ComoxBritish Columbia
Its population rose 6% from 2016 to 2021. 15,884 people live in this town in British Columbia.
Is Comox a good place to live?
A good place to live, if you can afford it. Comox’s overall grade, A, puts it better than 87% of Canadian towns. Its place in the ranking is #5 of 250 in British Columbia. Schools do well (A). Safety is another plus (A−). Housing is expensive (D−).
Health is graded on the health region's survey figures and life expectancy, with the distance to hospital giving the town its own spread.
How Comox grades
Each subject compares Comox 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 TownRatings grades Canadian towns →
What makes Comox stand out
The 3 things Comox does most differently from other towns.
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Comox.
Comox earns a D− for cost of living
A year’s rent came to 24% of the median household income, close to British Columbia’s towns (24%) and above Canadian towns (20%). The owner-occupied share of households is 77%.
What homes were worth · The median owner’s estimate at the 2021 census
| Census 2021 | Comox | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent as a share of income | 24% | 24% | 20% |
| Households spending 30%+ on shelter | 18% | 21% | 18% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; CMHC Rental Market Survey via Statistics Canada · These are 2021 census values, as owners judged them, set against household income in 2020. · Rent as a share of income and monthly rent for a two-bedroom published for the Courtenay metro area, not by town
Mixed results around Comox: 5 high and 3 low of 11 schools in British Columbia
In or within 3 km of Comox: 9 elementary schools, 2 secondary schools and 2 alternative or adult schools. Of the 13, one teaches in French (2% of schools in British Columbia).
| School | Level | Students | System |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport Elementary Middle fifth in British ColumbiaIn ComoxElementary | Elementary | – | English public |
| Highland Secondary Second fifth in British ColumbiaIn ComoxSecondary | Secondary | – | English public |
| École Au coeur de l'île FrenchTeaches in FrenchElementary | Elementary | – | French public |
| Ecole Robb Road Top fifth in British ColumbiaResults in the top fifth in British ColumbiaElementary | Elementary | – | English public |
Schools by system · Schools within 3 km
| Schools within 3 km | Comox | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| School boards | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Provincial school lists and results, 2025/26
Comox’s Violent Crime Severity Index, 39, runs below British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns
Police recorded 8.4 violent incidents per 1,000 residents a year, below both British Columbia’s towns (12.5) and Canadian towns (12). Each year brings 20.8 property incidents per 1,000 residents.
Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year
| 2023–2025 | Comox | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Severity Index | 39 | 76 | 86 |
| Property crime per 1,000 | 20.8 | 31 | 31.2 |
| Violent crime | 8.4 | 12.5 | 12 |
Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average
Comox’s region trails the typical Canadian town by 2.0 years: life expectancy 79.5
Chronic conditions run at 15% of adults, age-standardised, about level with British Columbia’s towns (15%) and below Canadian towns (17%). The survey puts the region’s share in very good or excellent health at 54%, ahead of the 50% for British Columbia. What sets Comox apart within its region is a short trip to hospital, 1.8 km for the average resident (3.7 km typical). Figures for health survey and life expectancy are published for the North Vancouver Island Health Service Delivery Area as a whole, not for Comox alone.
Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised
| Health | Comox | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 79.5 | 81.0 | 81.5 |
| Very good or excellent health | 54% | 50% | 52% |
| Chronic conditions (average share) | 15% | 15% | 17% |
| Smokers | 9% | 9% | 12% |
Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities
Commuters in Comox have a short way to work, 19 min on average, less than in British Columbia’s towns and across Canadian towns
At the census, 84% of commuters went by car.
How working residents got to work · census 2021
| Census 2021 | Comox | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip | 19 min | 26 min | 26 min |
| Car or van | 84% | 87% | 89% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021 (labour and commuting) · These are May 2021 figures, gathered while COVID-19 kept many people home or out of work.
Winters are mild in Comox: January nights hold at 1.5°C, above British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns
Frosty days number 46 in a normal year, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (60) and Canadian towns (159). The frost-free season runs from 1 April to 6 November, 218 days. Also worth knowing: july afternoons in Comox average 23.1°C. Snow peaks in December: 17 cm in a normal year.
Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Normals, 1991–2020 | Comox | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days with frost a year | 46 | 60 | 159 |
| January night low | 1.5°C | 0.5°C | −13.5°C |
| July afternoon high | 23.1°C | 23.1°C | 25.5°C |
| Snowfall a year | 51 cm | 51 cm | 141 cm |
Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Comox)
Older than 91% of Canadian towns: half of Comox is over 52.4
First Nations, Métis and Inuit people make up 6.8% of residents, above both British Columbia’s towns (5%) and Canadian towns (2.8%). Immigrants make up 12% of residents, near British Columbia’s towns (12%) and higher than Canadian towns (6.4%).
Ages · Share of residents in each age group, Census 2021
Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over
Women and men · all residents
52.9% of Comox’s residents are women
The 2021 census counted 7,830 women and 6,980 men here, where women make up 50.9% of Canada.
| Comox | British Columbia | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 14% | 14% | 16% |
| 15 to 64 | 54% | 64% | 64% |
| 65+ | 32% | 21% | 19% |
| No certificate, diploma or degree | 11% | 13% | 16% |
| Postsecondary qualification | 59% | 56% | 56% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; British Columbia and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+
Comox borders Kin Beach Park
Within 10 km, the count of public protected areas is 26, above both British Columbia’s towns (14) and Canadian towns (4). The nearest national park is Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, 82 km away. Out to 10 km from the town’s edge, 1.4% of the land is protected; 2.3% is typical for a Canadian town. Swimmers have 2 beaches within 5 km, Little Mexico the nearest.
Protected land · of the land within 10 km
| Outdoors | Comox | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public protected areas within 10 km | 26 | 14 | 4 |
| Protected land within 10 km | 1.4% | 6.7% | 2.3% |
Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches
Comox in November: highs near 9°C, lows near 3°C
The forecast on the Weather page is ECCC’s for Comox. November normally sees 189 mm of precipitation.
Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Season | High | Low | Rain and snow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | 7°C | 1°C | 483 mm |
| Spring | 13°C | 5°C | 212 mm |
| Summer | 22°C | 13°C | 97 mm |
| Autumn | 14°C | 7°C | 361 mm |
ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Comox); the forecast is on the Weather page
Comox sends Aaron Gunn (Conservative Party of Canada) to the Commons from North Island—Powell River
Statistics Canada lists Comox as a town.
Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada
Comox has one public library, VIRL: Comox Branch
The library is 1.3 km from the centre of Comox.
Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada
Earthquakes are Comox’s biggest hazard: $0.49 of damage a year per $1,000 of buildings, 16 times the norm
Radon tests for the North Vancouver Island health region
Health Canada’s survey found radon above the guideline in 0.9% of homes, below British Columbia’s towns (1.8%) and Canadian towns (6.6%) alike. Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy has mapped the flood hazard here: one study on the national inventory.
Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³
| Hazards | Comox | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year | $0.49 | $0.36 | $0.030 |
| Radon tests above the guideline | 0.9% | 1.8% | 6.6% |
NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory
Everything we know about Comox
Comox Air Force Museum and 23 more in and around Comox
The best-known places to visit in and around Comox come first; the full list is on the Attractions page.
MuseumComox Air Force Museumin townMuseumMuseumComox Archives & Museumin townZooZooHands-on Farmin townMuseumMuseumHeritage Air Parkin townHistoric shipHistoric shipAvro Canada CF-100 Canuckin townHistoric shipHistoric shipBoeing CH-113A Labradorin townPhotos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (1)
- Comox Air Force Museum: Stemcat ( Uploads ), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Famous people from Comox
24 notable people were born in Comox.
Photo credits
Cam Neely: Meowwcat, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Adin Hill: Jenn G, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Brett McLean: _becaro_, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Terry Beech: Simon Fraser University, CC BY 2.0 · Ty Wishart: dougtone, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Aaron Van Cleave: Luu, CC BY-SA 3.0
About Comox
Town in British Columbia
The boundary here is Statistics Canada’s: Comox is one census subdivision in British Columbia, and TownRatings describes all of it.
Statistics Canada: population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155), Census of Population 2021, 2021 census boundaries.
- Population
- 15,884 (people, 2025 estimate)
- Province or territory
- British Columbia
- Census division
- Comox Valley
- Metro area
- Courtenay
- Census subdivision
- 5926005
Comox’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Statistics Canada
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comox | 15,884 | — | A | D− | A− | A− |
| Courtenay | 32,869 | 4.4 | C+ | D− | D | A− |
| Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley | 7,830 | 4.6 | B | D | B+ | A− |
| Cumberland | 4,974 | 10 | B− | D | B+ | B+ |
| Electoral Area A, Comox Valley | 8,415 | 13 | B− | D− | B+ | B+ |
| Electoral Area C (Puntledge - Black Creek), Comox Valley | 9,803 | 16 | C | D | B+ | B+ |
People: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about Comox
How old are the people of Comox?
The median resident is 52.4 years old, against 45.2 for the median of Canadian towns. 14% are under 15 and 32% are 65 or over.
Has Comox grown?
It grew from 14,028 people in 2016 to 14,806 in 2021, up 5.5%; the median of Canadian towns grew 4.1%. StatCan’s 2025 estimate is 15,884.
What kind of homes are in Comox?
Single-detached houses make up 66% of the homes here, where Canadian towns sit at 64%; 0% are in high-rise apartments. 29% of households are one person, and the average is 2.2.
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).