Electoral Area J, Central KootenayBritish Columbia

In British Columbia, this town has 3,915 residents. Its census division is Central Kootenay.

3 places within 19 kmMap →

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

Population

3,915

people, 2025 estimate

Median age

46.8

years · British Columbia’s towns: 48

Postsecondary

58%

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%

TownGrade

C⁺

#1,646 of 2,556

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

Strong in places, weak in others. Prices are high against local incomes (C−). With a C+ overall, Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay is better than two fifths of Canadian towns and ranks #125 of 250 in British Columbia. Police record less crime here than in most towns (A−). The rest of its grades are middling: B for health and B− for jobs & income.

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.

StrongestA⁻SafetyWeakestC⁻Cost of living

What makes Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay stand out

The 2 things Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Walk, cycle or transit to work

Getting around

3% walk, cycle or take transit

The midpoint across Canadian towns is 8%

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

Population growth, 2016 to 2021

Growth

+12% more people than in 2016

For the middle of Canadian towns, 4%

Statistics Canada, Census 2016 and 2021

How Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay grades

Each subject compares Electoral Area J, 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

SafetyGraded on crime per residentA⁻Open →Cost of livingHomes are among the least affordable for local incomesC⁻Open →WalkabilityWeaker than most of the towns comparedCOpen →SchoolsBased on how pupils do in exams and testsCOpen →HealthResidents are healthier than in most townsBOpen →Hazard riskBelow the middle of the towns comparedC⁺Open →Jobs & incomeGraded on incomes, poverty and employmentB⁻Open →

How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →

The data

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

SafetySafety A⁻

For the force that serves Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay, the Crime Severity Index is 42, below British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns

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

Where it is policed, thefts, break-ins and damage came to 17.3 per 1,000 a year, below both British Columbia’s towns (31) and Canadian towns (31.2). For every 1,000 residents of its police area, 10.9 violent incidents are reported each year. Figures for Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000 are published for the Castlegar detachment area as a whole, not for Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay alone.

42Crime Severity Index

Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year

202341

202442

202543

2023–2025	Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay	British Columbia	Canada
Crime Severity Index	42	83	67
Property crime per 1,000	17.3	31	31.2
Violent Crime Severity Index	50	76	86

non-violent Crime Severity Index

33%

of incidents cleared, 2023–25

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

Safety42 Crime Severity Index · The index weighs each crime Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay’s police recorded by how serious it is.Questions“Is Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay safe?”

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

HousingCost of living C⁻

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

15% of households spent 30% or more of their income on shelter, below both British Columbia’s towns (21%) and Canadian towns (18%). Owners put the median home at $448,000, lower than British Columbia’s towns ($720,000) yet higher than Canadian towns ($406,000).

$448,000median home value, 2021C⁻Cost of living Grade

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

Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay$448,000

British Columbia$720,000

Canadian towns$406,000

Census 2021	Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay	British Columbia	Canada
Households owning their home	89%	76%	74%
Households spending 30%+ on shelter	15%	21%	18%
Median home value, 2021	$448,000	$720,000	$406,000
Rent as a share of income	20%	24%	20%

$1,190

monthly rent for a two-bedroom

$980

median monthly shelter cost for owners, 2021

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

Owners and renters89% own their home Cost of living4.7 times household income · The median owner’s estimate, $448,000, against the median household income Renting$1,190 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 J, Central Kootenay: July highs of 29.3°C, above British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns

December is the snowiest month, with 47 cm on average. Frosty days number 120 in a normal year, above British Columbia’s towns (60) but below Canadian towns (159). Expect January lows of around −4.0°C in Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay. The frost-free season runs from 28 April to 13 October, 167 days.

29.3°CJuly afternoons

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter1.3°C

Spring15.0°C

Summer27.6°C

Autumn13.6°C

Normals, 1991–2020	Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay	British Columbia	Canada
July afternoon high	29.3°C	23.1°C	25.5°C
January night low	−4.0°C	0.5°C	−13.5°C
Days with frost a year	120	60	159
Precipitation a year	759 mm	1,152 mm	883 mm

151 cm

of snow a year

120

days with frost a year

167

frost-free days, 28 Apr to 13 Oct

122

days with precipitation a year

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

The yearJuly highs 29.3°C, January lows −4.0°C Rain and snow759 mm a year · Canadian towns: 883 mm Snow151 cm of snow a year Weather station27 km to the station · Warfield

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

SchoolsSchools C

Results around Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay lean low: 3 of 4 schools in the lower two fifths in British Columbia

The 3 km around Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay counts 3 elementary schools and 1 secondary school. Secondary school means a trip of 3.3 km at the nearest, higher than both British Columbia’s towns (1.8 km) and Canadian towns (1.2 km).

4schools within 3 kmCSchools Grade

School	Level	Students	System
Robson Community School Fourth fifth in British ColumbiaIn Electoral Area J, Central KootenayElementary	Elementary	–	English public
Stanley Humphries Secondary Fourth fifth in British ColumbiaNearest secondary school, 0.4 kmSecondary	Secondary	–	English public

See all 4 schools →

Schools within 3 km	Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay	British Columbia	Canada
Nearest secondary school	3.3 km	1.8 km	1.2 km

3.3 km

to the nearest secondary school

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

Results0 of 4 in the top two fifths · of the schools with results, placed against every school in British Columbia Every school4 schools within 3 km · 3 elementary schools and 1 secondary school Language0 of 4 teach in French · 2% of schools in British Columbia Questions“What schools are there in Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay?”

Provincial school lists and results, 2025/26

HealthHealth B

Life expectancy around Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay is 79.5 years, 2.0 less than for the typical Canadian town

Measured from where Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay’s residents live, the nearest hospital is 25 km away, beyond the typical 3.7 km. Adults who call their own health very good or excellent: 55%, higher than both British Columbia’s towns (50%) and Canadian towns (52%). Pharmacies are closer at hand, 4.2 km away on average and 1.3 of them within 3 km of a typical home. Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay doesn’t get its own health survey and life expectancy figures; the ones here come from the Kootenay-Boundary Health Service Delivery Area.

55%very good or excellent healthBHealth Grade

Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised

Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay55%

British Columbia’s towns50%

Canadian towns52%

Health	Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay	British Columbia	Canada
Chronic conditions (average share)	14%	15%	17%
Very good or excellent health	55%	50%	52%
Life expectancy at birth	79.5	81.0	81.5
Smokers	9.9%	9%	12%

79.5

years of life expectancy, 2022/2024

25 km

from homes to a hospital, on average

9.9%

of adults smoke, age-standardised

4.2 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

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

Health survey55% very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised Getting care25 km to a hospital · A pharmacy 4.2 km away on average The wider areaLife expectancy: women 82.8, men 76.5 Conditions and habits14% with chronic conditions · adults, age-standardised

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

Natural hazardsHazard risk C⁺

Around Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay, 29% of tested homes have radon above the guideline

Averaged over the years, quake damage costs $0.008 per $1,000 of buildings, about level with Canadian towns ($0.030) and below British Columbia’s towns ($0.36). Fire reaches the land around Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay now and then: 4.4% within 25 km since 1986 (0.11% a year), below the high band. One flood study covers the town, by Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy.

Moderatewildfire bandC⁺Hazard risk Grade

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

Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay29%

British Columbia’s towns1.8%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay	British Columbia	Canada
Radon tests above the guideline	29%	1.8%	6.6%
Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year	$0.008	$0.36	$0.030

$0.008

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

Moderate

wildfire band

0.1 km

to the nearest land burned since 1986

flood study on the national inventory

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

Radon29% of tests above the guideline WildfireModerate wildfire band · 4.4% of the land within 25 km burned since 1986 FloodOne flood study on record Earthquakes$0.008 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 · Area behind the radon tests figures: the Kootenay/Boundary health region

Weather

What November brings in Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay: −1°C at night, 5°C by day

Expect about 86 mm of rain and snow over November. November usually brings some 23 cm of snow. The forecast on the Weather page is ECCC’s for Castlegar.

5°Ca normal November afternoon

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

November5°C

December0°C

January0°C

February3°C

Season	High	Low	Rain and snow
Winter	1°C	−4°C	253 mm
Spring	15°C	3°C	186 mm
Summer	28°C	12°C	140 mm
Autumn	14°C	4°C	180 mm

−1°C

a normal November night

86 mm

of rain and snow in a normal November

Full pageElectoral Area J, 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 August, coldest January

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

Town hall

Similkameen—South Okanagan—West Kootenay, which takes in Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay, is held by Helena Konanz (Conservative Party of Canada)

Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay sends one MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly, the provincial or territorial legislature) to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from Kootenay-Monashee, though no open record we can reuse gives the name.

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

Who runs itRegional District Electoral Area

Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada

Library & civic lifeCivic life grade A

Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay has no public library of its own; the nearest is Castlegar & District Public Library, 2.8 km away

After it comes Trail & District Public Library (Trail), 27 km away.

Full pageElectoral Area J, 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

Work & commuteJobs & income B⁻

Commuters in Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay have a short way to work, 25 min on average, less than in British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns

3%walk, cycle or take transit

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van94%

Public transit2%

Walk1%

Census 2021	Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay	British Columbia	Canada
Average trip	25 min	26 min	26 min

$94,000

median household income, 2020

14%

worked from home, May 2021

of commuters work inside the municipality

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

UnemploymentOf the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Getting to work3% walk, cycle or take transit Where people commute to590 commuters · The biggest flow out: to Castlegar

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.

Outdoors

Few places match Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay for protected land nearby: more than nearly 9 in 10 Canadian towns

Within 5 km lie 4 beaches, unnamed on the map. The nearest national park is more than 100 km away. Count 13 protected areas within 10 km of town.

11%of the land within 10 km protected

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay11%

British Columbia’s towns6.7%

Canadian towns2.3%

Outdoors	Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay	British Columbia	Canada
Protected land within 10 km	11%	6.7%	2.3%
Public protected areas within 10 km	10	14	4

At the edge

to Champion Lakes Park

beaches within 5 km

public protected areas within 10 km

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

Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas13 protected areas within 10 km · Granby Park National & provincial parksAt the edge to a provincial park · Champion Lakes Park

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

Who lives here

Fewer of Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay’s people belong to a visible minority than in British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: 2.3%

Immigrants make up 7.2% of residents, lower than British Columbia’s towns (12%) yet higher than Canadian towns (6.4%). 21% of residents are 65 or over. Children under 15 count for 15% of the people here.

46.8median age

Electoral Area J, Central KootenayBritish ColumbiaCanada

British ColumbiaCanada

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

15%

Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over

No certificate, diploma or degree13%

Postsecondary qualification58%

Women and men · all residents

48.4% of Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay’s residents are women

Women numbered 1,705 and men 1,820 in 2021, next to a 50.9% share of women for Canada.

Who lives in Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay
	Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay	British Columbia	Canada
Under 15	15%	14%	16%
15 to 64	65%	64%	64%
65+	21%	21%	19%
No certificate, diploma or degree	13%	13%	16%
Postsecondary qualification	58%	56%	56%

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

Immigrants7% are immigrants · 2% belong to a visible minority Ages46.8 median age · 21% are 65 or over Households1,460 households · 2.4 people per household 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+

Nearby attractions

Mir Centre for Peace and 4 more in and around Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay

Museums, historic sites, parks, gardens and days out in and near Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay, the best known first.

All attractions →

MuseumMuseumMir Centre for Peacein town MuseumMuseumCastlegar Museum200 m outside town, to the southeast MuseumMuseumZuckerberg Island200 m outside town, to the southeast MuseumMuseumDoukhobor Discovery Centre700 m outside town, to the south Art galleryArt galleryKootenay Gallery of Art, History & Science500 m outside town, to the south

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay

15pages on Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay

The big questions

SafetyA⁻Crime Severity Index 42 Housing & costC⁻Homes 4.7 × income Property pricesSchoolsC4 schools within 3 km HealthBLife expectancy 79.5 in its region Work & commuteB⁻55% of adults in work Natural hazardsC⁺Wildfire band: moderate

Out and about

Outdoors11% of the land within 10 km protected AttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 29°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 46.8 HistoryTown hallFamous people

Famous people from around Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay

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

How we find them →

Martin PopoffCanadian music journalist · born in Castlegar · born 1963

Shawn HookCanadian singer, songwriter, producer · born in Castlegar · born 1984

Steve JunkerCanadian ice hockey player · born in Castlegar · born 1972

Keith FairSwiss ice hockey player · born in Castlegar · born 1968

Darcy MartiniCanadian ice hockey player · born in Castlegar · born 1969

Doug KostynskiCanadian ice hockey player · born in Castlegar · born 1963

Photo credits

Martin Popoff: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMetalVoice, CC BY 3.0 · Shawn Hook: Daniel Åhs Karlsson, CC BY 3.0

Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay’s neighbours

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

CastlegarElectoral Area I, Central KootenayElectoral Area B (Lower Columbia-Old-Glory), Kootenay BoundaryElectoral Area J, Central Kootenay

How the neighbours grade

Town	People	km	Overall	Cost	Safety	Health
Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay	3,915	—	C⁺	C⁻	A⁻	B
Castlegar	9,465	6.1	C⁻	C⁻	C⁻	B
Electoral Area I, Central Kootenay	2,758	12	C⁺	D	A⁻	B
Electoral Area B (Lower Columbia-Old-Glory), Kootenay Boundary	1,432	14	—	C⁻	B⁻	A⁻

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

Questions about Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay

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

At the 2021 census, 7% were immigrants and 2% belonged to a visible minority (Canadian towns’ median: 15%). 6% identify as First Nations, Métis or Inuit.

Is Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay growing?

Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses it went from 3,137 to 3,517 residents (up 12.1%; Canadian towns’ median: 4.1%), and Statistics Canada now estimates 3,915.

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

Mostly 81% single-detached houses (the median of Canadian towns: 64%), with 0% of homes in buildings of five or more storeys. Households hold 2.4 people on average, and 25% have just one.

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

Its median age is 46.8, where Canadian towns sit at 45.2.

About Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay

Town in British Columbia

Every figure TownRatings gives for Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay covers the municipality as Statistics Canada maps it, one census subdivision in British Columbia.

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

Population: 3,915 (people, 2025 estimate)
Province or territory: British Columbia
Census division: Central Kootenay
Census subdivision: 5903058

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).