Royal OakBurnaby

TownGrade

B⁻

#1,234 of 2,556

It is a neighbourhood of 18,364 residents in Burnaby. Burnaby is split into 18 neighbourhoods, and this is one.

6 places within 19 kmMap →

Photo: Northwest · CC BY-SA 4.0

Population

18,364

people, Census 2021

Median age

39.5

years · British Columbia’s towns: 48

Postsecondary

64%

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

Walk, cycle, transit

29%

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

Is Royal Oak a good place to live?

The picture is mixed. Royal Oak grades B− overall and ranks #80 of 250 in British Columbia. Nationally, it does better than 53% of Canadian towns. Walking, cycling and public transport work well here (A+). People here tend to be in good health (A). Its lowest grade is for cost of living (D−). Jobs and pay trail most towns (C). The rest of its grades are middling: 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

How Royal Oak grades

Each subject compares Royal Oak 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

Cost of livingHomes are among the least affordable for local incomesD⁻Open →WalkabilityNear the top of the towns comparedA⁺Open →HealthBased on how healthy residents are for their agesAOpen →SchoolsSchools rank among the strongest comparedA⁻Open →Jobs & incomeBelow the middle of the towns comparedCOpen →Hazard riskClose to the middle of the towns comparedBOpen →SafetyBased on crimes reported per residentC⁺Open →

How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →

What makes Royal Oak stand out

The 3 things Royal Oak does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Home value ÷ household income

Housing

13.7 times household income

The middle of Canadian towns: 4.7 times

Median owner’s estimate $1,200,000, Census 2021; income for 2020.

Walk, cycle or transit to work

Getting around

29% walk, cycle or take transit

Against 8% in the median of Canadian towns

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

Cost of living

Behind 99%

of Canadian towns on cost of living

Its cost of living grade: D−.

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Royal Oak.

HousingCost of living D⁻

Renting in Royal Oak eats 32% of household income, more than in British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns

$1,200,000median home value, 2021D⁻Cost of living Grade

Area-wide: rent as a share of income and monthly rent for a two-bedroom, counted over the Vancouver metro area

29% of households spent 30% or more of their income on shelter, higher than both British Columbia’s towns (21%) and Canadian towns (18%). Home ownership covers two thirds of households.

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

Royal Oak$1,200,000

British Columbia$720,000

Canadian towns$406,000

Census 2021	Royal Oak	British Columbia	Canada
Rent as a share of income	32%	24%	20%
Households spending 30%+ on shelter	29%	21%	18%
Households owning their home	67%	76%	74%

$2,364

monthly rent for a two-bedroom

Full pageRoyal Oak’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 living13.7 times household income · The median owner’s estimate, $1,200,000, against the median household income Owners and renters67% own their home

Statistics Canada, Census 2021; CMHC Rental Market Survey via Statistics Canada · Home values are owners’ own estimates at the May 2021 census, and incomes are for 2020.

HealthHealth A

Royal Oak scores better for health than 87% of Canadian towns

48%very good or excellent healthAHealth Grade

Adults who call their own health very good or excellent: 48%, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (50%) and Canadian towns (52%). Statistics Canada puts the region’s life expectancy at 84.4, women 86.6 and men 82.1 (2022/2024). For Royal Oak itself the measure is access: 4.1 km to the nearest hospital, much like the typical 3.7 km.

Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised

Royal Oak48%

British Columbia’s towns50%

Canadian towns52%

Health	Royal Oak	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

7.5%

of adults smoke, age-standardised

0.6 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

Full pageRoyal Oak’s health pageOpen the full Health page

Health survey48% very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised Getting care4.1 km to a hospital · A pharmacy 0.6 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 · Health survey and life expectancy: one figure for all of the Fraser North Health Service Delivery Area

Climate

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

23.0°CJuly afternoons

Expect July highs of around 23.0°C in Royal Oak. Frost comes on 17 days a year, below British Columbia’s towns (60) and Canadian towns (159) alike. Snow peaks in December: 14 cm in a normal year. For the wettest month, look to November: 245 mm on average.

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter7.6°C

Spring14.1°C

Summer22.1°C

Autumn14.3°C

Normals, 1991–2020	Royal Oak	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 pageRoyal Oak’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 station13 km to the station · Vancouver (Harbour)

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

SchoolsSchools A⁻

Royal Oak’s schools come under 3 different boards

52schools within 3 kmA⁻Schools Grade

In or within 3 km of Royal Oak: 38 elementary schools, 5 secondary schools and 9 alternative or adult schools. The 40 with results split, 18 in the upper two fifths in British Columbia and 11 in the lower.

School	Level	Students	System
Clinton Elementary Second fifth in British ColumbiaIn Royal OakElementary	Elementary	–	English public
Burnaby South Secondary Middle fifth in British ColumbiaIn Royal OakSecondary	Secondary	–	English public
John Knox Christian - Secondary Campus IndependentResults in the top fifth in British ColumbiaElementary	Elementary	–	Independent

See all 52 schools →

Schools by system · Schools within 3 km

English public45

Independent7

Schools within 3 km	Royal Oak	British Columbia	Canada
School boards	3	2	3

0.6 km

to the nearest secondary school

Full pageRoyal Oak’s schools pageOpen the full Schools page

The boards3 school boards · SD 41 Burnaby Every school52 schools within 3 km · 38 elementary schools, 5 secondary schools and 9 alternative or adult schools Results18 of 40 in the top two fifths · of the schools with results, placed against every school in British Columbia Language0 of 52 teach in French · 2% of schools in British Columbia Questions“What schools are there in Royal Oak?”

Provincial school lists and results, 2025/26

Work & commuteJobs & income C

Commuters in Royal Oak travel further than in British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns, 31 min on average

29%walk, cycle or take transit

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van68%

Public transit24%

Walk5%

Bicycle1%

Census 2021	Royal Oak	British Columbia	Canada
Average trip	31 min	26 min	26 min

$87,700

median household income, 2020

27%

worked from home, May 2021

39%

of commuters work inside the municipality

Full pageRoyal Oak’s work & commute pageOpen the full Work & commute page

Unemployment11% unemployed · Of the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Getting to work29% walk, cycle or take transit

Statistics Canada, Census 2021 (labour and commuting) · Census day was in May 2021, mid-pandemic, so commuting and work figures carry the lockdowns’ mark.

Natural hazardsHazard risk B

Shaking costs buildings in Royal Oak $0.36 a year per $1,000 of value, 12 times the typical town’s

Lowwildfire bandBHazard risk Grade

The radon tests numbers here cover the Fraser North health region

Little of the land around Royal Oak has burned: 0.1% within 25 km since 1986, or 0.003% a year. No one has filed a flood map for Royal Oak on the national inventory.

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

Royal Oak0%

British Columbia’s towns1.8%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	Royal Oak	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

7.9 km

to the nearest land burned since 1986

Full pageRoyal Oak’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 · Earthquake risk: the city of Burnaby

SafetySafety C⁺

Royal Oak earns a C+ for safety

70Crime Severity Index

Measured across the Burnaby service area: Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000

The violent index for its police area came to 65, below British Columbia’s towns (76) and Canadian towns (86) alike. Violence across its police area runs at 10.9 per 1,000 residents a year. Thefts, break-ins and damage add up to 35.9 per 1,000 residents a year where it is policed.

Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year

202374

202469

202569

2023–2025	Royal Oak	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 pageRoyal Oak’s safety reportOpen the full Safety report

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

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

Who lives here

More of Royal Oak belongs to a visible minority than British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: 77%

39.5median age

16% of residents are 65 or over, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (21%) and Canadian towns (19%). The under-15s are 13% of the population here.

Royal OakBritish ColumbiaCanada

British ColumbiaCanada

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

13%

Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over

No certificate, diploma or degree11%

Postsecondary qualification64%

Women and men · all residents

Women make up 51.9% of Royal Oak

Here the census found 8,820 men and 9,530 women; the figure for women across Canada is 50.9%.

Who lives in Royal Oak
	Royal Oak	British Columbia	Canada
Under 15	13%	14%	16%
15 to 64	72%	64%	64%
65+	16%	21%	19%
No certificate, diploma or degree	11%	13%	16%
Postsecondary qualification	64%	56%	56%

Full pageRoyal Oak’s Who lives here pageOpen the full Who lives here page

Ages39.5 median age · 16% are 65 or over Households6,850 households English and French5% speak both · 0% speak French but not English

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

Weather

Royal Oak in November: highs near 10°C, lows near 5°C

10°Ca normal November afternoon

A typical November adds 3 cm of snow. By December, a normal day reaches 7°C and a night falls to 3°C. In November, the normal is 245 mm of rain and snow. For today and the week ahead, the Weather page carries ECCC’s Vancouver forecast.

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 pageRoyal Oak’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

Royal Oak is split between 2 federal ridings, chiefly Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby and Burnaby Central

Local decisions for Royal Oak are made by Burnaby’s council; neighbourhoods don’t have their own.

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

Member of ParliamentGregor Robertson Provincial legislatureBurnaby South-Metrotown

Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada

Library & civic lifeCivic life grade B

The nearest public library to Royal Oak is Mcgill, 2 km away

The library figures on this page are Burnaby’s: Burnaby Public Library serves all 299,682 people of the city, Royal Oak among them.

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

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

Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada

Outdoors

Royal Oak has 26 public protected areas within 10 km

4.1%of the land within 10 km protected

OpenStreetMap shows 3 walking routes nearby, including the BC Parkway and Deer Lake COVID-19 One-way Loop. The nearest provincial park, Mount Seymour Park, is 9.1 km away. A drive of 43 km reaches Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, the nearest national park. Out to 10 km from the town’s edge, 4.1% of the land is protected; 2.3% is typical for a Canadian town.

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

Royal Oak4.1%

British Columbia’s towns6.7%

Canadian towns2.3%

Outdoors	Royal Oak	British Columbia	Canada
Public protected areas within 10 km	26	14	4
Protected land within 10 km	4.1%	6.7%	2.3%

43 km

to Gulf Islands National Park Reserve

9.1 km

to Mount Seymour Park

beaches within 5 km

public protected areas within 10 km

Full pageRoyal Oak’s outdoors pageOpen the full Outdoors page

Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas27 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 Royal Oak

15pages on Royal Oak

The big questions

SafetyC⁺Crime Severity Index 70 Housing & costD⁻Homes 13.7 × income Property pricesSchoolsA⁻52 schools within 3 km HealthALife expectancy 84.4 in its region Work & commuteC58% of adults in work Natural hazardsBWildfire band: low

Out and about

Outdoors4.1% of the land within 10 km protected AttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 23°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 39.5 HistoryTown hallFamous people

Nearby attractions

Holy Eucharist Cathedral and 24 more in and around Royal Oak

A first look at Royal Oak’s museums, historic sites and days out, and a few just outside town.

All attractions →

CathedralCathedralHoly Eucharist Cathedral3.3 km outside town, to the southeast

Theme parkBurnaby Village Museum800 m outside town, to the northeast

GardenCentral Park1.3 km outside town, to the northwest

CathedralHoly Trinity Cathedral4 km outside town, to the southeast

Art galleryBurnaby Art Gallery800 m outside town, to the northeast

Art galleryFairacres Mansion800 m outside town, to the northeast

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

Photo credits (5)

Burnaby Village Museum: Xiao23, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Central Park: Jeff Hitchcock from Seattle, WA, USA, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Holy Trinity Cathedral: sageb1, 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

About Royal Oak

Neighbourhood in Burnaby

Royal Oak is one of Burnaby’s neighbourhoods, which TownRatings draws from census dissemination areas and names from the city’s own map or OpenStreetMap.

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

Population: 18,364 (people, 2021 estimate)
Province or territory: British Columbia
City: Burnaby
Census subdivision: 5915025

Royal Oak’s neighbours

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

Buckingham HeightsMetrotownSouth SlopeEdmondsGarden VillageDeer LakeRoyal Oak

How the neighbours grade

Town	People	km	Overall	Cost	Safety	Health
Royal Oak	18,364	—	B⁻	D⁻	C⁺	A
Buckingham Heights	8,794	1.7	B⁻	D⁻	C⁺	A
Metrotown	36,594	1.7	B⁻	D⁻	C⁺	A
South Slope	8,989	1.9	B	D⁻	C⁺	A
Edmonds	34,805	1.9	C⁺	D⁻	C⁺	A
Garden Village	6,492	2.9	B	D⁻	C⁺	A
Deer Lake	8,417	3.1	B	D⁻	C⁺	A

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

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).