NanaimoBritish Columbia
With 111,845 residents, it is a town in British Columbia. Between 2016 and 2021, its population grew by 10%.
Is Nanaimo a good place to live?
Several subjects drag its grade down. Where it falls short is cost of living (D−). Fewer journeys need a car (A). Put together, the subjects come to a D overall, better than 13% of Canadian towns. In the ranking it comes #219 of 250 in British Columbia. It lags on safety as well (D). Its other grades sit near the middle: B− for health, B for jobs & income and B− for hazard risk.
Rents here are the metro area's average, shared by every town and neighbourhood in 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.
What makes Nanaimo stand out
The 3 things Nanaimo does most differently from other towns.
How Nanaimo grades
Each subject compares Nanaimo 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 TownRatings grades Canadian towns →
Nanaimo Museum and 12 more in and around Nanaimo
From museums to parks and historic sites: Nanaimo’s places to visit and those just beyond its edge, most famous first.
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Nanaimo.
Renting in Nanaimo eats 30% of household income, more than in British Columbia’s towns and across Canadian towns
Home ownership covers 67% of households.
What homes were worth · The median owner’s estimate at the 2021 census
| Census 2021 | Nanaimo | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent as a share of income | 30% | 24% | 20% |
| Households spending 30%+ on shelter | 24% | 21% | 18% |
| Households owning their home | 67% | 76% | 74% |
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. · Rent as a share of income and monthly rent for a two-bedroom published for the Nanaimo metro area, not by town
Nanaimo’s Violent Crime Severity Index, 128, runs above British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns
Violent incidents came to 23 per 1,000 residents a year, above both British Columbia’s towns (12.5) and Canadian towns (12). Property crime runs at 55.8 per 1,000 people a year.
Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year
| 2023–2025 | Nanaimo | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crime per 1,000 | 55.8 | 31 | 31.2 |
| Violent crime | 23 | 12.5 | 12 |
| Violent Crime Severity Index | 128 | 76 | 86 |
Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average
Nanaimo has milder winters than British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: January lows of 1.4°C
In July, daytime highs in Nanaimo average 22.4°C. Frost comes on 40 days a year, below British Columbia’s towns (60) and Canadian towns (159) alike. Between the last spring frost, 19 March, and the first in autumn, 10 November, lie 235 days. December is the snowiest month, with 14 cm on average.
Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Normals, 1991–2020 | Nanaimo | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days with frost a year | 40 | 60 | 159 |
| January night low | 1.4°C | 0.5°C | −13.5°C |
| July afternoon high | 22.4°C | 23.1°C | 25.5°C |
| Snowfall a year | 37 cm | 51 cm | 141 cm |
Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Vancouver International (Airport))
In the lower two fifths in British Columbia: 24 of the 35 schools around Nanaimo with results
Its schools answer to 3 boards. In French: 2 of the 39 schools, where in British Columbia the share is 2%. Within 3 km of Nanaimo are 30 elementary schools, 5 secondary schools, 1 school for every grade and 3 alternative or adult schools.
| School | Level | Students | System |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bayview Elementary Bottom fifth in British ColumbiaIn NanaimoElementary | Elementary | – | English public |
| Discover Montessori School IndependentIn NanaimoAll grades | All grades | – | Independent |
| Oceane FrenchTeaches in FrenchElementary | Elementary | – | French public |
| Aspengrove School IndependentResults in the top fifth in British ColumbiaElementary | Elementary | – | Independent |
Schools by system · Schools within 3 km
| Schools within 3 km | Nanaimo | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| School boards | 3 | 2 | 3 |
Provincial school lists and results, 2025/26
Commuters in Nanaimo have a short way to work, 21 min on average, less than in British Columbia’s towns and across Canadian towns
87% of commuters drove, in line with British Columbia’s towns (87%) and Canadian towns (89%).
How working residents got to work · census 2021
| Census 2021 | Nanaimo | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip | 21 min | 26 min | 26 min |
| Car or van | 87% | 87% | 89% |
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.
A national route near Nanaimo: the The Great Trail - City of Nanaimo
For a swim, First Beach is the nearest of 33 beaches within 5 km. Count 42 protected areas within 10 km of town. A drive of 43 km reaches Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, the nearest national park. The protected share of the 10 km around the town is 1.9%, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (6.7%) and Canadian towns (2.3%).
Protected land · of the land within 10 km
| Outdoors | Nanaimo | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public protected areas within 10 km | 18 | 14 | 4 |
| Protected land within 10 km | 1.9% | 6.7% | 2.3% |
Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches
In Nanaimo, November normally means 9°C afternoons and 4°C nights
In November, the normal is 175 mm of rain and snow. About 3 cm of snow falls in a normal November. By December, a normal day reaches 7°C and a night falls to 1°C. Across the year, normals run from 1°C nights in December to 22°C afternoons in July.
Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Season | High | Low | Rain and snow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | 7°C | 1°C | 437 mm |
| Spring | 13°C | 6°C | 251 mm |
| Summer | 21°C | 13°C | 121 mm |
| Autumn | 14°C | 7°C | 350 mm |
ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Vancouver International (Airport)); the forecast is on the Weather page
2 MPs share Nanaimo, which straddles Nanaimo—Ladysmith and Courtenay—Alberni
In Ottawa, Tamara Kronis speaks for 92% of Nanaimo, and Gord Johns for most of the remainder.
Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada
Nanaimo has 4 public library branches
Among them: VIRL: Nanaimo Harbourfront Branch, VIRL: Nanaimo North Branch, VIRL: Nanaimo Wellington Branch and 1 more.
Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada
People in Nanaimo’s health region live to 79.8 on average, 1.7 years short of the typical Canadian town
Source area for health survey and life expectancy: the Central Vancouver Island Health Service Delivery Area
On average 16% of adults live with arthritis, diabetes or high blood pressure, between British Columbia’s towns (15%) and Canadian towns (17%). The region has more smokers than British Columbia, just over one in ten adults to 8.9%. Across the region, 47% of adults say their health is very good or excellent; British Columbia as a whole reaches 50%. Measured from where Nanaimo’s residents live, a hospital is 4.2 km away, near the 3.7 km most towns see.
Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised
| Health | Nanaimo | 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% |
Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities
Earthquakes are Nanaimo’s biggest hazard: $0.59 of damage a year per $1,000 of buildings, 20 times the norm
Little of the land around Nanaimo has burned: 0.2% within 25 km since 1986, or 0.005% a year. Of the homes tested for radon, 0.9% were over 200 Bq/m³, below British Columbia’s towns (1.8%) and Canadian towns (6.6%) alike. One flood study covers the town, by Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. Behind radon tests sits data gathered across the Central Vancouver Island health region, with Nanaimo one part of it.
Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³
| Hazards | Nanaimo | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year | $0.59 | $0.36 | $0.030 |
| Radon tests above the guideline | 0.9% | 1.8% | 6.6% |
NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory
An older town: 25% of people in Nanaimo are 65 or over, more than in British Columbia’s towns and across Canadian towns
8.1% of residents have an Indigenous identity, above British Columbia’s towns (5%) and Canadian towns (2.8%) alike. Children are 14% of the town.
Ages · Share of residents in each age group, Census 2021
Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over
Women and men · all residents
Women make up 51.7% of Nanaimo
The 2021 census counted 51,640 women and 48,220 men here, where women make up 50.9% of Canada.
| Nanaimo | British Columbia | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 14% | 14% | 16% |
| 15 to 64 | 61% | 64% | 64% |
| 65+ | 25% | 21% | 19% |
| No certificate, diploma or degree | 14% | 13% | 16% |
| Postsecondary qualification | 56% | 56% | 56% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; British Columbia and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+
5 historic places on the heritage registers in Nanaimo
The oldest dated place, Bastion, goes back to 1855. Designations here include 2 provincial or municipal listings, a heritage lighthouse, a heritage railway station and a Recognized Federal Heritage Building. Older housing, built before 1961, accounts for 13% of homes, above British Columbia’s towns (11%) but below Canadian towns (18%).
Historic places by designation · inside the town
Among them
| Heritage | Nanaimo | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homes built before 1961 | 13% | 11% | 18% |
Canadian Register of Historic Places, Directory of Federal Heritage Designations, Québec’s Répertoire du patrimoine culturel, Wikidata; Census 2021 homes by period
Everything we know about Nanaimo
Famous people from Nanaimo
81 notable people were born in Nanaimo.
Photo credits
Diana Krall: Chris Govias, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Jodelle Ferland: zuko1312, CC BY 2.0 · Ethan Katzberg: Sebleouf, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Mary Frizzell: Province Newspaper, CC BY 4.0 · Allison Crowe: Adrian22 at English Wikipedia, CC BY 2.5 · Raymond Collishaw: Arthur Treloar Whealy; copies held by Canadian War Museum, Public domain
Nanaimo’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Statistics Canada
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nanaimo | 111,845 | — | D | D− | D | B− |
| Electoral Area C, Nanaimo | 3,733 | 3.4 | C− | D | B− | B− |
| Lantzville | 4,276 | 9.9 | B− | D− | B− | B− |
| Electoral Area A, Nanaimo | 7,825 | 14 | D− | D− | C | B− |
| Electoral Area B, Nanaimo | 4,702 | 14 | D− | D− | B− | C+ |
| Fairwinds | 7,125 | 17 | C | D− | A− | B− |
People: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about Nanaimo
Has Nanaimo grown?
Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses it went from 90,504 to 99,863 residents (up 10.3%; Canadian towns’ median: 4.1%), and Statistics Canada now estimates 111,845.
What kind of homes are in Nanaimo?
Single-detached houses make up 52% of the homes here, where Canadian towns sit at 64%; 3% are in high-rise apartments. 31% of households are one person, and the average is 2.3.
About Nanaimo
Town in British Columbia
For Nanaimo, TownRatings uses Statistics Canada’s census-subdivision boundary in British Columbia, and every figure on its pages covers that whole area.
Statistics Canada: population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155), Census of Population 2021, 2021 census boundaries.
- Population
- 111,845 (people, 2025 estimate)
- Province or territory
- British Columbia
- Census subdivision
- 5921007
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).