ElkfordBritish Columbia

TownGrade

B⁺

#698 of 2,556

Its population rose 10% from 2016 to 2021. The town, home to 3,030 people, lies in British Columbia.

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

Population

3,030

people, 2025 estimate

Median age

38.4

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

29%

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

Is Elkford a good place to live?

Easy on the wallet, harder on other counts. Elkford’s overall grade is B+, better than 70% of Canadian towns. It ranks #22 of 250 in British Columbia. Cost of living is its strong suit (A−). Schools lag (C). Hazard risk is weaker too (C). Its remaining grades are unremarkable: B− for health and B for walkability.

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 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. Walkability leaves out transit here: in a mining or oil town the census counts the work buses to the sites as public transit.

StrongestA⁻Cost of living

How Elkford grades

Each subject compares Elkford 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 livingHomes are very affordable for local incomesA⁻Open →SchoolsWeaker than most of the towns comparedCOpen →SafetyGraded on crime per residentB⁺Open →Jobs & incomeIncomes and work beat most townsB⁺Open →Hazard riskGraded on earthquake risk and radon, with high wildfire risk able to lower itCOpen →WalkabilityNear typical for the towns comparedBOpen →HealthGraded on how healthy residents areB⁻Open →

How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →

What makes Elkford stand out

The 3 things Elkford does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Walk, cycle or transit to work

Getting around

29% walk, cycle or take transit

Canadian towns centre on 8%

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

Home value ÷ household income

Housing

2.5 times household income

The middle of Canadian towns: 4.7 times

Median owner’s estimate $300,000, Census 2021; income for 2020.

Unemployment rate, Census 2021

Work

5% unemployment

The median of Canadian towns: 10%

65% of residents 15 and over were in work, May 2021.

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Elkford.

Climate

January nights in Elkford drop to −10.7°C (British Columbia towns 0.5°C, Canadian towns −13.5°C)

24.9°CJuly afternoons

Rain and snow peak in November, at 72 mm. There are 189 days of frost in a typical year, above both British Columbia’s towns (60) and Canadian towns (159). The frost-free season runs from 30 May to 7 September, 98 days. A July afternoon in Elkford typically reaches 24.9°C.

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter−1.6°C

Spring10.7°C

Summer23.1°C

Autumn10.5°C

Normals, 1991–2020	Elkford	British Columbia	Canada
Snowfall a year	280 cm	51 cm	141 cm
Days with frost a year	189	60	159
Precipitation a year	614 mm	1,152 mm	883 mm
January night low	−10.7°C	0.5°C	−13.5°C

280 cm

of snow a year

189

days with frost a year

frost-free days, 30 May to 7 Sep

108

days with precipitation a year

Full pageElkford’s climate pageOpen the full Climate page

The yearJuly highs 24.9°C, January lows −10.7°C Rain and snow614 mm a year · Canadian towns: 883 mm Snow280 cm of snow a year Weather station30 km to the station · Sparwood

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

HousingCost of living A⁻

Renting in Elkford costs 15% of household income, less than in both British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns

$300,000median home value, 2021A⁻Cost of living Grade

84% of households own their home, above both British Columbia’s towns (76%) and Canadian towns (74%). Shelter took 30% or more of income for 8% of households, below British Columbia’s towns (21%) and Canadian towns (18%) alike.

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

Elkford$300,000

British Columbia$720,000

Canadian towns$406,000

Census 2021	Elkford	British Columbia	Canada
Households spending 30%+ on shelter	8%	21%	18%
Rent as a share of income	15%	24%	20%
Households owning their home	84%	76%	74%

$1,140

monthly rent for a two-bedroom

$1,210

median monthly shelter cost for owners, 2021

Full pageElkford’s cost of living pageOpen the full Cost of living page

Renting$1,140 a month · The median rent at the 2021 census Cost of living2.5 times household income · The median owner’s estimate, $300,000, against the median household income Owners and renters84% own their home

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.

SchoolsSchools C

The nearest high school to Elkford is 53 km away

2schools within 3 kmCSchools Grade

School	Level	Students	System
Elkford Elementary Secondary Fourth fifth in British ColumbiaIn ElkfordElementary	Elementary	–	English public

See all 2 schools →

Schools within 3 km	Elkford	British Columbia	Canada
Nearest secondary school	53 km	1.8 km	1.2 km

53 km

to the nearest secondary school

Full pageElkford’s schools pageOpen the full Schools page

Every school2 elementary schools Results0 of 2 in the top two fifths · of the schools with results, placed against every school in British Columbia Language0 of 2 teach in French · 2% of schools in British Columbia Questions“What schools are there in Elkford?”

Provincial school lists and results, 2025/26

SafetySafety B⁺

The police who cover Elkford record less serious crime than British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: a Crime Severity Index of 48

48Crime Severity Index

Where it is policed, thefts, break-ins and damage came to 16.4 per 1,000 a year, below British Columbia’s towns (31) and Canadian towns (31.2) alike. For every 1,000 residents of its police area, 13.4 violent incidents are reported each year. Behind Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000 sits data gathered across the Elkford detachment area, with Elkford one part of it.

Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year

202352

202443

202550

2023–2025	Elkford	British Columbia	Canada
Property crime per 1,000	16.4	31	31.2
Crime Severity Index	48	83	67
Violent Crime Severity Index	68	76	86

non-violent Crime Severity Index

24%

of incidents cleared, 2023–25

Full pageElkford’s safety reportOpen the full Safety report

Safety48 Crime Severity Index · The index weighs each crime Elkford’s police recorded by how serious it is.Questions“Is Elkford safe?”

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

Work & commuteJobs & income B⁺

Households in Elkford have higher incomes than those in 96% of Canadian towns

29%walk, cycle or take transit

Commutes averaged 28 min, about level with British Columbia’s towns (26 min) and above Canadian towns (26 min).

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van69%

Public transit24%

Walk5%

Census 2021	Elkford	British Columbia	Canada
Average trip	28 min	26 min	26 min

$117,000

median household income, 2020

worked from home, May 2021

79%

of commuters work inside the municipality

Full pageElkford’s work & commute pageOpen the full Work & commute page

Unemployment5.4% unemployed · Of the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Getting to work29% walk, cycle or take transit Where people commute to125 commuters · The biggest flow out: to Sparwood

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.

Natural hazardsHazard risk C

Radon is Elkford’s main hazard: 19% of tested homes in its area top Health Canada’s guideline

Moderatewildfire bandCHazard risk Grade

Measured across the East Kootenay health region: radon tests

The expected yearly loss to earthquakes is $0.027 for each $1,000 of buildings, below British Columbia’s towns ($0.36) and close to Canadian towns ($0.030). The national inventory holds one flood map for it, from Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. Wildfire is a moderate presence around Elkford: 5.5% of the land within 25 km has burned since 1986, 0.14% a year, short of the band that counts against Risk.

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

Elkford19%

British Columbia’s towns1.8%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	Elkford	British Columbia	Canada
Radon tests above the guideline	19%	1.8%	6.6%
Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year	$0.027	$0.36	$0.030

$0.027

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

Moderate

wildfire band

2.5 km

to the nearest land burned since 1986

flood study on the national inventory

Full pageElkford’s flood & hazards pageOpen the full Flood & hazards page

Radon19% of tests above the guideline WildfireModerate wildfire band · 5.5% of the land within 25 km burned since 1986 FloodOne flood study on record Earthquakes$0.027 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

Who lives here

Children make up 21% of Elkford, above British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns

38.4median age

7.5% of residents came to Canada as immigrants, below British Columbia’s towns (12%) but above Canadian towns (6.4%). People 65 and over make up 12% of the town.

ElkfordBritish ColumbiaCanada

British ColumbiaCanada

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

21%

Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over

No certificate, diploma or degree13%

Postsecondary qualification49%

Women and men · all residents

46.6% of Elkford’s residents are women

1,465 men and 1,280 women lived here in 2021, against a share of women of 50.9% for Canada.

Who lives in Elkford
	Elkford	British Columbia	Canada
Under 15	21%	14%	16%
15 to 64	67%	64%	64%
65+	12%	21%	19%
No certificate, diploma or degree	13%	13%	16%
Postsecondary qualification	49%	56%	56%

Full pageElkford’s Who lives here pageOpen the full Who lives here page

Ages38.4 median age · 12% are 65 or over Households1,155 households · 2.4 people per household Immigrants8% are immigrants · 5% belong to a visible minority 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+

Weather

Elkford in November: highs near 2°C, lows near −6°C

2°Ca normal November afternoon

Next comes December, with normal highs of −3°C and lows of −11°C. Expect around 47 cm of snow in November. The forecast on the Weather page is ECCC’s for Sparwood.

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

November2°C

December−3°C

January−2°C

February0°C

Season	High	Low	Rain and snow
Winter	−2°C	−10°C	142 mm
Spring	11°C	−2°C	155 mm
Summer	23°C	7°C	147 mm
Autumn	11°C	−1°C	170 mm

−6°C

a normal November night

72 mm

of rain and snow in a normal November

Full pageElkford’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 (Sparwood); the forecast is on the Weather page

Town hall

Rob Morrison (Conservative Party of Canada) represents Elkford in Ottawa as MP for Columbia—Kootenay—Southern Rockies

Statistics Canada lists Elkford as a district municipality.

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

Provincial legislatureKootenay-Rockies

Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada

Library & civic lifeCivic life grade A⁻

Elkford has one public library, Elkford Public Library

A single building, Elkford Public Library, serves 3,030 people.

Full pageElkford’s library & civic life pageOpen the full Library & civic life page

A year at the library5.3 visits per person served The libraries1 Libraries Places to belong2 charities per 1,000 residents

Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada

HealthHealth B⁻

The nearest hospital is 55 km from the average home in Elkford

57%very good or excellent healthB⁻Health Grade

Shared with the rest of the East Kootenay Health Service Delivery Area: health survey and life expectancy

Adults who call their own health very good or excellent: 57%, higher than both British Columbia’s towns (50%) and Canadian towns (52%). At 13%, the share of adults who smoke tops the 8.9% for British Columbia. A baby born in the region can expect 80.5 years, 82.7 for a girl and 78.1 for a boy (2022/2024).

Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised

Elkford57%

British Columbia’s towns50%

Canadian towns52%

Health	Elkford	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

55 km

from homes to a hospital, on average

13%

of adults smoke, age-standardised

31 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

Full pageElkford’s health pageOpen the full Health page

Getting care55 km to a hospital · A pharmacy 31 km away on average Health survey57% very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised 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

Outdoors

More of the land around Elkford is protected than around nearly 9 in 10 Canadian towns

12%of the land within 10 km protected

Some protected land is inside the town: 16% of its area. 6.4 km from town is Don Getty Wildland Provincial Park, the nearest provincial park. For a national park, Banff National Park is 63 km away.

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

Elkford12%

British Columbia’s towns6.7%

Canadian towns2.3%

Outdoors	Elkford	British Columbia	Canada
Protected land within 10 km	12%	6.7%	2.3%
Public protected areas within 10 km	4	14	4

63 km

to Banff National Park

6.4 km

to Don Getty Wildland Provincial Park

public protected areas within 10 km

Full pageElkford’s outdoors pageOpen the full Outdoors page

Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas6 protected areas within 10 km · Don Getty Wildland Provincial Park National & provincial parks63 km to a national park · Banff National Park

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

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Elkford

15pages on Elkford

The big questions

SafetyB⁺Crime Severity Index 48 Housing & costA⁻Homes 2.5 × income Property pricesSchoolsC2 schools within 3 km HealthB⁻Life expectancy 80.5 in its region Work & commuteB⁺65% of adults in work Natural hazardsCWildfire band: moderate

Out and about

Outdoors12% of the land within 10 km protected AttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 25°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 38.4 HistoryTown hallFamous people

About Elkford

Town in British Columbia

TownRatings counts Elkford as Statistics Canada does, as one municipality in British Columbia; the census, crime and housing figures all follow that boundary.

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

Population: 3,030 (people, 2025 estimate)
Province or territory: British Columbia
Census division: East Kootenay
Census subdivision: 5901003

Questions about Elkford

Is Elkford growing?

It added people: 2,499 in 2016, 2,749 in 2021, 10% more, where the middle of Canadian towns grew 4.1%. Statistics Canada’s 2025 estimate is 3,030.

Who are the people of Elkford?

5% of residents belong to a visible minority, against 15% for the median of Canadian towns; 12% have an Indigenous identity and 8% are immigrants.

What kind of homes are in Elkford?

54% of homes are single-detached houses, against 64% for the median of Canadian towns, and 0% are in apartment buildings of five storeys or more. A household averages 2.4 people; 30% are one person living alone.

How old are the people of Elkford?

The median resident is 38.4 years old, against 45.2 for the median of Canadian towns. 21% are under 15 and 12% are 65 or over.

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).