Gold RiverBritish Columbia

Home to 1,339 people, this town lies in British Columbia. It lies in Strathcona.

Photo: Andre Charland · CC BY 2.0

Population

1,339

people, 2025 estimate

Median age

56.4

years · British Columbia’s towns: 48

Postsecondary

43%

of residents 15 and over hold a postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree · Canadian towns: 56%

Walk, cycle, transit

17%

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

Is Gold River a good place to live?

Where it does best is walkability (A). The weak point is schools (D). A median home here was worth $240,000 at the census, or 3.7 times what the middle household earns in a year. Jobs and pay trail most towns (C−). Its other grades sit near the middle: B− for health and B− for hazard risk.

Figures: home values and income: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. Canadian towns get an overall grade from 2,500 residents, so Gold River has subject grades only.

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. No Safety Grade: no police service publishes a crime rate for this place on its own. Health is graded on the health region's survey figures and life expectancy, with the distance to hospital giving the town its own spread.

StrongestAWalkabilityWeakestDSchools C⁻Jobs & income

How Gold River grades

Each subject compares Gold River 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

Canadian towns get an overall grade from 2,500 residents, so Gold River has subject grades only.

SchoolsNear the bottom of the towns comparedDOpen →WalkabilityBased on walking, cycling and transit to everyday placesAOpen →Jobs & incomeIncomes and work are among the weakest comparedC⁻Open →Cost of livingBehind most towns comparedC⁻Open →HealthGraded on how healthy residents areB⁻Open →Hazard riskAbout average among the towns comparedB⁻Open →

SafetyNot graded: not enough data–

How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →

What makes Gold River stand out

The 3 things Gold River does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Residents 65 and over

Who lives here

31% are 65 or over

Half of Canadian towns are above 19%, half below

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

Schools

Behind 94%

of Canadian towns on schools

Its schools grade: D.

Walkability

Better than 93%

of Canadian towns on walkability

Its walkability grade: A.

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Gold River.

SchoolsSchools D

No high school in or near Gold River: the closest is 56 km off

3schools within 3 kmDSchools Grade

School	Level	Students	System
Gold River Secondary Bottom fifth in British ColumbiaIn Gold RiverElementary	Elementary	–	English public

See all 3 schools →

Schools within 3 km	Gold River	British Columbia	Canada
Nearest secondary school	56 km	1.8 km	1.2 km

56 km

to the nearest secondary school

Full pageGold River’s schools pageOpen the full Schools page

Every school3 schools within 3 km · 2 elementary schools and 1 alternative or adult school Results0 of 2 in the top two fifths · of the schools with results, placed against every school in British Columbia Language0 of 3 teach in French · 2% of schools in British Columbia Questions“What schools are there in Gold River?”

Provincial school lists and results, 2025/26

Climate

Winters are mild in Gold River: January nights hold at 3.6°C, above British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns

17.4°CJuly afternoons

The warmest stretch brings July afternoons of 17.4°C, below both British Columbia’s towns (23.1°C) and Canadian towns (25.5°C). For the wettest month, look to November: 454 mm on average. Estevan Point, 57 km away, supplies the normals.

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter8.3°C

Spring11.6°C

Summer17.0°C

Autumn13.4°C

Normals, 1991–2020	Gold River	British Columbia	Canada
July afternoon high	17.4°C	23.1°C	25.5°C
Precipitation a year	3,111 mm	1,152 mm	883 mm
Days with frost a year	21	60	159
January night low	3.6°C	0.5°C	−13.5°C

14 cm

of snow a year

days with frost a year

188

days with precipitation a year

Full pageGold River’s climate pageOpen the full Climate page

The yearJuly highs 17.4°C, January lows 3.6°C Rain and snow3,111 mm a year · Canadian towns: 883 mm Snow14 cm of snow a year Weather station57 km to the station · Estevan Point

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

Work & commuteJobs & income C⁻

The car carries only 77% of commuters in Gold River, fewer than in both British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns

17%walk, cycle or take transit

Commutes averaged 25 min, close to both British Columbia’s towns (26 min) and Canadian towns (26 min).

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van77%

Walk17%

Census 2021	Gold River	British Columbia	Canada
Car or van	77%	87%	89%
Average trip	25 min	26 min	26 min

$66,500

median household income, 2020

11%

worked from home, May 2021

74%

of commuters work inside the municipality

Full pageGold River’s work & commute pageOpen the full Work & commute page

Getting to work17% walk, cycle or take transit Unemployment6.5% unemployed · Of the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Where people commute to20 commuters · The biggest flow out: to Campbell River

Statistics Canada, Census 2021 (labour and commuting) · The 2021 census was taken in May 2021, during COVID-19 restrictions: more people than usual worked from home or were off work.

HousingCost of living C⁻

Gold River has just 12% of households spending at least 30% of income on shelter, where the typical Canadian town has 18%

$240,000median home value, 2021C⁻Cost of living Grade

Rent took 22% of household income, below British Columbia’s towns (24%) but above Canadian towns (20%). Owners make up 84% of households.

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

Gold River$240,000

British Columbia$720,000

Canadian towns$406,000

Census 2021	Gold River	British Columbia	Canada
Median home value, 2021	$240,000	$720,000	$406,000
Households spending 30%+ on shelter	12%	21%	18%
Households owning their home	84%	76%	74%
Rent as a share of income	22%	24%	20%

$870

monthly rent for a two-bedroom

$452

median monthly shelter cost for owners, 2021

Full pageGold River’s cost of living pageOpen the full Cost of living page

Cost of living3.7 times household income · The median owner’s estimate, $240,000, against the median household income Renting$870 a month · The median rent at the 2021 census Owners and renters84% own their home

Statistics Canada, Census 2021; CMHC Rental Market Survey via Statistics Canada · The 2021 census asked owners what their home was worth; those values, and 2020 incomes, are what this compares.

Who lives here

More of Gold River’s residents have an Indigenous identity than in British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: 12%

56.4median age

Visible minorities make up 3.2% of the population, below British Columbia’s towns (8.6%) and Canadian towns (15%) alike. Immigrants make up 11% of residents, lower than British Columbia’s towns (12%) yet higher than Canadian towns (6.4%).

Gold RiverBritish ColumbiaCanada

British ColumbiaCanada

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

31%

Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over

No certificate, diploma or degree23%

Postsecondary qualification43%

Women and men · all residents

47.2% of Gold River’s residents are women

In 2021 there were 590 women to 660 men; Canada as a whole is 50.9% women.

Who lives in Gold River
	Gold River	British Columbia	Canada
Under 15	12%	14%	16%
15 to 64	57%	64%	64%
65+	31%	21%	19%
No certificate, diploma or degree	23%	13%	16%
Postsecondary qualification	43%	56%	56%

Full pageGold River’s Who lives here pageOpen the full Who lives here page

Immigrants11% are immigrants · 3% belong to a visible minority Ages56.4 median age · 31% are 65 or over Households610 households · 2 people per household 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

Expect November days around 10°C in Gold River, nights around 5°C

10°Ca normal November afternoon

August brings the warmest days, 18°C; February the coldest nights, 3°C. The month after, December, normally sees 8°C afternoons and 3°C nights. Rain and snow over a typical November come to 454 mm. ECCC’s forecast for Estevan Point is on the Weather page, hour by hour.

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

November10°C

December8°C

January8°C

February9°C

Season	High	Low	Rain and snow
Winter	8°C	3°C	1,164 mm
Spring	12°C	6°C	690 mm
Summer	17°C	11°C	306 mm
Autumn	13°C	8°C	951 mm

5°C

a normal November night

454 mm

of rain and snow in a normal November

Full pageGold River’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 February

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

Town hall

Gold River’s MP is Aaron Gunn (Conservative Party of Canada), for North Island—Powell River

North Island is the riding Gold River votes in for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, and its MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly, the provincial or territorial legislature) isn’t named here because no open list records the members.

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

Who runs itVillage

Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada

Library & civic lifeCivic life grade B

Gold River has two public libraries, VIRL: Gold River Branch and Gold River Branch

Gold River has no library board of its own in the provincial statistics, so no visit or loan figures appear here.

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

The libraries2 Libraries Places to belong3.7 charities per 1,000 residents

Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada

HealthHealth B⁻

A hospital trip from Gold River means 64 km on average, in a straight line

54%very good or excellent healthB⁻Health Grade

Source area for health survey and life expectancy: the North Vancouver Island Health Service Delivery Area

Expected years of life at birth: 79.5, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (81.0) and Canadian towns (81.5). In the health survey, 54% of adults in the region rate their health very good or excellent, more than British Columbia’s 50%. For everyday care, the nearest pharmacy is 1.1 km away on average (1.0 within 3 km).

Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised

Gold River54%

British Columbia’s towns50%

Canadian towns52%

Health	Gold River	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

64 km

from homes to a hospital, on average

of adults smoke, age-standardised

1.1 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

Full pageGold River’s health pageOpen the full Health page

Getting care64 km to a hospital · A pharmacy 1.1 km away on average Health survey54% very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised 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

Outdoors

Gold River has more protected land around it than nearly 9 in 10 Canadian towns

9.7%of the land within 10 km protected

For a national park, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is 64 km away. 2.9 km from town is White Ridge Park, the nearest provincial park. Public parks and reserves within 10 km: 4, lower than British Columbia’s towns (14) and near Canadian towns (4).

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

Gold River9.7%

British Columbia’s towns6.7%

Canadian towns2.3%

Outdoors	Gold River	British Columbia	Canada
Protected land within 10 km	9.7%	6.7%	2.3%
Public protected areas within 10 km	4	14	4

64 km

to Pacific Rim National Park Reserve

2.9 km

to White Ridge Park

public protected areas within 10 km

Full pageGold River’s outdoors pageOpen the full Outdoors page

Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas4 protected areas within 10 km · Strathcona Park National & provincial parks64 km to a national park · Pacific Rim National Park Reserve

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

Natural hazardsHazard risk B⁻

Earthquakes are Gold River’s biggest hazard: $0.46 of damage a year per $1,000 of buildings, 15 times the norm

Lowwildfire bandB⁻Hazard risk Grade

Radon tests for the North Vancouver Island health region

Wildfire is rare near Gold River: 1% of the land within 25 km has burned since 1986, a burn rate of 0.03% a year. Radon is lower than usual: 0.9% of tested homes in the survey area topped the guideline, against 6.6% for the typical town. No one has filed a flood map for Gold River on the national inventory.

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

Gold River0.9%

British Columbia’s towns1.8%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	Gold River	British Columbia	Canada
Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year	$0.46	$0.36	$0.030
Radon tests above the guideline	0.9%	1.8%	6.6%

$0.46

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

Low

wildfire band

2.1 km

to the nearest land burned since 1986

Full pageGold River’s flood & hazards pageOpen the full Flood & hazards page

Earthquakes$0.46 a year per $1,000 · Canadian towns: $0.030 WildfireLow wildfire band · 1% of the land within 25 km burned since 1986 FloodNo 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

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Gold River

15pages on Gold River

The big questions

SafetyHousing & costC⁻Homes 3.7 × income Property pricesSchoolsD3 schools within 3 km HealthB⁻Life expectancy 79.5 in its region Work & commuteC⁻46% of adults in work Natural hazardsB⁻Wildfire band: low

Out and about

Outdoors9.7% of the land within 10 km protected AttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 17°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 56.4 HistoryTown hallFamous people

About Gold River

Town in British Columbia

The boundary here is Statistics Canada’s: Gold River 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: 1,339 (people, 2025 estimate)
Province or territory: British Columbia
Census division: Strathcona
Census subdivision: 5924025

Questions about Gold River

Who are the people of Gold River?

3% of residents belong to a visible minority, against 15% for the median of Canadian towns; 12% have an Indigenous identity and 11% are immigrants.

Is Gold River a young town or an old one?

At 56.4, its median age compares with 45.2 across Canadian towns.

What kind of homes are in Gold River?

69% 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 people; 33% are one person living alone.

Has Gold River grown?

It added people: 1,212 in 2016, 1,246 in 2021, 2.8% more, where the middle of Canadian towns grew 4.1%. Statistics Canada’s 2025 estimate is 1,339.

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