Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox ValleyBritish Columbia

TownGrade

#1,037 of 2,556

A town in British Columbia, home to 7,830 people. It sits within the Courtenay census metropolitan area.

5 places within 19 kmMap →

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

Population

7,830

people, 2025 estimate

Median age

years · British Columbia’s towns: 48

Postsecondary

57%

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 B (Lazo North), Comox Valley a good place to live?

A strong record with one exception. Health is its strong suit (A−). Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley’s overall grade of B puts it better than nearly three fifths of Canadian towns, #51 of 250 in British Columbia. The catch is cost of living (D). The rest of its grades are middling: B for schools, B for walkability and B− for hazard risk.

Safety is the police detachment's figure, shared with the towns and countryside around it. 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⁻HealthWeakestDCost of living

How Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley grades

Each subject compares Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley 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 livingGraded on home prices against local incomesDOpen →HealthResidents are healthier than in most townsA⁻Open →Jobs & incomeAbove the middle of the towns comparedB⁺Open →SafetyBased on crimes reported per residentB⁺Open →WalkabilityAbout average among the towns comparedBOpen →SchoolsBased on how pupils do in exams and testsBOpen →Hazard riskNear typical for the towns comparedB⁻Open →

How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →

What makes Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley stand out

The 3 things Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Home value ÷ household income

Housing

9 times household income

Against 4.7 for the median of Canadian towns

Median owner’s estimate $800,000, Census 2021; income for 2020.

Cost of living

Behind 95%

of Canadian towns on cost of living

Its cost of living grade: D.

Residents 65 and over

Who lives here

29% are 65 or over

For the middle of Canadian towns, 19%

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley.

HousingCost of living D

Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley is a town of owners: 85% of households own their home, above British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns

$800,000median home value, 2021DCost of living Grade

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

16% of households spent 30% or more of their income on shelter, below British Columbia’s towns (21%) and Canadian towns (18%) alike. A year’s rent came to nearly a quarter of the median household income, between British Columbia’s towns (24%) and Canadian towns (20%).

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

Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley$800,000

British Columbia$720,000

Canadian towns$406,000

Census 2021	Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley	British Columbia	Canada
Households owning their home	85%	76%	74%
Households spending 30%+ on shelter	16%	21%	18%
Rent as a share of income	23%	24%	20%

$1,691

monthly rent for a two-bedroom

$755

median monthly shelter cost for owners, 2021

Full pageElectoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley’s cost of living pageOpen the full Cost of living page

Owners and renters85% own their home Cost of living9 times household income · The median owner’s estimate, $800,000, against the median household income Renting$1,691 a month · A two-bedroom apartment, CMHC’s survey

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.

Climate

Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley has milder winters than British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: January lows of 1.5°C

23.1°CJuly afternoons

There are 46 days of frost in a typical year, below both British Columbia’s towns (60) and Canadian towns (159). Frost usually lifts by 1 April and returns around 6 November: 218 days without it. In July, daytime highs in Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley average 23.1°C. December is the snowiest month, with 17 cm on average.

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter6.6°C

Spring13.2°C

Summer22.0°C

Autumn13.6°C

Normals, 1991–2020	Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley	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

51 cm

of snow a year

days with frost a year

218

frost-free days, 1 Apr to 6 Nov

131

days with precipitation a year

Full pageElectoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley’s climate pageOpen the full Climate page

The yearJuly highs 23.1°C, January lows 1.5°C Rain and snow1,152 mm a year · Canadian towns: 883 mm Snow51 cm of snow a year Weather station1.5 km to the station · Comox

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

HealthHealth A⁻

Life expectancy around Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley is 79.5 years, 2.0 less than for the typical Canadian town

54%very good or excellent healthA⁻Health Grade

The survey puts the region’s share in very good or excellent health at 54%, ahead of the 50% for British Columbia. Arthritis, diabetes and high blood pressure affect 15% of the region’s adults on average, close to British Columbia’s towns (15%) and below Canadian towns (17%). Measured from where Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley’s residents live, a hospital is 3.9 km away, near the 3.7 km most towns see. For health survey and life expectancy, the only official count covers all of the North Vancouver Island Health Service Delivery Area, Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley included.

Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised

Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley54%

British Columbia’s towns50%

Canadian towns52%

Health	Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley	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%

79.5

years of life expectancy, 2022/2024

of adults smoke, age-standardised

3.7 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

Full pageElectoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley’s health pageOpen the full Health page

Health survey54% very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised Getting care3.9 km to a hospital · A pharmacy 3.7 km away on average The wider areaLife expectancy: women 82.3, men 76.9 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

Work & commuteJobs & income B⁺

Commuters in Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley have a short way to work, 22 min on average, less than in British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns

9%walk, cycle or take transit

The car took 87% of commuters, near both British Columbia’s towns (87%) and Canadian towns (89%).

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van87%

Walk5%

Bicycle3%

Public transit2%

Census 2021	Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley	British Columbia	Canada
Average trip	22 min	26 min	26 min
Car or van	87%	87%	89%

$89,000

median household income, 2020

20%

worked from home, May 2021

13%

of commuters work inside the municipality

Full pageElectoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley’s work & commute pageOpen the full Work & commute page

Unemployment9.4% unemployed · Of the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Getting to work9% walk, cycle or take transit Where people commute to905 commuters · The biggest flow out: to Courtenay

Statistics Canada, Census 2021 (labour and commuting) · These are May 2021 figures, gathered while COVID-19 kept many people home or out of work.

SafetySafety B⁺

Crime runs lighter where Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley is policed than in British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns, at an index of 50

50Crime Severity Index

The violent index for its police area came to 62, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (76) and Canadian towns (86). For every 1,000 residents of its police area, 18.5 property crimes are reported each year.

Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year

202350

202448

202550

2023–2025	Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley	British Columbia	Canada
Property crime per 1,000	18.5	31	31.2
Crime Severity Index	50	83	67
Violent Crime Severity Index	62	76	86

non-violent Crime Severity Index

34%

of incidents cleared, 2023–25

Full pageElectoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley’s safety reportOpen the full Safety report

Safety50 Crime Severity Index · The index weighs each crime Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley’s police recorded by how serious it is.Questions“Is Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley safe?”

Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average · Not measured by town: Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000 (the Comox Valley detachment area)

Who lives here

More of Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley’s residents have an Indigenous identity than in British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: 6.4%

54median age

12% of residents came to Canada as immigrants, about level with British Columbia’s towns (12%) and above Canadian towns (6.4%). Visible minorities make up 3.2% of the population, below British Columbia’s towns (8.6%) and Canadian towns (15%) alike.

Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox ValleyBritish ColumbiaCanada

British ColumbiaCanada

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

29%

Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over

No certificate, diploma or degree12%

Postsecondary qualification57%

Women and men · all residents

Women make up 50.3% of Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley

In 2021 there were 3,720 women to 3,675 men; Canada as a whole is 50.9% women.

Who lives in Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley
	Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley	British Columbia	Canada
Under 15	13%	14%	16%
15 to 64	59%	64%	64%
65+	29%	21%	19%
No certificate, diploma or degree	12%	13%	16%
Postsecondary qualification	57%	56%	56%

Full pageElectoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley’s Who lives here pageOpen the full Who lives here page

Immigrants12% are immigrants · 3% belong to a visible minority Ages54 median age · 29% are 65 or over Households3,150 households · 2.4 people per household English and French11% speak both · 0.1% speak French but not English

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

Outdoors

Within 10 km of Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley: 39 public protected areas

1.3%of the land within 10 km protected

The protected share within 10 km is 1.3%, where a typical Canadian town has 2.3%. 82 km separate the town from Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, its nearest national park. 3 beaches are mapped within 5 km, the nearest Little Mexico.

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley1.3%

British Columbia’s towns6.7%

Canadian towns2.3%

Outdoors	Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley	British Columbia	Canada
Public protected areas within 10 km	39	14	4
Protected land within 10 km	1.3%	6.7%	2.3%

82 km

to Pacific Rim National Park Reserve

At the edge

to Kitty Coleman Beach Park

beaches within 5 km

public protected areas within 10 km

Full pageElectoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley’s outdoors pageOpen the full Outdoors page

Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas64 protected areas within 10 km · Lazo Marsh-North East Comox Wildlife Management Area National & provincial parks82 km to a national park · Pacific Rim National Park Reserve

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

SchoolsSchools B

Mixed results around Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley: 5 high and 7 low of 19 schools in British Columbia

21schools within 3 kmBSchools Grade

One of the 21 teaches in French, against 2% of schools in British Columbia. Its 3 km reach takes in 15 elementary schools, 3 secondary schools and 3 alternative or adult schools, all of Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley’s schooling. The nearest secondary school is 3.7 km away, above British Columbia’s towns (1.8 km) and Canadian towns (1.2 km) alike.

School	Level	Students	System
Huband Park Elementary Fourth fifth in British ColumbiaIn Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox ValleyElementary	Elementary	–	English public
Georges P. Vanier Secondary Middle fifth in British ColumbiaNearest secondary school, 0.4 kmSecondary	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

See all 21 schools →

Schools by system · Schools within 3 km

English public19

French public1

Independent1

Schools within 3 km	Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley	British Columbia	Canada
School boards	2	2	3
Nearest secondary school	3.7 km	1.8 km	1.2 km

3.7 km

to the nearest secondary school

Full pageElectoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley’s schools pageOpen the full Schools page

Results5 of 19 in the top two fifths · of the schools with results, placed against every school in British Columbia Every school21 schools within 3 km · 15 elementary schools, 3 secondary schools and 3 alternative or adult schools Language1 of 21 teach in French · 2% of schools in British Columbia The boards2 school boards · SD 71 Comox Valley Questions“What schools are there in Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley?”

Provincial school lists and results, 2025/26

Weather

Expect November days around 9°C in Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley, nights around 3°C

9°Ca normal November afternoon

Rain and snow over a typical November come to 189 mm. Hour-by-hour figures come from ECCC’s Comox forecast, on the Weather page.

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

November9°C

December6°C

January6°C

February7°C

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

3°C

a normal November night

189 mm

of rain and snow in a normal November

Full pageElectoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley’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 February

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

Town hall

Aaron Gunn (Conservative Party of Canada) holds North Island—Powell River, the riding that includes Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley

Locally, Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley is run as a regional district electoral area.

Full pageElectoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley’s town hall & politics pageOpen the full Town hall & politics page

Provincial legislatureCourtenay-Comox

Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada

Library & civic lifeCivic life grade B

Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley has no public library of its own; the nearest is VIRL: Comox Branch, 5.9 km away

The next is VIRL: Courtenay Branch (Courtenay), 6.8 km away.

Full pageElectoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley’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

Natural hazardsHazard risk B⁻

Shaking costs buildings in Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley $0.41 a year per $1,000 of value, 14 times the typical town’s

Lowwildfire bandB⁻Hazard risk Grade

One flood study covers the town, by Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. In Health Canada’s survey, just 0.9% of homes tested in the area exceeded 200 Bq/m³ (6.6% typical).

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

Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley0.9%

British Columbia’s towns1.8%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley	British Columbia	Canada
Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year	$0.41	$0.36	$0.030
Radon tests above the guideline	0.9%	1.8%	6.6%

$0.41

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

Low

wildfire band

12 km

to the nearest land burned since 1986

flood study on the national inventory

Full pageElectoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley’s flood & hazards pageOpen the full Flood & hazards page

Earthquakes$0.41 a year per $1,000 · Canadian towns: $0.030 WildfireLow wildfire band · No land burned within 25 km since 1986 FloodOne flood study on record Radon0.9% 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 · Radon tests published for the North Vancouver Island health region, not by town

History

1 historic place on the heritage registers in Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley

1historic place

Before 1961 is when 12% of the homes went up, between British Columbia’s towns (11%) and Canadian towns (18%).

Historic places by designation · inside the town

Highest designations0

Other federal designations0

Provincial and local listings1

Among them

Courtenay River

12%

of homes built before 1961 · Canadian towns 18%

Heritage	Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley	British Columbia	Canada
Homes built before 1961	12%	11%	18%

Full pageElectoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley’s history pageOpen the full History page

On the registersOne historic place inside the town Older homes12% built before 1961 · Canadian towns: 18%Questions“How many historic places does Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley 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 Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley

15pages on Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley

The big questions

SafetyB⁺Crime Severity Index 50 Housing & costDHomes 9 × income Property pricesSchoolsB21 schools within 3 km HealthA⁻Life expectancy 79.5 in its region Work & commuteB⁺50% of adults in work Natural hazardsB⁻Wildfire band: low

Out and about

Outdoors1.3% of the land within 10 km protected AttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 23°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 54 HistoryOne place on the heritage registers Town hallFamous people

Nearby attractions

Spirits of the West Coast and 25 more in and around Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley

What there is to see in Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley and within a short drive, starting with the places most people have heard of.

All attractions →

Art galleryArt gallerySpirits of the West Coastin town

MuseumComox Air Force Museum100 m outside town, to the south MuseumMuseumHeritage Air Park400 m outside town, to the south MuseumMuseumComox Archives & Museum1.1 km outside town, to the southwest

Art galleryArt galleryI-Hos Gallery100 m outside town, to the southwest

ZooZooHands-on Farm600 m outside town, to the southwest

Photos: 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 around Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley

2 notable people were born in Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley; with them, the best known born in the towns around it.

Their page →

Brendan FletcherCanadian actor · born 1981

Don McRaeCanadian politician

Emily St. John MandelCanadian writer · born in Electoral Area C (Puntledge - Black Creek), Comox Valley · born 1979

Cam NeelyCanadian ice hockey player · born in Comox · born 1965

Simon NessmanCanadian model · born in Courtenay · born 1989

Thomas HerschmillerCanadian rower · born in Comox · born 1978

Photo credits

Brendan Fletcher: Raj Taneja from Bangkok, TH, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Don McRae: Province of British Columbia, CC BY 3.0 · Emily St. John Mandel: librairie mollat, CC BY 3.0 · Cam Neely: Meowwcat, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Simon Nessman: Sara Cimino from Milan, Italy ( Flickr account ), CC BY 2.0

About Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley

Town in British Columbia

Every figure TownRatings gives for Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley 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: 7,830 (people, 2025 estimate)
Province or territory: British Columbia
Census division: Comox Valley
Metro area: Courtenay
Census subdivision: 5926022

Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley’s neighbours

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

ComoxCourtenayElectoral Area C (Puntledge - Black Creek), Comox ValleyCumberlandElectoral Area A, Comox ValleyElectoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley

How the neighbours grade

Town	People	km	Overall	Cost	Safety	Health
Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley	7,830	—	B	D	B⁺	A⁻
Comox	15,884	4.6	A	D⁻	A⁻	A⁻
Courtenay	32,869	5.5	C⁺	D⁻	D	A⁻
Electoral Area C (Puntledge - Black Creek), Comox Valley	9,803	13	C	D	B⁺	B⁺
Cumberland	4,974	14	B⁻	D	B⁺	B⁺
Electoral Area A, Comox Valley	8,415	17	B⁻	D⁻	B⁺	B⁺

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

Questions about Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley

Who are the people of Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley?

Visible minorities are 3% of the population, where the middle of Canadian towns is 15%. Immigrants make up 12%, and Indigenous people 6%.

How old are the people of Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley?

The typical resident is 54 (Canadian towns: 45.2), with seniors at 29% of the population and under-15s at 13%.

What kind of homes are in Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley?

24% of households are one person, and the average is 2.4.

Is Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley growing?

It added people: 7,095 in 2016, 7,392 in 2021, 4.2% more, where the middle of Canadian towns grew 4.1%. Statistics Canada’s 2025 estimate is 7,830.

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).