HoustonBritish Columbia

Houston’s grade for health: a D−

Residents have 54 km to cover to reach a hospital, above British Columbia’s towns (4.4 km) and Canadian towns (3.7 km) alike. The survey puts the region’s share in very good or excellent health at 42%, behind the 50% for British Columbia. Lives in the region last 77.0 years on average (2022/2024): 79.2 for women, 75.0 for men. The region has more smokers than British Columbia, 14% of adults to 8.9%. Figures for health survey and life expectancy are published for the Northwest Health Service Delivery Area as a whole, not for Houston alone.

For the force that serves Houston, the Crime Severity Index is 162, above British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns

Measured across the Houston detachment area: Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000

The violent index for its police area came to 220, above both British Columbia’s towns (76) and Canadian towns (86). Violence across its police area runs at 46.1 per 1,000 residents a year. Property crime in the area its police cover: 51.8 per 1,000 people a year.

Hazard risk in Houston is lower than in 88% of Canadian towns

Shared with the rest of the Northwest health region: radon tests

Province of B.C. - Water, Lands, and Resource Stewardship has mapped the flood hazard here, one of 3 studies on the national inventory. The burn rate around Houston is 0.08% a year (3% of the land within 25 km since 1986), a moderate band. Its survey area, 5.2% over the radon guideline, is close to the typical town’s 6.6%. The expected yearly loss to earthquakes is $0.013 for each $1,000 of buildings, lower than British Columbia’s towns ($0.36) and near Canadian towns ($0.030).

Results around Houston lean low: 3 of 3 schools in the lower two fifths in British Columbia

Counting a 3 km margin, Houston has 3 elementary schools and 1 secondary school.

Rent takes less of local pay in Houston than in British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: 15% of household income

Shelter took 30% or more of income for 11% of households, below British Columbia’s towns (21%) and Canadian towns (18%) alike. 71% of households own their home.

Trips to work from Houston are shorter than from British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: 17 min on average

The car took 88% of commuters, about level with both British Columbia’s towns (87%) and Canadian towns (89%).

Houston has cooler summers than British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: July highs of 22.1°C

In January, overnight lows in Houston settle at −14.8°C. There are 246 days of frost in a typical year, higher than both British Columbia’s towns (60) and Canadian towns (159). A normal October brings 66 mm of precipitation, more than any other month. Snow peaks in December: 48 cm in a normal year.

More of Houston’s residents have an Indigenous identity than in British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: 18%

9.1% of residents came to Canada as immigrants, lower than British Columbia’s towns (12%) yet higher than Canadian towns (6.4%). Children under 15 make up 20% of residents. Those 65 and older account for 16% of residents.

The nearest provincial park, Old Man Lake Park, is 10 km from Houston

Within 5 km lie 8 beaches, unnamed on the map.

A normal November in Houston runs from −8°C to 1°C

About 38 cm of snow falls in a normal November. Looking ahead to December, expect highs near −4°C and lows near −14°C. Rain and snow over a typical November come to 54 mm. Hour-by-hour figures come from ECCC’s Smithers forecast, on the Weather page.

Houston’s MP is Ellis Ross (Conservative Party of Canada), for Skeena—Bulkley Valley

Of the 43 Commons seats from British Columbia, the Liberal Party of Canada holds 20.

Houston Public Library draws 3.3 visits per person served, behind 79% of British Columbia’s town libraries

A single building, Houston Public Library, serves 3,114 people.