Electoral Area A, NanaimoBritish Columbia

TownGrade

D⁻

#2,518 of 2,556

A town in British Columbia, home to 7,825 people. Between 2016 and 2021, its population grew by 6%.

6 places within 19 kmMap →

Photo: Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center · Public domain

Population

7,825

people, 2025 estimate

Median age

51.2

years · British Columbia’s towns: 48

Postsecondary

52%

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 Electoral Area A, Nanaimo a good place to live?

Electoral Area A, Nanaimo’s weakest is cost of living (D−). With a D− overall, Electoral Area A, Nanaimo is better than 3% of Canadian towns and ranks #238 of 250 in British Columbia. Jobs and pay hold up well (B). Its other grades sit near the middle: B− for health, B− for walkability and B− for hazard risk. It also trails on schools (D).

Rents here are the metro area's average, shared by every town and neighbourhood in it. Safety less sure: no police service names this town, so its crime figure is the nearest police detachment's, shared with a wider area. Health is graded on the health region's survey figures and life expectancy, with the distance to hospital giving the town its own spread.

WeakestD⁻Cost of living DSchools

How Electoral Area A, Nanaimo grades

Each subject compares Electoral Area A, 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 grading works

Cost of livingBased on what homes cost against what households earnD⁻Open →SchoolsSchools are among the weakest comparedDOpen →SafetyBehind most towns comparedCOpen →Jobs & incomeBased on what households earn, poverty and workBOpen →WalkabilityClose to the middle of the towns comparedB⁻Open →HealthGraded on how healthy residents areB⁻Open →Hazard riskGraded on two hazards, earthquakes and radon, with nearby wildfire counted only against itB⁻Open →

How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →

What makes Electoral Area A, Nanaimo stand out

The 3 things Electoral Area A, Nanaimo does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Cost of living

Behind 98%

of Canadian towns on cost of living

Its cost of living grade: D−.

Home value ÷ household income

Housing

7.9 times household income

The middle of Canadian towns: 4.7 times

Median owner’s estimate $685,000, Census 2021; income for 2020.

Schools

Behind 93%

of Canadian towns on schools

Its schools grade: D.

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Electoral Area A, Nanaimo.

HousingCost of living D⁻

Rent takes more of local pay in Electoral Area A, Nanaimo than in British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: 26% of household income

$685,000median home value, 2021D⁻Cost of living Grade

84% of households own their home. Shelter took 30% or more of income for 14% of households, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (21%) and Canadian towns (18%). Figures for rent as a share of income and monthly rent for a two-bedroom are published for the Nanaimo metro area as a whole, not for Electoral Area A, Nanaimo alone.

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

Electoral Area A, Nanaimo$685,000

British Columbia$720,000

Canadian towns$406,000

Census 2021	Electoral Area A, Nanaimo	British Columbia	Canada
Households spending 30%+ on shelter	14%	21%	18%
Rent as a share of income	26%	24%	20%
Households owning their home	84%	76%	74%

$1,895

monthly rent for a two-bedroom

$1,000

median monthly shelter cost for owners, 2021

Full pageElectoral Area A, Nanaimo’s cost of living pageOpen the full Cost of living page

Renting$1,895 a month · A two-bedroom apartment, CMHC’s survey Cost of living7.9 times household income · The median owner’s estimate, $685,000, against the median household income Owners and renters84% 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.

SchoolsSchools D

Results around Electoral Area A, Nanaimo lean low: 7 of 7 schools in the lower two fifths in British Columbia

7schools within 3 kmDSchools Grade

In or within 3 km of Electoral Area A, Nanaimo: 6 elementary schools and 1 secondary school. Within 3 km, 2 boards share the schools, about level with British Columbia’s towns (2) and below Canadian towns (3).

School	Level	Students	System
Cedar Elementary Bottom fifth in British ColumbiaIn Electoral Area A, NanaimoElementary	Elementary	–	English public
Cedar Secondary Fourth fifth in British ColumbiaIn Electoral Area A, NanaimoSecondary	Secondary	–	English public

See all 7 schools →

Schools within 3 km	Electoral Area A, Nanaimo	British Columbia	Canada
School boards	2	2	3

1.9 km

to the nearest secondary school

Full pageElectoral Area A, Nanaimo’s schools pageOpen the full Schools page

Results0 of 7 in the top two fifths · of the schools with results, placed against every school in British Columbia Every school7 schools within 3 km · 6 elementary schools and 1 secondary school Language0 of 7 teach in French · 2% of schools in British Columbia The boards2 school boards · SD 68 Nanaimo-Ladysmith Questions“What schools are there in Electoral Area A, Nanaimo?”

Provincial school lists and results, 2025/26

Climate

Winters are mild in Electoral Area A, Nanaimo: January nights hold at 1.4°C, above British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns

22.4°CJuly afternoons

The year’s precipitation totals 1,160 mm, about level with British Columbia’s towns (1,152 mm) and above Canadian towns (883 mm). Gardeners get 235 frost-free days, from 19 March to 10 November. July afternoons in Electoral Area A, Nanaimo average 22.4°C. Snow peaks in December: 14 cm in a normal year.

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter7.1°C

Spring13.4°C

Summer21.5°C

Autumn14.0°C

Normals, 1991–2020	Electoral Area A, 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

37 cm

of snow a year

days with frost a year

235

frost-free days, 19 Mar to 10 Nov

137

days with precipitation a year

Full pageElectoral Area A, Nanaimo’s climate pageOpen the full Climate page

The yearJuly highs 22.4°C, January lows 1.4°C Rain and snow1,160 mm a year · Canadian towns: 883 mm Snow37 cm of snow a year Weather station50 km to the station · Vancouver International (Airport)

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

SafetySafety C

The force covering Electoral Area A, Nanaimo records more serious violence than British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns, at 110

87Crime Severity Index

A best guess: the nearest detachment’s figures, since none is filed under Electoral Area A, Nanaimo · Measured across the Ladysmith detachment area: Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000

Its police area recorded 21.9 violent incidents per 1,000 residents a year, above British Columbia’s towns (12.5) and Canadian towns (12) alike. Across its police area, there are 40.3 property incidents per 1,000 residents a year.

Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year

202391

202490

202580

2023–2025	Electoral Area A, Nanaimo	British Columbia	Canada
Violent crime	21.9	12.5	12
Violent Crime Severity Index	110	76	86
Property crime per 1,000	40.3	31	31.2
Crime Severity Index	87	83	67

non-violent Crime Severity Index

34%

of incidents cleared, 2023–25

Full pageElectoral Area A, Nanaimo’s safety reportOpen the full Safety report

Safety87 Crime Severity Index · The index weighs each crime Electoral Area A, Nanaimo’s police recorded by how serious it is.Questions“Is Electoral Area A, Nanaimo safe?”

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

Work & commuteJobs & income B

Electoral Area A, Nanaimo’s household incomes are higher than in 69% of Canadian towns

4%walk, cycle or take transit

93% of commuters took the car to work at the census. The average trip to work takes 25 min.

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van93%

Walk3%

Public transit1%

Bicycle1%

Census 2021	Electoral Area A, Nanaimo	British Columbia	Canada
Car or van	93%	87%	89%
Average trip	25 min	26 min	26 min

$86,000

median household income, 2020

12%

worked from home, May 2021

21%

of commuters work inside the municipality

Full pageElectoral Area A, Nanaimo’s work & commute pageOpen the full Work & commute page

Unemployment8.2% unemployed · Of the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Getting to work4% walk, cycle or take transit Where people commute to1,255 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.

Who lives here

Electoral Area A, Nanaimo skews older, with 25% of residents 65 or over, more than in both British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns

51.2median age

3.5% of residents belong to a visible minority, below both British Columbia’s towns (8.6%) and Canadian towns (15%). Children are 13% of the town.

Electoral Area A, NanaimoBritish ColumbiaCanada

British ColumbiaCanada

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

25%

Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over

No certificate, diploma or degree15%

Postsecondary qualification52%

Women and men · all residents

49.2% of Electoral Area A, Nanaimo’s residents are women

Here the census found 3,800 men and 3,685 women; the figure for women across Canada is 50.9%.

Who lives in Electoral Area A, Nanaimo
	Electoral Area A, Nanaimo	British Columbia	Canada
Under 15	13%	14%	16%
15 to 64	62%	64%	64%
65+	25%	21%	19%
No certificate, diploma or degree	15%	13%	16%
Postsecondary qualification	52%	56%	56%

Full pageElectoral Area A, Nanaimo’s Who lives here pageOpen the full Who lives here page

Ages51.2 median age · 25% are 65 or over Households3,130 households · 2.4 people per household Immigrants10% are immigrants · 4% belong to a visible minority 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+

Weather

Electoral Area A, Nanaimo in November: highs near 9°C, lows near 4°C

9°Ca normal November afternoon

A normal November brings 175 mm of rain and snow. Expect around 3 cm of snow in November. The month after, December, normally sees 7°C afternoons and 1°C nights. At the extremes, July afternoons reach 22°C and December nights 1°C.

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

November9°C

December7°C

January7°C

February8°C

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

4°C

a normal November night

175 mm

of rain and snow in a normal November

Full pageElectoral Area A, Nanaimo’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 December

ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Vancouver International (Airport)); the forecast is on the Weather page

Town hall

Tamara Kronis (Conservative Party of Canada) holds Nanaimo—Ladysmith, the riding that includes Electoral Area A, Nanaimo

For the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Electoral Area A, Nanaimo spreads over 2 ridings: Nanaimo-Gabriola Island and Ladysmith-Oceanside.

Full pageElectoral Area A, Nanaimo’s town hall & politics pageOpen the full Town hall & politics page

Who runs itRegional District Electoral Area

Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada

Library & civic lifeCivic life grade B⁻

Electoral Area A, Nanaimo has no public library of its own; the nearest is VIRL: Gabriola Island Branch, 8.5 km away

After it comes VIRL: Nanaimo Harbourfront Branch (Nanaimo), 9.5 km away.

Full pageElectoral Area A, Nanaimo’s library & civic life pageOpen the full Library & civic life page

Places to belong0 charities per 1,000 residents

Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada

Outdoors

The The Great Trail - Nanaimo River Interim Bypass Connector runs by Electoral Area A, Nanaimo

2.4%of the land within 10 km protected

Public parks and reserves within 10 km: 15, higher than both British Columbia’s towns (14) and Canadian towns (4). Within 5 km lie 7 beaches, unnamed on the map. For a national park, Gulf Islands National Park Reserve is 35 km away.

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

Electoral Area A, Nanaimo2.4%

British Columbia’s towns6.7%

Canadian towns2.3%

Outdoors	Electoral Area A, Nanaimo	British Columbia	Canada
Public protected areas within 10 km	15	14	4
Protected land within 10 km	2.4%	6.7%	2.3%

35 km

to Gulf Islands National Park Reserve

At the edge

to Morden Colliery Historic Park

beaches within 5 km

public protected areas within 10 km

Full pageElectoral Area A, Nanaimo’s outdoors pageOpen the full Outdoors page

Footpaths & routes2 named routes · The Great Trail - Nanaimo River Interim Bypass Connector Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas39 protected areas within 10 km · Saysutshun (Newcastle Island Marine) Park National & provincial parks35 km to a national park · Gulf Islands National Park Reserve

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

HealthHealth B⁻

Electoral Area A, Nanaimo’s region trails the typical Canadian town by 1.7 years: life expectancy 79.8

47%very good or excellent healthB⁻Health Grade

The average trip from home to a hospital is 11 km, higher than both British Columbia’s towns (4.4 km) and Canadian towns (3.7 km). The survey puts the region’s share in very good or excellent health at 47%, behind the 50% for British Columbia. At 12%, the share of adults who smoke tops the 8.9% for British Columbia.

Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised

Electoral Area A, Nanaimo47%

British Columbia’s towns50%

Canadian towns52%

Health	Electoral Area A, 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%

79.8

years of life expectancy, 2022/2024

11 km

from homes to a hospital, on average

12%

of adults smoke, age-standardised

3.1 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

Full pageElectoral Area A, Nanaimo’s health pageOpen the full Health page

Health survey47% very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised Getting care11 km to a hospital · A pharmacy 3.1 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

Natural hazardsHazard risk B⁻

Earthquakes are Electoral Area A, Nanaimo’s biggest hazard: $0.54 of damage a year per $1,000 of buildings, 18 times the norm

Lowwildfire bandB⁻Hazard risk Grade

Fewer homes than usual carry radon here, 0.9% over the guideline where the typical town has 6.6%. Wildfire is rare near Electoral Area A, Nanaimo: 0.3% of the land within 25 km has burned since 1986, a burn rate of 0.007% a year. Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy has mapped the flood hazard here: one study on the national inventory. Electoral Area A, Nanaimo doesn’t get its own radon tests figures; the ones here come from the Central Vancouver Island health region.

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

Electoral Area A, Nanaimo0.9%

British Columbia’s towns1.8%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	Electoral Area A, Nanaimo	British Columbia	Canada
Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year	$0.54	$0.36	$0.030
Radon tests above the guideline	0.9%	1.8%	6.6%

$0.54

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

Low

wildfire band

1.3 km

to the nearest land burned since 1986

flood study on the national inventory

Full pageElectoral Area A, Nanaimo’s flood & hazards pageOpen the full Flood & hazards page

Earthquakes$0.54 a year per $1,000 · Canadian towns: $0.030 WildfireLow wildfire band · 0.3% of the land within 25 km burned since 1986 FloodOne 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 Electoral Area A, Nanaimo

15pages on Electoral Area A, Nanaimo

The big questions

SafetyCCrime Severity Index 87 Housing & costD⁻Homes 7.9 × income Property pricesSchoolsD7 schools within 3 km HealthB⁻Life expectancy 79.8 in its region Work & commuteB54% of adults in work Natural hazardsB⁻Wildfire band: low

Out and about

Outdoors2.4% of the land within 10 km protected AttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 22°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 51.2 HistoryTown hallFamous people

Famous people from around Electoral Area A, Nanaimo

One notable person was born in Electoral Area A, Nanaimo; with them, the best known born in the towns around it.

Their page →

Steve SmithCanadian cyclist · 1989–2016

Pamela AndersonCanadian actress and model · born in Ladysmith · born 1967

Diana KrallCanadian recording artist; jazz singer … · born in Nanaimo · born 1964

Jodelle FerlandCanadian actress · born in Nanaimo · born 1994

Ethan KatzbergCanadian hammer thrower · born in Nanaimo · born 2002

Justin ChatwinCanadian film and television actor · born in Nanaimo · born 1982

Photo credits

Steve Smith: Douglas Cook from Edinburgh, Scotland, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Pamela Anderson: Harald Krichel, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Diana Krall: Chris Govias, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Jodelle Ferland: zuko1312, CC BY 2.0 · Ethan Katzberg: Sebleouf, CC BY-SA 4.0

About Electoral Area A, Nanaimo

Town in British Columbia

For Electoral Area A, 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: 7,825 (people, 2025 estimate)
Province or territory: British Columbia
Census division: Nanaimo
Metro area: Nanaimo
Census subdivision: 5921010

Electoral Area A, Nanaimo’s neighbours

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

Electoral Area H, Cowichan ValleyElectoral Area B, NanaimoLadysmithNanaimoElectoral Area C, NanaimoElectoral Area G, Cowichan ValleyElectoral Area A, Nanaimo

How the neighbours grade

Town	People	km	Overall	Cost	Safety	Health
Electoral Area A, Nanaimo	7,825	—	D⁻	D⁻	C	B⁻
Electoral Area H, Cowichan Valley	2,761	8.3	D	C⁻	C	B⁻
Electoral Area B, Nanaimo	4,702	9.5	D⁻	D⁻	B⁻	C⁺
Ladysmith	9,926	13	D	D	C⁺	B
Nanaimo	111,845	14	D	D⁻	D	B⁻
Electoral Area C, Nanaimo	3,733	16	C⁻	D	B⁻	B⁻
Electoral Area G, Cowichan Valley	2,597	17	D	D⁻	C	B⁻

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

Questions about Electoral Area A, Nanaimo

Who are the people of Electoral Area A, Nanaimo?

At the 2021 census, 10% were immigrants and 4% belonged to a visible minority (Canadian towns’ median: 15%). 8% identify as First Nations, Métis or Inuit.

What kind of homes are in Electoral Area A, Nanaimo?

Single-detached houses make up 85% of the homes here, where Canadian towns sit at 64%; 0% are in high-rise apartments. 23% of households are one person, and the average is 2.4.

Has Electoral Area A, Nanaimo grown?

It grew from 7,058 people in 2016 to 7,481 in 2021, up 6%; the median of Canadian towns grew 4.1%. StatCan’s 2025 estimate is 7,825.

How old are the people of Electoral Area A, Nanaimo?

Its median age is 51.2, where Canadian towns sit at 45.2.

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).