LadysmithBritish Columbia

TownGrade

#2,345 of 2,556

9,926 residents make their home in this town in British Columbia. It grew by 5% between the 2016 and 2021 censuses.

3 places within 19 kmMap →

Photo: A.Davey · CC BY 2.0

Population

9,926

people, 2025 estimate

Median age

52.8

years · British Columbia’s towns: 48

Postsecondary

56%

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 Ladysmith a good place to live?

Cost of living is its weak spot (D). Ladysmith grades D overall, better than 14% of Canadian towns. Its place in the ranking is #215 of 250 in British Columbia. Schools are weaker too (D). Fewer journeys need a car (A−). Elsewhere it is close to typical: B for health, B− for jobs & income and B− for hazard risk.

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. 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⁻WalkabilityWeakestDCost of living DSchools

How Ladysmith grades

Each subject compares Ladysmith 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 livingBased on what homes cost against what households earnDOpen →SchoolsSchools are among the weakest comparedDOpen →WalkabilityAbove the middle of the towns comparedA⁻Open →SafetyGraded on crime per residentC⁺Open →HealthGraded on how healthy residents areBOpen →Jobs & incomeAbout average among the towns comparedB⁻Open →Hazard riskGraded on two hazards, earthquakes and radon, with nearby wildfire counted only against itB⁻Open →

How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →

What makes Ladysmith stand out

The 3 things Ladysmith does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Residents 65 and over

Who lives here

31% are 65 or over

The midpoint across Canadian towns is 19%

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

Immigrants

Who lives here

13% are immigrants

For the middle of Canadian towns, 6%

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

Cost of living

Behind 91%

of Canadian towns on cost of living

Its cost of living grade: D.

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Ladysmith.

HousingCost of living D

Most households in Ladysmith own their home: 81%, more than in both British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns

$552,000median home value, 2021DCost of living Grade

Owners put the median home at $552,000, lower than British Columbia’s towns ($720,000) yet higher than Canadian towns ($406,000). Rent took just over a fifth of 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

Ladysmith$552,000

British Columbia$720,000

Canadian towns$406,000

Census 2021	Ladysmith	British Columbia	Canada
Median home value, 2021	$552,000	$720,000	$406,000
Households owning their home	81%	76%	74%
Rent as a share of income	22%	24%	20%
Households spending 30%+ on shelter	18%	21%	18%

$1,120

monthly rent for a two-bedroom

$1,070

median monthly shelter cost for owners, 2021

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

Owners and renters81% own their home Cost of living6.8 times household income · The median owner’s estimate, $552,000, against the median household income Renting$1,120 a month · The median rent at the 2021 census

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 D

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

5schools within 3 kmDSchools Grade

Its 3 km reach takes in 3 elementary schools and 2 secondary schools, all of Ladysmith’s schooling.

School	Level	Students	System
Ladysmith Intermediate Bottom fifth in British ColumbiaIn LadysmithElementary	Elementary	–	English public
Ladysmith Secondary Fourth fifth in British ColumbiaIn LadysmithSecondary	Secondary	–	English public

See all 5 schools →

Schools by system · Schools within 3 km

English public4

Independent1

Schools within 3 km	Ladysmith	British Columbia	Canada
School boards	2	2	3

0.9 km

to the nearest secondary school

Full pageLadysmith’s schools pageOpen the full Schools page

Results0 of 3 in the top two fifths · of the schools with results, placed against every school in British Columbia Every school5 schools within 3 km · 3 elementary schools and 2 secondary schools Language0 of 5 teach in French · 2% of schools in British Columbia The boards2 school boards · SD 68 Nanaimo-Ladysmith Questions“What schools are there in Ladysmith?”

Provincial school lists and results, 2025/26

Climate

Winters are mild in Ladysmith: January nights hold at 1.6°C, above British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns

22.7°CJuly afternoons

December is the snowiest month, with 12 cm on average. Frosty days number 45 in a normal year, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (60) and Canadian towns (159). The frost-free season runs from 4 April to 4 November, 213 days. In July, daytime highs in Ladysmith average 22.7°C.

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter7.8°C

Spring14.0°C

Summer21.8°C

Autumn14.6°C

Normals, 1991–2020	Ladysmith	British Columbia	Canada
Days with frost a year	45	60	159
January night low	1.6°C	0.5°C	−13.5°C
July afternoon high	22.7°C	23.1°C	25.5°C
Snowfall a year	39 cm	51 cm	141 cm

39 cm

of snow a year

days with frost a year

213

frost-free days, 4 Apr to 4 Nov

119

days with precipitation a year

Full pageLadysmith’s climate pageOpen the full Climate page

The yearJuly highs 22.7°C, January lows 1.6°C Rain and snow901 mm a year · Canadian towns: 883 mm Snow39 cm of snow a year Weather station47 km to the station · Victoria (Airport)

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

SafetySafety C⁺

Ladysmith gets a C+ for safety

77Crime Severity Index

For violence alone the index was 70, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (76) and Canadian towns (86). Violence reaches 14.8 per 1,000 residents a year.

Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year

202391

202472

202568

2023–2025	Ladysmith	British Columbia	Canada
Violent crime	14.8	12.5	12
Violent Crime Severity Index	70	76	86

non-violent Crime Severity Index

24%

of incidents cleared, 2023–25

Full pageLadysmith’s safety reportOpen the full Safety report

Safety77 Crime Severity Index · The index weighs each crime Ladysmith’s police recorded by how serious it is.Questions“Is Ladysmith safe?”

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

Who lives here

More of Ladysmith’s residents have an Indigenous identity than in British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: 7.1%

52.8median age

5.4% of residents belong to a visible minority, below British Columbia’s towns (8.6%) and Canadian towns (15%) alike.

LadysmithBritish 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 degree13%

Postsecondary qualification56%

Women and men · all residents

Women make up 52.4% of Ladysmith

Here the census found 4,275 men and 4,715 women; the figure for women across Canada is 50.9%.

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

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

Immigrants13% are immigrants · 5% belong to a visible minority Ages52.8 median age · 31% are 65 or over Households3,925 households · 2.2 people per household English and French6% speak both · 0.1% speak French but not English

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

HealthHealth B

Expect 79.8 years of life in the region around Ladysmith, 1.7 under the typical Canadian town

47%very good or excellent healthBHealth Grade

Adults who call their own health very good or excellent: 47%, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (50%) and Canadian towns (52%). At 12%, the share of adults who smoke tops the 8.9% for British Columbia. Measured from where Ladysmith’s residents live, the nearest hospital is 1.7 km away, under the typical 3.7 km.

Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised

Ladysmith47%

British Columbia’s towns50%

Canadian towns52%

Health	Ladysmith	British Columbia	Canada
Very good or excellent health	47%	50%	52%
Life expectancy at birth	79.8	81.0	81.5
Smokers	12%	9%	12%
Chronic conditions (average share)	16%	15%	17%

79.8

years of life expectancy, 2022/2024

1.7 km

from homes to a hospital, on average

12%

of adults smoke, age-standardised

1.0 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

Full pageLadysmith’s health pageOpen the full Health page

Health survey47% very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised Getting care1.7 km to a hospital · A pharmacy 1.0 km away on average The wider areaLife expectancy: women 82.6, men 77.1 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 · Area behind the health survey and life expectancy figures: the Central Vancouver Island Health Service Delivery Area

Weather

A normal November in Ladysmith runs from 3°C to 10°C

10°Ca normal November afternoon

The forecast on the Weather page is ECCC’s for Nanaimo. Next comes December, with normal highs of 7°C and lows of 2°C. A normal November brings 146 mm of rain and snow. Also worth knowing: july brings the warmest days, 23°C; February the coldest nights, 1°C.

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

November10°C

December7°C

January8°C

February9°C

Season	High	Low	Rain and snow
Winter	8°C	2°C	386 mm
Spring	14°C	5°C	165 mm
Summer	22°C	11°C	73 mm
Autumn	15°C	6°C	278 mm

3°C

a normal November night

146 mm

of rain and snow in a normal November

Full pageLadysmith’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 (Victoria (Airport)); the forecast is on the Weather page

Town hall

Tamara Kronis (Conservative Party of Canada) represents Ladysmith in Ottawa as MP for Nanaimo—Ladysmith

Ladysmith is in Ladysmith-Oceanside for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, whose current MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly, the provincial or territorial legislature) no open source we can use records yet.

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

Who runs itTown

Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada

Library & civic lifeCivic life grade B⁺

VIRL: Ladysmith Branch is Ladysmith’s public library

From the centre of Ladysmith, it is 0.8 km away.

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

The libraries1 Libraries Places to belong2.7 charities per 1,000 residents

Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada

Work & commuteJobs & income B⁻

Trips to work from Ladysmith are shorter than from British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: 24 min on average

8%walk, cycle or take transit

The car carried 90% of commuters at the census.

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van90%

Walk7%

Bicycle1%

Census 2021	Ladysmith	British Columbia	Canada
Average trip	24 min	26 min	26 min
Car or van	90%	87%	89%

$81,000

median household income, 2020

15%

worked from home, May 2021

37%

of commuters work inside the municipality

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

Unemployment8% unemployed · Of the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Getting to work8% walk, cycle or take transit Where people commute to640 commuters · The biggest flow out: to Nanaimo

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.

Outdoors

A national route near Ladysmith: the Trans-Canada Trail - Cowichan Valley Trail

1.4%of the land within 10 km protected

The largest named area nearby is Woodley Range Ecological Reserve, 159 ha, 0.7 km away. Within 5 km lie 2 beaches, unnamed on the map. The closest provincial park is Roberts Memorial Park, 6.4 km from the edge of town. A drive of 28 km reaches Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, the nearest national park.

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

Ladysmith1.4%

British Columbia’s towns6.7%

Canadian towns2.3%

Outdoors	Ladysmith	British Columbia	Canada
Protected land within 10 km	1.4%	6.7%	2.3%
Public protected areas within 10 km	7	14	4

28 km

to Gulf Islands National Park Reserve

6.4 km

to Roberts Memorial Park

beaches within 5 km

public protected areas within 10 km

Full pageLadysmith’s outdoors pageOpen the full Outdoors page

Footpaths & routes1 named route · Trans-Canada Trail - Cowichan Valley Trail Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas16 protected areas within 10 km · Woodley Range Ecological Reserve National & provincial parks28 km to a national park · Gulf Islands National Park Reserve

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

Natural hazardsHazard risk B⁻

Ladysmith has one of Canada’s highest earthquake risks: $0.74 a year per $1,000, 25 times the typical town’s

Lowwildfire bandB⁻Hazard risk Grade

The radon tests numbers here cover the Central Vancouver Island health region

In Health Canada’s survey, just 0.9% of homes tested in the area exceeded 200 Bq/m³ (6.6% typical). Burn scars are few around Ladysmith, with 0.3% of the land within 25 km touched by fire since 1986 (0.007% a year). Flood mapping: none on the national inventory of the town.

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

Ladysmith0.9%

British Columbia’s towns1.8%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	Ladysmith	British Columbia	Canada
Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year	$0.74	$0.36	$0.030
Radon tests above the guideline	0.9%	1.8%	6.6%

$0.74

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

Low

wildfire band

3.9 km

to the nearest land burned since 1986

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

Earthquakes$0.74 a year per $1,000 · Canadian towns: $0.030 WildfireLow wildfire band · 0.3% 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 Ladysmith

15pages on Ladysmith

The big questions

SafetyC⁺Crime Severity Index 77 Housing & costDHomes 6.8 × income Property pricesSchoolsD5 schools within 3 km HealthBLife expectancy 79.8 in its region Work & commuteB⁻49% of adults in work Natural hazardsB⁻Wildfire band: low

Out and about

Outdoors1.4% of the land within 10 km protected AttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 23°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 52.8 HistoryTown hallFamous people

Nearby attractions

Harbour Heritage Centre and 6 more in and around Ladysmith

What there is to see in Ladysmith and within a short drive, starting with the places most people have heard of.

All attractions →

MuseumMuseumHarbour Heritage Centrein town MuseumMuseumLadysmith Museumin town Art galleryArt galleryLadysmith Galleryin town Art galleryArt galleryWaterfront Galleryin town

MuseumMuseumLadysmith Maritime Society Museum100 m outside town, to the northeast

MuseumMuseumChemainus Valley Museum4.3 km outside town, to the south

Famous people from Ladysmith

7 notable people were born in Ladysmith.

See all 7 →

Pamela AndersonCanadian actress and model · born 1967

Andrew Mowatt WhiskerCanadian politician · 1907–1992

John UlinderCanadian rower · born 1943

Lorenzo GiovandoCanadian politician · 1905–1982

Tony FeltrinCanadian ice hockey defenceman · born 1961

Anita NivalaCanadian international lawn bowler · born 1961

Photo credits

Pamela Anderson: Harald Krichel, CC BY-SA 4.0

About Ladysmith

Town in British Columbia

Every figure TownRatings gives for Ladysmith 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: 9,926 (people, 2025 estimate)
Province or territory: British Columbia
Census division: Cowichan Valley
Census subdivision: 5919021

Ladysmith’s neighbours

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

Electoral Area H, Cowichan ValleyElectoral Area G, Cowichan ValleyElectoral Area A, NanaimoLadysmith

How the neighbours grade

Town	People	km	Overall	Cost	Safety	Health
Ladysmith	9,926	—	D	D	C⁺	B
Electoral Area H, Cowichan Valley	2,761	4.2	D	C⁻	C	B⁻
Electoral Area G, Cowichan Valley	2,597	5.5	D	D⁻	C	B⁻
Electoral Area A, Nanaimo	7,825	13	D⁻	D⁻	C	B⁻

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

Questions about Ladysmith

Is Ladysmith a young town or an old one?

The median resident is 52.8 years old, against 45.2 for the median of Canadian towns. 13% are under 15 and 31% are 65 or over.

Has Ladysmith grown?

It grew from 8,537 people in 2016 to 8,990 in 2021, up 5.3%; the median of Canadian towns grew 4.1%. StatCan’s 2025 estimate is 9,926.

What kind of homes are in Ladysmith?

Mostly 68% single-detached houses (the median of Canadian towns: 64%), with 0% of homes in buildings of five or more storeys. Households hold 2.2 people on average, and 28% have just one.

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).