South SlopeBurnaby

TownGrade

#1,138 of 2,556

It is one of the 18 neighbourhoods that make up Burnaby. Some 8,989 people live in this neighbourhood, in Burnaby.

6 places within 19 kmMap →

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

Population

8,989

people, Census 2021

Median age

45.3

years · British Columbia’s towns: 48

Postsecondary

60%

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

Walk, cycle, transit

23%

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

Is South Slope a good place to live?

A solid town with one catch. On health it is strong (A). South Slope grades B overall and ranks #65 of 250 in British Columbia. That leaves it better than 56% of Canadian towns. Homes are dear (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.

StrongestAWalkability AHealth A⁻SchoolsWeakestD⁻Cost of living

How South Slope grades

Each subject compares South Slope 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 livingIn the bottom fifth of the towns comparedD⁻Open →WalkabilityBased on walking, cycling and transit to everyday placesAOpen →HealthAmong the healthiest places comparedAOpen →SchoolsAmong the best of the towns comparedA⁻Open →Jobs & incomeBased on what households earn, poverty and workC⁺Open →Hazard riskAbout average among the towns comparedBOpen →SafetyGraded on crime per residentC⁺Open →

How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →

What makes South Slope stand out

The 3 things South Slope does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Home value ÷ household income

Housing

15.3 times household income

The middle of Canadian towns: 4.7 times

Median owner’s estimate $1,600,000, Census 2021; income for 2020.

Cost of living

Behind 99%

of Canadian towns on cost of living

Its cost of living grade: D−.

Walk, cycle or transit to work

Getting around

23% walk, cycle or take transit

The midpoint across Canadian towns is 8%

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in South Slope.

HousingCost of living D⁻

Renting in South Slope eats 27% of household income, more than in British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns

$1,600,000median home value, 2021D⁻Cost of living Grade

66% of households own their home, below British Columbia’s towns (76%) and Canadian towns (74%) alike. Shelter took 30% or more of income for 29% of households, above both British Columbia’s towns (21%) and Canadian towns (18%).

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

South Slope$1,600,000

British Columbia$720,000

Canadian towns$406,000

Census 2021	South Slope	British Columbia	Canada
Households spending 30%+ on shelter	29%	21%	18%
Rent as a share of income	27%	24%	20%
Households owning their home	66%	76%	74%

$2,364

monthly rent for a two-bedroom

Full pageSouth Slope’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 living15.3 times household income · The median owner’s estimate, $1,600,000, against the median household income Owners and renters66% own their home

Statistics Canada, Census 2021; CMHC Rental Market Survey via Statistics Canada · The 2021 census asked owners what their home was worth; those values, and 2020 incomes, are what this compares. · Area behind the rent as a share of income and monthly rent for a two-bedroom figures: the Vancouver metro area

HealthHealth A

Health in South Slope beats 87% of Canadian towns

48%very good or excellent healthAHealth Grade

For South Slope itself the measure is access: 4.4 km to the nearest hospital, much like the typical 3.7 km. Expected years of life at birth: 84.4, above both British Columbia’s towns (81.0) and Canadian towns (81.5). About as many adults call their health very good or excellent here as across British Columbia, 48% against 50%. South Slope doesn’t get its own health survey and life expectancy figures; the ones here come from the Fraser North Health Service Delivery Area.

Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised

South Slope48%

British Columbia’s towns50%

Canadian towns52%

Health	South Slope	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

1.1 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

Full pageSouth Slope’s health pageOpen the full Health page

Health survey48% very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised Getting care4.4 km to a hospital · A pharmacy 1.1 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

SchoolsSchools A⁻

Schools in South Slope: 5 boards, side by side

61schools within 3 kmA⁻Schools Grade

Within 3 km of South Slope are 44 elementary schools, 6 secondary schools, 2 schools for every grade and 9 alternative or adult schools. The 48 with results split, 20 in the upper two fifths in British Columbia and 15 in the lower. Schooling in French is on offer at one of the 61; in British Columbia, 2% of schools teach in it.

School	Level	Students	System
Glenwood Elementary Fourth fifth in British ColumbiaIn South SlopeElementary	Elementary	–	English public
Burnaby South Secondary Middle fifth in British ColumbiaNearest secondary school, 0.6 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 61 schools →

Schools by system · Schools within 3 km

English public52

Independent8

French public1

Schools within 3 km	South Slope	British Columbia	Canada
School boards	5	2	3

1.3 km

to the nearest secondary school

Full pageSouth Slope’s schools pageOpen the full Schools page

The boards5 school boards · SD 41 Burnaby Every school61 schools within 3 km · 44 elementary schools, 6 secondary schools, 2 schools for every grade and 9 alternative or adult schools Results20 of 48 in the top two fifths · of the schools with results, placed against every school in British Columbia Language1 of 61 teach in French · 2% of schools in British Columbia Questions“What schools are there in South Slope?”

Provincial school lists and results, 2025/26

Climate

Winters are mild in South Slope: January nights hold at 1.4°C, above British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns

22.4°CJuly afternoons

Snow totals 37 cm over the year, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (51 cm) and Canadian towns (141 cm). The frost-free season runs from 19 March to 10 November, 235 days. July afternoons in South Slope average 22.4°C. December is the snowiest month, with 14 cm on average.

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter7.1°C

Spring13.4°C

Summer21.5°C

Autumn14.0°C

Normals, 1991–2020	South Slope	British Columbia	Canada
Days with frost a year	40	60	159
January night low	1.4°C	0.5°C	−13.5°C
July afternoon high	22.4°C	23.1°C	25.5°C
Snowfall a year	37 cm	51 cm	141 cm

37 cm

of snow a year

days with frost a year

235

frost-free days, 19 Mar to 10 Nov

137

days with precipitation a year

Full pageSouth Slope’s climate pageOpen the full Climate page

The yearJuly highs 22.4°C, January lows 1.4°C Rain and snow1,160 mm a year · Canadian towns: 883 mm Snow37 cm of snow a year Weather station13 km to the station · Vancouver International (Airport)

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

Work & commuteJobs & income C⁺

Commuters in South Slope travel further than in British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns, 30 min on average

23%walk, cycle or take transit

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van73%

Public transit19%

Walk3%

Bicycle0%

Census 2021	South Slope	British Columbia	Canada
Average trip	30 min	26 min	26 min

$104,300

median household income, 2020

28%

worked from home, May 2021

39%

of commuters work inside the municipality

Full pageSouth Slope’s work & commute pageOpen the full Work & commute page

Unemployment9.4% unemployed · Of the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Getting to work23% walk, cycle or take transit

Statistics Canada, Census 2021 (labour and commuting) · The 2021 census was taken in May 2021, during COVID-19 restrictions: more people than usual worked from home or were off work.

Natural hazardsHazard risk B

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

Lowwildfire bandBHazard risk Grade

Area-wide: radon tests, counted over the Fraser North health region

City of Vancouver has mapped the flood hazard here: one study on the national inventory. Burn scars are few around South Slope, with 0.1% of the land within 25 km touched by fire since 1986 (0.003% a year).

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

South Slope0%

British Columbia’s towns1.8%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	South Slope	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

6.8 km

to the nearest land burned since 1986

flood study on the national inventory

Full pageSouth Slope’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 FloodOne 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 published for the city of Burnaby, not by town

SafetySafety C⁺

South Slope is graded 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, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (76) and Canadian towns (86). For every 1,000 residents of its police area, 10.9 violent incidents are reported each year. Its police area records 35.9 property incidents per 1,000 residents a year.

Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year

202374

202469

202569

2023–2025	South Slope	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 pageSouth Slope’s safety reportOpen the full Safety report

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

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

Who lives here

Visible minorities make up more of South Slope than of British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: 62%

45.3median age

People 65 and over make up 22% of the town. 1.5% of residents have an Indigenous identity, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (5%) and Canadian towns (2.8%). Under-15s account for 14% of the population.

South SlopeBritish ColumbiaCanada

British ColumbiaCanada

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

22%

Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over

No certificate, diploma or degree13%

Postsecondary qualification60%

Women and men · all residents

Women make up 49.7% of South Slope

Census 2021 put women at 4,470 and men at 4,520; women are 50.9% of Canada.

Who lives in South Slope
	South Slope	British Columbia	Canada
Under 15	14%	14%	16%
15 to 64	64%	64%	64%
65+	22%	21%	19%
No certificate, diploma or degree	13%	13%	16%
Postsecondary qualification	60%	56%	56%

Full pageSouth Slope’s Who lives here pageOpen the full Who lives here page

Ages45.3 median age · 22% are 65 or over Households3,110 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

Expect November days around 9°C in South Slope, nights around 4°C

9°Ca normal November afternoon

Expect around 3 cm of snow in November. Precipitation in November averages 175 mm. A normal December brings highs of 7°C, lows of 1°C. July brings the warmest days, 22°C; December the coldest nights, 1°C.

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

November9°C

December7°C

January7°C

February8°C

Season	High	Low	Rain and snow
Winter	7°C	1°C	437 mm
Spring	13°C	6°C	251 mm
Summer	21°C	13°C	121 mm
Autumn	14°C	7°C	350 mm

4°C

a normal November night

175 mm

of rain and snow in a normal November

Full pageSouth Slope’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 International (Airport)); the forecast is on the Weather page

Town hall

South Slope sends Gregor Robertson (Liberal Party of Canada) to the Commons from Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby

As part of Burnaby, South Slope is governed by the city’s council, not one of its own.

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

Provincial legislatureBurnaby South-Metrotown

Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada

Library & civic lifeCivic life grade B

No public library stands in South Slope: the closest, Bob Prittie Metrotown Library, is 2.1 km away

South Slope 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 pageSouth Slope’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

38 public protected areas lie within 10 km of South Slope

5.8%of the land within 10 km protected

The protected share of the 10 km around the town is 5.8%, between British Columbia’s towns (6.7%) and Canadian towns (2.3%). The nearest provincial park, Mount Seymour Park, is 11 km away. 41 km separate the town from Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, its nearest national park. Walkers have 2 mapped routes close by, starting with the BC Parkway and Trail of Hope.

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

South Slope5.8%

British Columbia’s towns6.7%

Canadian towns2.3%

Outdoors	South Slope	British Columbia	Canada
Public protected areas within 10 km	38	14	4
Protected land within 10 km	5.8%	6.7%	2.3%

41 km

to Gulf Islands National Park Reserve

11 km

to Mount Seymour Park

beaches within 5 km

public protected areas within 10 km

Full pageSouth Slope’s outdoors pageOpen the full Outdoors page

Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas39 protected areas within 10 km · Belcarra Regional Park National & provincial parks41 km to a national park · Gulf Islands National Park Reserve Footpaths & routes2 named routes · BC Parkway

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

History

Before 1961: 37% of the homes in South Slope

37%built before 1961

37%

of homes built before 1961 · Canadian towns 18%

Heritage	South Slope	British Columbia	Canada
Homes built before 1961	37%	11%	18%

Full pageSouth Slope’s history pageOpen the full History page

Older homes37% built before 1961 · Canadian towns: 18%Questions“How many historic places does South Slope have?”

Canadian Register of Historic Places, Directory of Federal Heritage Designations, Québec’s Répertoire du patrimoine culturel, Wikidata; Census 2021 homes by period

Keep exploring

Everything we know about South Slope

15pages on South Slope

The big questions

SafetyC⁺Crime Severity Index 70 Housing & costD⁻Homes 15.3 × income Property pricesSchoolsA⁻61 schools within 3 km HealthALife expectancy 84.4 in its region Work & commuteC⁺55% of adults in work Natural hazardsBWildfire band: low

Out and about

Outdoors5.8% of the land within 10 km protected AttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 22°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 45.3 HistoryTown hallFamous people

Nearby attractions

Holy Eucharist Cathedral and 24 more in and around South Slope

What there is to see in South Slope and within a short drive, starting with the places most people have heard of.

All attractions →

CathedralCathedralHoly Eucharist Cathedral3.2 km outside town, to the southeast

GardenCentral Park600 m outside town, to the north

CathedralHoly Trinity Cathedral3.4 km outside town, to the southeast

Theme parkBurnaby Village Museum3 km outside town, to the northeast

Art galleryBurnaby Art Gallery3.1 km outside town, to the northeast

Art galleryFairacres Mansion3.1 km outside town, to the northeast

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

Photo credits (5)

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 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

About South Slope

Neighbourhood in Burnaby

The edges of South Slope follow census dissemination areas, which TownRatings groups into Burnaby’s neighbourhoods; the name comes from the city’s map or OpenStreetMap.

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

Population: 8,989 (people, 2021 estimate)
Province or territory: British Columbia
City: Burnaby
Census subdivision: 5915025

South Slope’s neighbours

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

Royal OakMetrotownKillarneyEdmondsGarden VillageBuckingham HeightsSouth Slope

How the neighbours grade

Town	People	km	Overall	Cost	Safety	Health
South Slope	8,989	—	B	D⁻	C⁺	A
Royal Oak	18,364	1.9	B⁻	D⁻	C⁺	A
Metrotown	36,594	2	B⁻	D⁻	C⁺	A
Killarney	32,167	2.8	C⁺	D⁻	C⁻	A⁺
Edmonds	34,805	3.2	C⁺	D⁻	C⁺	A
Garden Village	6,492	3.4	B	D⁻	C⁺	A
Buckingham Heights	8,794	3.5	B⁻	D⁻	C⁺	A

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

Questions about South Slope

Is South Slope a young town or an old one?

Its median age is 45.3, where Canadian towns sit at 45.2. Under-15s are 14% of residents; over-65s, 22%.

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).