Electoral Area C, Central KootenayBritish Columbia

Statistics Canada places it in the Central Kootenay census division. In British Columbia, this town has 1,672 residents.

2 places within 19 kmMap →

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

Population

1,672

people, 2025 estimate

Median age

years · British Columbia’s towns: 48

Postsecondary

49%

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

Walk, cycle, transit

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

Is Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay a good place to live?

Crime is low (A). Prices are high against local incomes (D). Most journeys need a car (D−). Elsewhere it is close to typical: B for schools, B for health and B for jobs & income.

Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay has subject grades but no overall grade: Canadian towns get one from 2,500 residents.

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 less sure: no police service names this town, so its crime figure is the nearest police detachment's, shared with a wider area. Health is graded on the health region's survey figures and life expectancy, with the distance to hospital giving the town its own spread.

StrongestASafetyWeakestD⁻Walkability DCost of living

What makes Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay stand out

The 3 things Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Walkability

Behind 98%

of Canadian towns on walkability

Its walkability grade: D−.

Residents 65 and over

Who lives here

33% are 65 or over

Midway across Canadian towns: 19%

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

Home value ÷ household income

Housing

7.6 times household income

The middle of Canadian towns: 4.7 times

Median owner’s estimate $500,000, Census 2021; income for 2020.

How Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay grades

Each subject compares Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay 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

Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay has subject grades but no overall grade: Canadian towns get one from 2,500 residents.

WalkabilityAmong the hardest places to get around without a carD⁻Open →SafetyAmong the best of the towns comparedAOpen →Cost of livingBased on what homes cost against what households earnDOpen →Hazard riskMore exposed to natural hazards than mostCOpen →HealthAbove the middle of the towns comparedBOpen →Jobs & incomeClose to the middle of the towns comparedBOpen →SchoolsGraded on exam and test resultsBOpen →

How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay.

SafetySafety A

Crime runs lighter where Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay is policed than in British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns, at an index of 37

These figures come from the closest detachment: none reports for Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay itself

For violence alone, its police area’s index was 47, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (76) and Canadian towns (86). Across its police area, there are 13.1 property incidents per 1,000 residents a year. Violence across its police area runs at 9.7 per 1,000 residents a year.

37Crime Severity Index

Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year

202336

202445

202529

2023–2025	Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay	British Columbia	Canada
Crime Severity Index	37	83	67
Property crime per 1,000	13.1	31	31.2
Violent Crime Severity Index	47	76	86
Violent crime	9.7	12.5	12

non-violent Crime Severity Index

24%

of incidents cleared, 2023–25

Full pageElectoral Area C, Central Kootenay’s safety reportOpen the full Safety report

Safety37 Crime Severity Index · The index weighs each crime Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay’s police recorded by how serious it is.Questions“Is Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay 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: one figure for all of the Creston detachment area

HousingCost of living D

More households own their home in Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay than in British Columbia’s towns or across Canadian towns: 89%

A year’s rent came to 21% of the median household income, below British Columbia’s towns (24%) and close to Canadian towns (20%).

$500,000median home value, 2021DCost of living Grade

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

Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay$500,000

British Columbia$720,000

Canadian towns$406,000

Census 2021	Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay	British Columbia	Canada
Households owning their home	89%	76%	74%
Rent as a share of income	21%	24%	20%
Households spending 30%+ on shelter	21%	21%	18%

$830

monthly rent for a two-bedroom

$552

median monthly shelter cost for owners, 2021

Full pageElectoral Area C, Central Kootenay’s cost of living pageOpen the full Cost of living page

Owners and renters89% own their home Cost of living7.6 times household income · The median owner’s estimate, $500,000, against the median household income Renting$830 a month · The median rent at the 2021 census

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.

Climate

Summer runs warm in Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay: July highs of 28.6°C, above British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns

Winter lows average −4.0°C in January, between British Columbia’s towns (0.5°C) and Canadian towns (−13.5°C). Gardeners get 179 frost-free days, from 22 April to 18 October. A normal December brings 47 cm of snow, the most of any month. For the wettest month, look to November: 84 mm on average.

28.6°CJuly afternoons

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter1.8°C

Spring14.2°C

Summer26.5°C

Autumn13.2°C

Normals, 1991–2020	Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay	British Columbia	Canada
July afternoon high	28.6°C	23.1°C	25.5°C
Precipitation a year	689 mm	1,152 mm	883 mm
January night low	−4.0°C	0.5°C	−13.5°C
Days with frost a year	118	60	159

151 cm

of snow a year

118

days with frost a year

179

frost-free days, 22 Apr to 18 Oct

126

days with precipitation a year

Full pageElectoral Area C, Central Kootenay’s climate pageOpen the full Climate page

The yearJuly highs 28.6°C, January lows −4.0°C Rain and snow689 mm a year · Canadian towns: 883 mm Snow151 cm of snow a year Weather station2.0 km to the station · Creston

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

Natural hazardsHazard risk C

High radon around Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay: 19% of homes tested in the area exceed 200 Bq/m³

Fire reaches the land around Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay now and then: 7.1% within 25 km since 1986 (0.18% a year), below the high band. The national inventory holds 2 flood maps for it, the newest from Regional District of Central Kootenay. Earthquakes are expected to cost $0.023 a year for every $1,000 of buildings, about level with Canadian towns ($0.030) and below British Columbia’s towns ($0.36).

Moderatewildfire bandCHazard risk Grade

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

Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay19%

British Columbia’s towns1.8%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay	British Columbia	Canada
Radon tests above the guideline	19%	1.8%	6.6%
Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year	$0.023	$0.36	$0.030

$0.023

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

Moderate

wildfire band

4.2 km

to the nearest land burned since 1986

flood studies on the national inventory

Full pageElectoral Area C, Central Kootenay’s flood & hazards pageOpen the full Flood & hazards page

Radon19% of tests above the guideline WildfireModerate wildfire band · 7.1% of the land within 25 km burned since 1986 Flood2 flood studies on record Earthquakes$0.023 a year per $1,000 · Canadian towns: $0.030 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 East Kootenay health region)

Who lives here

More of Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay’s residents have an Indigenous identity than in British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: 9.7%

1.7% of residents belong to a visible minority, below British Columbia’s towns (8.6%) and Canadian towns (15%) alike. Immigrants make up 12% of residents, close to British Columbia’s towns (12%) and above Canadian towns (6.4%).

56median age

Electoral Area C, Central KootenayBritish ColumbiaCanada

British ColumbiaCanada

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

33%

Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over

No certificate, diploma or degree17%

Postsecondary qualification49%

Women and men · all residents

Women make up 47.8% of Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay

Here the census found 770 men and 705 women; the figure for women across Canada is 50.9%.

Who lives in Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay
	Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay	British Columbia	Canada
Under 15	13%	14%	16%
15 to 64	54%	64%	64%
65+	33%	21%	19%
No certificate, diploma or degree	17%	13%	16%
Postsecondary qualification	49%	56%	56%

Full pageElectoral Area C, Central Kootenay’s Who lives here pageOpen the full Who lives here page

Immigrants12% are immigrants · 2% belong to a visible minority Ages56 median age · 33% are 65 or over Households635 households · 2.3 people per household 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+

HealthHealth B

Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay’s health region reports 57% in very good or excellent health, ahead of the typical Canadian town’s 52%

Expected years of life at birth: 80.5, near British Columbia’s towns (81.0) and lower than Canadian towns (81.5). At 13%, the share of adults who smoke tops the 8.9% for British Columbia. Closer to home, a hospital is 8.1 km from the average resident of Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay, further than the usual 3.7 km. Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay shares its health survey and life expectancy numbers with the rest of the East Kootenay Health Service Delivery Area.

57%very good or excellent healthBHealth Grade

Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised

Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay57%

British Columbia’s towns50%

Canadian towns52%

Health	Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay	British Columbia	Canada
Very good or excellent health	57%	50%	52%
Smokers	13%	9%	12%
Chronic conditions (average share)	16%	15%	17%
Life expectancy at birth	80.5	81.0	81.5

80.5

years of life expectancy, 2022/2024

8.1 km

from homes to a hospital, on average

13%

of adults smoke, age-standardised

8.0 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

Full pageElectoral Area C, Central Kootenay’s health pageOpen the full Health page

Health survey57% very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised Getting care8.1 km to a hospital · A pharmacy 8.0 km away on average The wider areaLife expectancy: women 82.7, men 78.1 Conditions and habits16% with chronic conditions · adults, age-standardised

Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities

Work & commuteJobs & income B

Trips to work from Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay are shorter than from British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: 17 min on average

The car took 93% of commuters, above British Columbia’s towns (87%) and Canadian towns (89%) alike.

0%walk, cycle or take transit

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van93%

Census 2021	Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay	British Columbia	Canada
Average trip	17 min	26 min	26 min
Car or van	93%	87%	89%

$66,500

median household income, 2020

24%

worked from home, May 2021

12%

of commuters work inside the municipality

Full pageElectoral Area C, Central Kootenay’s work & commute pageOpen the full Work & commute page

Unemployment5.6% unemployed · Of the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Getting to work0% walk, cycle or take transit Where people commute to205 commuters · The biggest flow out: to Creston

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.

SchoolsSchools B

Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay’s grade for schools: a B

Within 3 km of Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay are 4 elementary schools, 1 secondary school, 1 school for every grade and 1 alternative or adult school.

7schools within 3 kmBSchools Grade

Schools by system · Schools within 3 km

English public5

Independent2

School	Level	Students	System
Adam Robertson Elementary Fourth fifth in British ColumbiaNearest elementary school, 0.6 kmElementary	Elementary	–	English public
Kootenay Valley Christian School IndependentNearest secondary school, 0 kmAll grades	All grades	–	Independent

See all 7 schools →

1.1 km

to the nearest secondary school

Full pageElectoral Area C, Central Kootenay’s schools pageOpen the full Schools page

Every school7 schools within 3 km · 4 elementary schools, 1 secondary school, 1 school for every grade and 1 alternative or adult school Results0 of 5 in the top two fifths · of the schools with results, placed against every school in British Columbia Language0 of 7 teach in French · 2% of schools in British Columbia Questions“What schools are there in Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay?”

Provincial school lists and results, 2025/26

Weather

In Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay, November normally means 5°C afternoons and −1°C nights

Snowfall in a normal November: 23 cm. A normal November brings 84 mm of rain and snow. ECCC’s forecast for Creston is on the Weather page, hour by hour.

5°Ca normal November afternoon

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

November5°C

December1°C

January1°C

February4°C

Season	High	Low	Rain and snow
Winter	2°C	−4°C	205 mm
Spring	14°C	3°C	174 mm
Summer	27°C	13°C	133 mm
Autumn	13°C	4°C	178 mm

−1°C

a normal November night

84 mm

of rain and snow in a normal November

Full pageElectoral Area C, Central Kootenay’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 (Creston); the forecast is on the Weather page

Town hall

Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay’s MP is Rob Morrison (Conservative Party of Canada), for Columbia—Kootenay—Southern Rockies

Of the 43 Commons seats from British Columbia, the Liberal Party of Canada holds 20.

Full pageElectoral Area C, Central Kootenay’s town hall & politics pageOpen the full Town hall & politics page

Who runs itRegional District Electoral Area Provincial legislatureKootenay Central

Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada

Library & civic lifeCivic life grade A

No public library stands in Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay: the closest, Creston Valley Public Library, is 3.5 km away

After it comes Salmo Valley Public Library (Salmo), 54 km away.

Full pageElectoral Area C, Central Kootenay’s library & civic life pageOpen the full Library & civic life page

Places to belong0 charities per 1,000 residents

Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada

Outdoors

Protected land around Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay beats 9 in 10 Canadian towns

Within its own boundary, 16% of the town is protected. National parks are all over 100 km off. Public parks and reserves within 10 km: 4, below British Columbia’s towns (14) and close to Canadian towns (4).

19%of the land within 10 km protected

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay19%

British Columbia’s towns6.7%

Canadian towns2.3%

Outdoors	Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay	British Columbia	Canada
Protected land within 10 km	19%	6.7%	2.3%
Public protected areas within 10 km	4	14	4

At the edge

to Stagleap Park

public protected areas within 10 km

Full pageElectoral Area C, Central Kootenay’s outdoors pageOpen the full Outdoors page

Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas8 protected areas within 10 km · Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area National & provincial parksAt the edge to a provincial park · Stagleap Park

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

Nearby attractions

Creston Museum and 4 more in and around Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay

From museums to parks and historic sites: Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay’s places to visit and those just beyond its edge, most famous first.

All attractions →

MuseumMuseumCreston Museum400 m outside town, to the southeast Historic shipHistoric shipCT-114 Tutor Jet Static Display600 m outside town, to the southeast MuseumMuseumCreston And District Museum And Archives1.1 km outside town, to the southeast Art galleryArt galleryFirst Nations Art Studio600 m outside town, to the southeast Art galleryArt galleryKunze Art Gallery600 m outside town, to the southeast

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay

15pages on Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay

The big questions

SafetyACrime Severity Index 37 Housing & costDHomes 7.6 × income Property pricesSchoolsB7 schools within 3 km HealthBLife expectancy 80.5 in its region Work & commuteB49% of adults in work Natural hazardsCWildfire band: moderate

Out and about

Outdoors19% of the land within 10 km protected AttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 29°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 56 HistoryTown hallFamous people

Famous people from around Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay

No notable person born in Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay is on our list; these were born in the towns around it.

How we find them →

Pascale HuttonCanadian actress · born in Creston · born 1979

John Gordon PerrinCanadian volleyball player · born in Creston · born 1989

Darren JensenCanadian ice hockey player · born in Creston · born 1960

Irwin CrosthwaitCanadian artist · born in Creston · 1914–1981

Jamie HuscroftCanadian ice hockey player · born in Creston · born 1967

Jayli WolfMusical artist, singer-songwriter, actr… · born in Creston

Photo credits

Pascale Hutton: Pascale_Hutton_wearing_Paul_Hardy_2_-_Heart_and_Stroke_Foundation_-_The_Heart_Truth_celebrity_fashion_show_-_Red_Dress_-_Red_Gown_-_Thursday_February_8,_2012_-_Creative_Commons.jpg : Jason Hargrove de, CC BY 2.0 · John Gordon Perrin: Lega Pallavolo Serie A, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Jayli Wolf: Lin Edinburgh, CC BY-SA 4.0

Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay’s neighbours

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

CrestonElectoral Area B, Central KootenayElectoral Area C, Central Kootenay

How the neighbours grade

Town	People	km	Overall	Cost	Safety	Health
Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay	1,672	—	—	D	A	B
Creston	5,976	2.9	C	D	C⁻	B⁺
Electoral Area B, Central Kootenay	5,243	5.7	B	C⁻	A	B

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

Questions about Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay

Who are the people of Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay?

Visible minorities are 2% of the population, where the middle of Canadian towns is 15%. Immigrants make up 12%, and Indigenous people 10%.

What kind of homes are in Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay?

Mostly 91% single-detached houses (the median of Canadian towns: 64%), with 0% of homes in buildings of five or more storeys. Households hold 2.3 people on average, and 25% have just one.

How old are the people of Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay?

The median resident is 56 years old, against 45.2 for the median of Canadian towns. 13% are under 15 and 33% are 65 or over.

Has Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay grown?

It added people: 1,472 in 2016, 1,475 in 2021, 0.2% more, where the middle of Canadian towns grew 4.1%. Statistics Canada’s 2025 estimate is 1,672.

About Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay

Town in British Columbia

For Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay, TownRatings uses Statistics Canada’s census-subdivision boundary in British Columbia, and every figure on its pages covers that whole area.

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

Population: 1,672 (people, 2025 estimate)
Province or territory: British Columbia
Census division: Central Kootenay
Census subdivision: 5903017

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).