ColumbiaNearest secondary school, 0.5 kmSecondary	Secondary	–	English public
Anne-Hebert FrenchTeaches in FrenchElementary	Elementary	–	French public
Corpus Christi School IndependentResults in the top fifth in British ColumbiaElementary	Elementary	–	Independent

See all 55 schools →

Schools by system · Schools within 3 km

English public46

Independent8

French public1

Schools within 3 km	Metrotown	British Columbia	Canada
School boards	3	2	3

1.7 km

to the nearest secondary school

Full pageMetrotown’s schools pageOpen the full Schools page

The boards3 school boards · SD 41 Burnaby Every school55 schools within 3 km · 43 elementary schools, 5 secondary schools and 7 alternative or adult schools Results19 of 44 in the top two fifths · of the schools with results, placed against every school in British Columbia Language1 of 55 teach in French · 2% of schools in British Columbia Questions“What schools are there in Metrotown?”

Provincial school lists and results, 2025/26

Natural hazardsHazard risk B

Earthquakes are Metrotown’s biggest hazard: $0.36 of damage a year per $1,000 of buildings, 12 times the norm

Fire seldom reaches Metrotown: since 1986, 0.1% of the land within 25 km has burned (0.003% a year). Flood mapping: none on the national inventory of the town.

Lowwildfire bandBHazard risk Grade

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

Metrotown0%

British Columbia’s towns1.8%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	Metrotown	British Columbia	Canada
Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year	$0.36	$0.36	$0.030
Radon tests above the guideline	0%	1.8%	6.6%

$0.36

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

Low

wildfire band

8.6 km

to the nearest land burned since 1986

Full pageMetrotown’s flood & hazards pageOpen the full Flood & hazards page

Earthquakes$0.36 a year per $1,000 · Canadian towns: $0.030 WildfireLow wildfire band · 0.1% of the land within 25 km burned since 1986 FloodNo flood study on record Radon0% 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 · Not measured by town: radon tests (the Fraser North health region) · Data for earthquake risk covers the city of Burnaby

SafetySafety C⁺

Metrotown’s grade for safety: a C+

The violent index for its police area came to 65, below both British Columbia’s towns (76) and Canadian towns (86). Property crime in the area its police cover: 35.9 per 1,000 people a year. Its police area records 10.9 violent incidents per 1,000 residents a year.

70Crime Severity Index

Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year

202374

202469

202569

2023–2025	Metrotown	British Columbia	Canada
Violent Crime Severity Index	65	76	86
Property crime per 1,000	35.9	31	31.2

non-violent Crime Severity Index

15%

of incidents cleared, 2023–25

Full pageMetrotown’s safety reportOpen the full Safety report

Safety70 Crime Severity Index · The index weighs each crime Metrotown’s police recorded by how serious it is.Questions“Is Metrotown safe?”

Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average · Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000: the Burnaby service area

Who lives here

Visible minorities make up more of Metrotown than of British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: 79%

17% of residents are 65 or over, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (21%) and Canadian towns (19%). Under-15s account for 10% of the population.

38median age

MetrotownBritish ColumbiaCanada

British ColumbiaCanada

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

17%

Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over

No certificate, diploma or degree9%

Postsecondary qualification69%

Women and men · all residents

51.6% of Metrotown’s residents are women

Here the census found 17,720 men and 18,885 women; the figure for women across Canada is 50.9%.

Who lives in Metrotown
	Metrotown	British Columbia	Canada
Under 15	10%	14%	16%
15 to 64	73%	64%	64%
65+	17%	21%	19%
No certificate, diploma or degree	9.1%	13%	16%
Postsecondary qualification	69%	56%	56%

Full pageMetrotown’s Who lives here pageOpen the full Who lives here page

Ages38 median age · 17% are 65 or over Households17,810 households English and French4% speak both · 0% speak French but not English

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

Weather

In Metrotown, November normally means 10°C afternoons and 5°C nights

Looking ahead to December, expect highs near 7°C and lows near 3°C. Rain and snow over a typical November come to 245 mm. Hour-by-hour figures come from ECCC’s Vancouver forecast, on the Weather page.

10°Ca normal November afternoon

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

November10°C

December7°C

January7°C

February8°C

Season	High	Low	Rain and snow
Winter	8°C	3°C	554 mm
Spring	14°C	7°C	353 mm
Summer	22°C	14°C	158 mm
Autumn	14°C	9°C	473 mm

5°C

a normal November night

245 mm

of rain and snow in a normal November

Full pageMetrotown’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 December

ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Vancouver (Harbour)); the forecast is on the Weather page

Town hall

Metrotown’s MP is Wade Chang (Liberal Party of Canada), for Burnaby Central

The 2 ridings of Burnaby South-Metrotown and Burnaby Centre each take in part of Metrotown for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.

Full pageMetrotown’s town hall & politics pageOpen the full Town hall & politics page

Who runs itCity

Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada

Library & civic lifeCivic life grade B

Metrotown has one public library, Bob Prittie Metrotown Branch

Metrotown is served by burnaby public library, the library of all of Burnaby, so the figures here are the city’s, for 299,682 people.

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

A year at the library5.1 visits per person served The libraries1 Libraries Places to belong1.2 charities per 1,000 residents

Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada

Outdoors

20 public protected areas lie within 10 km of Metrotown

3 mapped walking routes pass within 2 km, among them the BC Parkway and Deer Lake COVID-19 One-way Loop. A provincial park, Mount Seymour Park, lies 9.2 km away. The closest of Canada’s national parks is Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, at 43 km. Parks and reserves take up 2.5% of the ground within 10 km, below British Columbia’s towns (6.7%) but above Canadian towns (2.3%).

2.5%of the land within 10 km protected

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

Metrotown2.5%

British Columbia’s towns6.7%

Canadian towns2.3%

Outdoors	Metrotown	British Columbia	Canada
Public protected areas within 10 km	20	14	4
Protected land within 10 km	2.5%	6.7%	2.3%

43 km

to Gulf Islands National Park Reserve

9.2 km

to Mount Seymour Park

beaches within 5 km

public protected areas within 10 km

Full pageMetrotown’s outdoors pageOpen the full Outdoors page

Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas21 protected areas within 10 km · Mount Seymour Park National & provincial parks43 km to a national park · Gulf Islands National Park Reserve Footpaths & routes3 named routes · BC Parkway

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

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Metrotown

15pages on Metrotown

The big questions

SafetyC⁺Crime Severity Index 70 Housing & costD⁻Homes 11.8 × income Property pricesSchoolsA⁻55 schools within 3 km HealthALife expectancy 84.4 in its region Work & commuteD57% of adults in work Natural hazardsBWildfire band: low

Out and about

Outdoors2.5% of the land within 10 km protected AttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 23°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 38 HistoryTown hallFamous people

Metrotown’s neighbours

The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Statistics Canada

Garden VillageRoyal OakSouth SlopeCollingwoodKillarneyDeer LakeMetrotown

How the neighbours grade

Town	People	km	Overall	Cost	Safety	Health
Metrotown	36,594	—	B⁻	D⁻	C⁺	A
Garden Village	6,492	1.4	B	D⁻	C⁺	A
Royal Oak	18,364	1.7	B⁻	D⁻	C⁺	A
South Slope	8,989	2	B	D⁻	C⁺	A
Collingwood	18,399	2.4	B⁻	D⁻	C⁻	A⁺
Killarney	32,167	2.7	C⁺	D⁻	C⁻	A⁺
Deer Lake	8,417	2.7	B	D⁻	C⁺	A

People: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. Distances: centre to centre.

About Metrotown

Neighbourhood in Burnaby

Census areas put together by TownRatings make up Metrotown, one part of Burnaby; the city’s map or OpenStreetMap gives it its name.

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

Population: 36,594 (people, 2021 estimate)
Province or territory: British Columbia
City: Burnaby
Census subdivision: 5915025

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).