Fort St. JohnBritish Columbia

TownGrade

C⁺

#1,673 of 2,556

Between 2016 and 2021, its population grew by 6%. The town, home to 24,383 people, lies in British Columbia.

2 places within 19 kmMap →

Photo: jasonwoodhead23 · CC BY 2.0

Population

24,383

people, 2025 estimate

Median age

32.4

years · British Columbia’s towns: 48

Postsecondary

47%

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 Fort St. John a good place to live?

Low prices, and some weak spots to weigh against them. Its lowest grade is for safety (D). Overall, Fort St. John earns a C+, which places it #129 of 250 in British Columbia. Set against the rest, it does better than nearly two fifths of Canadian towns. Work and incomes are strong (A+). Add cost of living to its strengths (B+). It lags on schools as well (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.

StrongestA⁺Jobs & income A⁻WalkabilityWeakestDSafety DSchools

How Fort St. John grades

Each subject compares Fort St. John 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

Jobs & incomeBased on what households earn, poverty and workA⁺Open →SafetyCrime runs among the highest comparedDOpen →SchoolsIn the bottom fifth of the towns comparedDOpen →WalkabilityBased on walking, cycling and transit to everyday placesA⁻Open →Cost of livingHomes are easier to afford than in most townsB⁺Open →Hazard riskAhead of most towns comparedB⁺Open →HealthBased on how healthy residents are for their agesC⁺Open →

How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →

What makes Fort St. John stand out

The 3 things Fort St. John does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Residents 65 and over

Who lives here

Only 8% are 65 or over

Midway across Canadian towns: 19%

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

Jobs & income

Better than 96%

of Canadian towns on jobs & income

Its jobs & income grade: A+.

Safety

Behind 94%

of Canadian towns on safety

Its safety grade: D.

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Fort St. John.

Work & commuteJobs & income A⁺

Trips to work from Fort St. John are shorter than from British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: 17 min on average

6%walk, cycle or take transit

At the census, 93% of commuters went by car.

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van93%

Walk5%

Public transit1%

Bicycle1%

Census 2021	Fort St. John	British Columbia	Canada
Average trip	17 min	26 min	26 min
Car or van	93%	87%	89%

$102,000

median household income, 2020

worked from home, May 2021

79%

of commuters work inside the municipality

Full pageFort St. John’s work & commute pageOpen the full Work & commute page

Unemployment8.9% unemployed · Of the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Getting to work6% walk, cycle or take transit Where people commute to860 commuters · The biggest flow out: to Peace River C

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.

SafetySafety D

Fort St. John’s Violent Crime Severity Index, 215, runs above British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns

201Crime Severity Index

Thefts, break-ins and damage came to 72.8 per 1,000 residents a year, above both British Columbia’s towns (31) and Canadian towns (31.2). The violent crime rate is 35.6 per 1,000 residents a year.

Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year

2023248

2024171

2025183

2023–2025	Fort St. John	British Columbia	Canada
Violent crime	35.6	12.5	12
Violent Crime Severity Index	215	76	86
Property crime per 1,000	72.8	31	31.2

197

non-violent Crime Severity Index

31%

of incidents cleared, 2023–25

Full pageFort St. John’s safety reportOpen the full Safety report

Safety201 Crime Severity Index · The index weighs each crime Fort St. John’s police recorded by how serious it is.Questions“Is Fort St. John safe?”

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

SchoolsSchools D

Most schools around Fort St. John score below the middle in British Columbia: 11 of 14

15schools within 3 kmDSchools Grade

Within 3 km of Fort St. John are 10 elementary schools, 2 secondary schools, 2 schools for every grade and 1 alternative or adult school.

Schools by system · Schools within 3 km

English public14

Independent1

School	Level	Students	System
Alwin Holland Elementary Fourth fifth in British ColumbiaIn Fort St. JohnElementary	Elementary	–	English public
Christian Life School IndependentIn Fort St. JohnAll grades	All grades	–	Independent

See all 15 schools →

0.8 km

to the nearest secondary school

Full pageFort St. John’s schools pageOpen the full Schools page

Results0 of 14 in the top two fifths · of the schools with results, placed against every school in British Columbia Every school15 schools within 3 km · 10 elementary schools, 2 secondary schools, 2 schools for every grade and 1 alternative or adult school Language0 of 15 teach in French · 2% of schools in British Columbia Questions“What schools are there in Fort St. John?”

Provincial school lists and results, 2025/26

Climate

Fort St. John has colder winters than British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: January lows of −16.7°C

21.7°CJuly afternoons

July afternoons reach 21.7°C on average, below British Columbia’s towns (23.1°C) and Canadian towns (25.5°C) alike. Frost usually lifts by 12 May and returns around 16 September: 127 days without it. Also worth knowing: a normal November brings 38 cm of snow, the most of any month. Rain and snow peak in July, at 77 mm.

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter−7.0°C

Spring8.2°C

Summer20.7°C

Autumn7.0°C

Normals, 1991–2020	Fort St. John	British Columbia	Canada
Days with frost a year	185	60	159
January night low	−16.7°C	0.5°C	−13.5°C
Precipitation a year	464 mm	1,152 mm	883 mm
Snowfall a year	206 cm	51 cm	141 cm

206 cm

of snow a year

185

days with frost a year

127

frost-free days, 12 May to 16 Sep

days with precipitation a year

Full pageFort St. John’s climate pageOpen the full Climate page

The yearJuly highs 21.7°C, January lows −16.7°C Rain and snow464 mm a year · Canadian towns: 883 mm Snow206 cm of snow a year Weather station5.9 km to the station · Fort St. John

Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Fort St. John)

HousingCost of living B⁺

Renting in Fort St. John costs 14% of household income, less than in both British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns

$348,000median home value, 2021B⁺Cost of living Grade

Owners put the median home at $348,000, below British Columbia’s towns ($720,000) and Canadian towns ($406,000) alike. The owner-occupied share of households is 58%. Fort St. John doesn’t get its own rent as a share of income and monthly rent for a two-bedroom figures; the ones here come from the Fort St. John metro area.

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

Fort St. John$348,000

British Columbia$720,000

Canadian towns$406,000

Census 2021	Fort St. John	British Columbia	Canada
Rent as a share of income	14%	24%	20%
Households owning their home	58%	76%	74%
Median home value, 2021	$348,000	$720,000	$406,000
Households spending 30%+ on shelter	16%	21%	18%

$1,196

monthly rent for a two-bedroom

$1,740

median monthly shelter cost for owners, 2021

Full pageFort St. John’s cost of living pageOpen the full Cost of living page

Renting$1,196 a month · A two-bedroom apartment, CMHC’s survey Cost of living3.4 times household income · The median owner’s estimate, $348,000, against the median household income Owners and renters58% 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.

Who lives here

More of Fort St. John’s residents have an Indigenous identity than in British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: 13%

32.4median age

Immigrants make up just over one in ten residents, close to British Columbia’s towns (12%) and above Canadian towns (6.4%). Visible minorities make up 16% of the population, about level with Canadian towns (15%) and above British Columbia’s towns (8.6%).

Fort St. JohnBritish 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 degree19%

Postsecondary qualification47%

Women and men · all residents

48.7% of Fort St. John’s residents are women

Here the census found 10,455 women and 11,010 men; across Canada the share of women is 50.9%.

Who lives in Fort St. John
	Fort St. John	British Columbia	Canada
Under 15	21%	14%	16%
15 to 64	70%	64%	64%
65+	8.3%	21%	19%
No certificate, diploma or degree	19%	13%	16%
Postsecondary qualification	47%	56%	56%

Full pageFort St. John’s Who lives here pageOpen the full Who lives here page

Immigrants12% are immigrants · 16% belong to a visible minority Ages32.4 median age · 8% are 65 or over Households8,780 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+

Natural hazardsHazard risk B⁺

A flood study covers Fort St. John: 1 on the national inventory, the newest from Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy

Lowwildfire bandB⁺Hazard risk Grade

Of the homes tested for radon, 10% were over 200 Bq/m³, higher than both British Columbia’s towns (1.8%) and Canadian towns (6.6%). For earthquakes Fort St. John is middling, $0.016 a year per $1,000 against $0.030 for the typical town. Fire seldom reaches Fort St. John: since 1986, 1.9% of the land within 25 km has burned (0.05% a year).

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

Fort St. John10%

British Columbia’s towns1.8%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	Fort St. John	British Columbia	Canada
Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year	$0.016	$0.36	$0.030
Radon tests above the guideline	10%	1.8%	6.6%

$0.016

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

Low

wildfire band

1.4 km

to the nearest land burned since 1986

flood study on the national inventory

Full pageFort St. John’s flood & hazards pageOpen the full Flood & hazards page

FloodOne flood study on record WildfireLow wildfire band · 1.9% of the land within 25 km burned since 1986 Earthquakes$0.016 a year per $1,000 · Canadian towns: $0.030 Radon10% 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 · Area behind the radon tests figures: the Northeast health region

HealthHealth C⁺

Fort St. John’s region trails the typical Canadian town by 4.6 years: life expectancy 76.9

43%very good or excellent healthC⁺Health Grade

Homes here are 1.3 km from a hospital on average, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (4.4 km) and Canadian towns (3.7 km). At 13%, the share of adults who smoke tops the 8.9% for British Columbia. Adults here are less upbeat about their health than the province: 43% very good or excellent, against 50% in British Columbia. For health survey and life expectancy, the only official count covers all of the Northeast Health Service Delivery Area, Fort St. John included.

Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised

Fort St. John43%

British Columbia’s towns50%

Canadian towns52%

Health	Fort St. John	British Columbia	Canada
Life expectancy at birth	76.9	81.0	81.5
Very good or excellent health	43%	50%	52%
Smokers	13%	9%	12%
Chronic conditions (average share)	17%	15%	17%

76.9

years of life expectancy, 2022/2024

1.3 km

from homes to a hospital, on average

13%

of adults smoke, age-standardised

1.0 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

Full pageFort St. John’s health pageOpen the full Health page

Health survey43% very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised Getting care1.3 km to a hospital · A pharmacy 1.0 km away on average The wider areaLife expectancy: women 79.5, men 74.4 Conditions and habits17% 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

The nearest provincial park, Beatton Park, is 5.3 km from Fort St. John

1.4%of the land within 10 km protected

Of the land within 10 km, 1.4% has protected status, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (6.7%) and Canadian towns (2.3%). The nearest national park is more than 100 km away. Within 10 km are 9 protected areas.

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

Fort St. John1.4%

British Columbia’s towns6.7%

Canadian towns2.3%

Outdoors	Fort St. John	British Columbia	Canada
Protected land within 10 km	1.4%	6.7%	2.3%
Public protected areas within 10 km	3	14	4

5.3 km

to Beatton Park

public protected areas within 10 km

Full pageFort St. John’s outdoors pageOpen the full Outdoors page

Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas9 protected areas within 10 km · Beatton Park National & provincial parks5.3 km to a provincial park · Beatton Park

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

Weather

Expect November days around −2°C in Fort St. John, nights around −10°C

−2°Ca normal November afternoon

Over the year, July is warmest at 22°C by day and January coldest at −17°C by night. Into December, the normals move to −7°C and −15°C. A normal November brings 35 mm of rain and snow. Hour-by-hour figures come from ECCC’s Fort St. John forecast, on the Weather page.

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

November−2°C

December−7°C

January−9°C

February−5°C

Season	High	Low	Rain and snow
Winter	−7°C	−15°C	73 mm
Spring	8°C	−2°C	81 mm
Summer	21°C	10°C	199 mm
Autumn	7°C	−2°C	110 mm

−10°C

a normal November night

35 mm

of rain and snow in a normal November

Full pageFort St. John’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 January

ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Fort St. John); the forecast is on the Weather page

Town hall

Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, which takes in Fort St. John, is held by Bob Zimmer (Conservative Party of Canada)

Locally, Fort St.

Full pageFort St. John’s town hall & politics pageOpen the full Town hall & politics page

Who runs itCity Provincial legislaturePeace River North

Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada

Library & civic lifeCivic life grade B⁺

Fort St. John has one public library, Fort St. John Public Library

The figures are those of Fort St.

Full pageFort St. John’s library & civic life pageOpen the full Library & civic life page

A year at the library2.6 visits per person served The libraries1 Libraries Places to belong2.2 charities per 1,000 residents

Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Fort St. John

15pages on Fort St. John

The big questions

SafetyDCrime Severity Index 201 Housing & costB⁺Homes 3.4 × income Property pricesSchoolsD15 schools within 3 km HealthC⁺Life expectancy 76.9 in its region Work & commuteA⁺69% of adults in work Natural hazardsB⁺Wildfire band: low

Out and about

Outdoors1.4% of the land within 10 km protected AttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 22°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 32.4 HistoryTown hallFamous people

Nearby attractions

Fort St. John Arts Council ArtsPost and 3 more in and around Fort St. John

The best-known places to visit in and around Fort St. John come first; the full list is on the Attractions page.

All attractions →

Art galleryArt galleryFort St. John Arts Council ArtsPostin town MuseumMuseumFort St. John North Peace Museumin town Art galleryArt galleryKNUXin town Art galleryArt galleryPeace Gallery Northin town

Famous people from Fort St. John

24 notable people were born in Fort St. John.

See all 24 →

John van 't SchipDutch association football player and manager · born 1963

Ina ForrestCanadian wheelchair curler · born 1962

Michelle KellyCanadian skeleton racer · born 1974

Brad FastCanadian ice hockey player · born 1980

David DanielsCanadian basketball player · born 1971

Gerry AustgardenCanadian wheelchair curler · born 1964

Photo credits

John van 't Schip: Wim Hollemans, CC BY-SA 2.0

About Fort St. John

Town in British Columbia

Every figure TownRatings gives for Fort St. John 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: 24,383 (people, 2025 estimate)
Province or territory: British Columbia
Census division: Peace River
Census subdivision: 5955034

Fort St. John’s neighbours

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

Electoral Area C, Peace RiverTaylorFort St. John

How the neighbours grade

Town	People	km	Overall	Cost	Safety	Health
Fort St. John	24,383	—	C⁺	B⁺	D	C⁺
Electoral Area C, Peace River	6,344	4.4	C	B⁺	C	C
Taylor	1,415	13	—	A	C	C⁻

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

Questions about Fort St. John

How old are the people of Fort St. John?

The typical resident is 32.4 (Canadian towns: 45.2), with seniors at 8% of the population and under-15s at 21%.

What kind of homes are in Fort St. John?

Mostly 50% single-detached houses (the median of Canadian towns: 64%), with 2% of homes in buildings of five or more storeys. Households hold 2.4 people on average, and 31% have just one.

Who are the people of Fort St. John?

At the 2021 census, 12% were immigrants and 16% belonged to a visible minority (Canadian towns’ median: 15%). 13% identify as First Nations, Métis or Inuit.

Has Fort St. John grown?

It added people: 20,260 in 2016, 21,465 in 2021, 5.9% more, where the middle of Canadian towns grew 4.1%. Statistics Canada’s 2025 estimate is 24,383.

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).