Electoral Area F, NanaimoBritish Columbia

It is a town of 8,810 residents in British Columbia. Its census division is Nanaimo.

3 places within 19 kmMap →

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

Population

8,810

people, 2025 estimate

Median age

49.6

years · British Columbia’s towns: 48

Postsecondary

51%

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%

TownGrade

C⁺

#1,569 of 2,556

Is Electoral Area F, Nanaimo a good place to live?

Strong in places, weak in others. Where it falls short is cost of living (D). With a C+ overall, Electoral Area F, Nanaimo is better than 42% of Canadian towns and ranks #120 of 250 in British Columbia. Its strongest subject is schools (A−). It is strong on safety as well (A−). The rest of its grades are middling: B− for health 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. 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.

StrongestA⁻Schools A⁻SafetyWeakestDCost of living CJobs & income

What makes Electoral Area F, Nanaimo stand out

The 2 things Electoral Area F, Nanaimo does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Home value ÷ household income

Housing

8.7 times household income

The middle of Canadian towns: 4.7 times

Median owner’s estimate $600,000, Census 2021; income for 2020.

Cost of living

Behind 95%

of Canadian towns on cost of living

Its cost of living grade: D.

How Electoral Area F, Nanaimo grades

Each subject compares Electoral Area F, 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 livingNear the bottom of the towns comparedDOpen →SchoolsGraded on exam and test resultsA⁻Open →SafetyLess crime than in most townsA⁻Open →Jobs & incomeBehind most towns comparedCOpen →WalkabilityBased on walking, cycling and transit to everyday placesCOpen →Hazard riskGraded on two hazards, earthquakes and radon, with nearby wildfire counted only against itB⁻Open →HealthNear typical for the towns comparedB⁻Open →

How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →

Nearby attractions

Englishman River Falls Provincial Park and 9 more in and around Electoral Area F, Nanaimo

Sights in Electoral Area F, Nanaimo and close by, ordered by how widely each is known.

All attractions →

WaterfallEnglishman River Falls Provincial Parkin town

MuseumQualicum Beach Museum2.2 km outside town, to the north AttractionAttractionHamilton Hobby Farmin town AttractionAttractionNorth Island Wildlife Recovery & Educational Centrein town Art galleryArt galleryStone Cottage Gallery2.7 km outside town, to the northeast Art galleryArt galleryOceanside Art Gallery2.1 km outside town, to the northeast

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · ODCAF · federal and Québec heritage registers · CPCAD

Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).

Photo credits (2)

Englishman River Falls Provincial Park: th0rstenhell, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Qualicum Beach Museum: Snoeske, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The data

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

HousingCost of living D

Electoral Area F, Nanaimo gets a D for cost of living

Rent took nearly a quarter of household income, lower than British Columbia’s towns (24%) yet higher than Canadian towns (20%). 72% of households are owner-occupiers.

$600,000median home value, 2021DCost of living Grade

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

Electoral Area F, Nanaimo$600,000

British Columbia$720,000

Canadian towns$406,000

Census 2021	Electoral Area F, Nanaimo	British Columbia	Canada
Households spending 30%+ on shelter	23%	21%	18%
Rent as a share of income	23%	24%	20%
Households owning their home	72%	76%	74%

$970

monthly rent for a two-bedroom

$745

median monthly shelter cost for owners, 2021

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

Cost of living8.7 times household income · The median owner’s estimate, $600,000, against the median household income Renting$970 a month · The median rent at the 2021 census Owners and renters72% 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 A⁻

Mixed results around Electoral Area F, Nanaimo: 3 high and 2 low of 7 schools in British Columbia

In or within 3 km of Electoral Area F, Nanaimo: 6 elementary schools, 2 secondary schools and 3 alternative or adult schools. The nearest secondary school is 6.2 km away, higher than both British Columbia’s towns (1.8 km) and Canadian towns (1.2 km).

11schools within 3 kmA⁻Schools Grade

School	Level	Students	System
Arrowsmith Independent School IndependentIn Electoral Area F, NanaimoElementary	Elementary	–	Independent
Ecole Secondaire Ballenas Secondary Second fifth in British ColumbiaNearest secondary school, 1.1 kmSecondary	Secondary	–	English public

See all 11 schools →

Schools by system · Schools within 3 km

English public10

Independent1

Schools within 3 km	Electoral Area F, Nanaimo	British Columbia	Canada
Nearest secondary school	6.2 km	1.8 km	1.2 km
Nearest elementary school	4.4 km	0.6 km	0.5 km

6.2 km

to the nearest secondary school

4.4 km

to the nearest elementary school

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

Results3 of 7 in the top two fifths · of the schools with results, placed against every school in British Columbia Every school11 schools within 3 km · 6 elementary schools, 2 secondary schools and 3 alternative or adult schools Language0 of 11 teach in French · 2% of schools in British Columbia Questions“What schools are there in Electoral Area F, Nanaimo?”

Provincial school lists and results, 2025/26

SafetySafety A⁻

Crime runs lighter where Electoral Area F, Nanaimo is policed than in British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns, at an index of 45

A best guess: the nearest detachment’s figures, since none is filed under Electoral Area F, Nanaimo

The violent index for its police area came to 43, below both British Columbia’s towns (76) and Canadian towns (86). For every 1,000 residents of its police area, 21 property crimes are reported each year. Violence across its police area runs at 9.8 per 1,000 residents a year.

45Crime Severity Index

Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year

202348

202440

202546

2023–2025	Electoral Area F, Nanaimo	British Columbia	Canada
Crime Severity Index	45	83	67
Violent Crime Severity Index	43	76	86
Property crime per 1,000	21	31	31.2
Violent crime	9.8	12.5	12

non-violent Crime Severity Index

25%

of incidents cleared, 2023–25

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

Safety45 Crime Severity Index · The index weighs each crime Electoral Area F, Nanaimo’s police recorded by how serious it is.Questions“Is Electoral Area F, Nanaimo safe?”

Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average · Not measured by town: Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000 (the Oceanside detachment area)

Climate

Winters are mild in Electoral Area F, Nanaimo: January nights hold at 1.5°C, above British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns

Snowfall adds up to 51 cm a year, close to British Columbia’s towns (51 cm) and below Canadian towns (141 cm). The frost-free season runs from 1 April to 6 November, 218 days. July afternoons in Electoral Area F, Nanaimo average 23.1°C. Snow peaks in December: 17 cm in a normal year.

23.1°CJuly afternoons

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter6.6°C

Spring13.2°C

Summer22.0°C

Autumn13.6°C

Normals, 1991–2020	Electoral Area F, Nanaimo	British Columbia	Canada
Days with frost a year	46	60	159
January night low	1.5°C	0.5°C	−13.5°C
July afternoon high	23.1°C	23.1°C	25.5°C
Snowfall a year	51 cm	51 cm	141 cm

51 cm

of snow a year

days with frost a year

218

frost-free days, 1 Apr to 6 Nov

131

days with precipitation a year

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

The yearJuly highs 23.1°C, January lows 1.5°C Rain and snow1,152 mm a year · Canadian towns: 883 mm Snow51 cm of snow a year Weather station58 km to the station · Comox

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

Work & commuteJobs & income C

Electoral Area F, Nanaimo’s household incomes are lower than in 70% of Canadian towns

The average trip to work took 24 min, below British Columbia’s towns (26 min) and Canadian towns (26 min) alike. At the census, 92% of commuters went by car.

5%walk, cycle or take transit

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van92%

Walk4%

Bicycle1%

Census 2021	Electoral Area F, Nanaimo	British Columbia	Canada
Average trip	24 min	26 min	26 min
Car or van	92%	87%	89%

$69,000

median household income, 2020

19%

worked from home, May 2021

33%

of commuters work inside the municipality

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

UnemploymentOf the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Getting to work5% walk, cycle or take transit Where people commute to535 commuters · The biggest flow out: to Parksville

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

Older residents shape Electoral Area F, Nanaimo: 23% are 65 or over, above British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns

Immigrants make up 11% of residents, below British Columbia’s towns (12%) but above Canadian towns (6.4%). Children under 15 make up 14% of residents.

49.6median age

Electoral Area F, NanaimoBritish ColumbiaCanada

British ColumbiaCanada

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

23%

Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over

No certificate, diploma or degree16%

Postsecondary qualification51%

Women and men · all residents

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

Women numbered 4,045 and men 4,175 in 2021, next to a 50.9% share of women for Canada.

Who lives in Electoral Area F, Nanaimo
	Electoral Area F, Nanaimo	British Columbia	Canada
Under 15	14%	14%	16%
15 to 64	63%	64%	64%
65+	23%	21%	19%
No certificate, diploma or degree	16%	13%	16%
Postsecondary qualification	51%	56%	56%

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

Ages49.6 median age · 23% are 65 or over Households3,670 households · 2.2 people per household Immigrants11% are immigrants · 3% belong to a visible minority English and French6% speak both · 0% speak French but not English

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

Weather

What November brings in Electoral Area F, Nanaimo: 3°C at night, 9°C by day

A normal November brings 189 mm of rain and snow. The forecast on the Weather page is ECCC’s for Qualicum Beach.

9°Ca normal November afternoon

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

November9°C

December6°C

January6°C

February7°C

Season	High	Low	Rain and snow
Winter	7°C	1°C	483 mm
Spring	13°C	5°C	212 mm
Summer	22°C	13°C	97 mm
Autumn	14°C	7°C	361 mm

3°C

a normal November night

189 mm

of rain and snow in a normal November

Full pageElectoral Area F, 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 February

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

Town hall

Courtenay—Alberni came down to 8,431 votes in 2021, closer than 67% of the country’s ridings

Provincially, Electoral Area F, Nanaimo votes in Mid Island-Pacific Rim; the open record doesn’t name its MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly, the provincial or territorial legislature) in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, so the legislature’s own list is linked below.

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

Who runs itRegional District Electoral Area Member of ParliamentGord Johns

Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada

Library & civic lifeCivic life grade B⁻

No public library stands in Electoral Area F, Nanaimo: the closest, VIRL: Qualicum Beach Branch, is 6.3 km away

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

Full pageElectoral Area F, 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

Step out of Electoral Area F, Nanaimo into Englishman River Falls Park

Swimmers have 15 beaches within 5 km, Rock Beach the nearest. The closest of Canada’s national parks is Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, at 47 km. 36 protected areas lie within 10 km. Of the land within 10 km, 2.3% has protected status, below British Columbia’s towns (6.7%) and close to Canadian towns (2.3%).

2.3%of the land within 10 km protected

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

Electoral Area F, Nanaimo2.3%

British Columbia’s towns6.7%

Canadian towns2.3%

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

47 km

to Pacific Rim National Park Reserve

At the edge

to Englishman River Falls Park

beaches within 5 km

public protected areas within 10 km

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

Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas36 protected areas within 10 km · Parksville-Qualicum Beach Wildlife Management Area National & provincial parks47 km to a national park · Pacific Rim National Park Reserve Footpaths & routes1 named route · Judge's Route

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

Natural hazardsHazard risk B⁻

Shaking costs buildings in Electoral Area F, Nanaimo $0.40 a year per $1,000 of value, 13 times the typical town’s

Radon tests for the Central Vancouver Island health region

0.9% of radon tests in the survey area came in above the guideline, below British Columbia’s towns (1.8%) and Canadian towns (6.6%) alike. Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy has mapped the flood hazard here: one study on the national inventory. Burn scars are few around Electoral Area F, Nanaimo, with 1.1% of the land within 25 km touched by fire since 1986 (0.03% a year).

Lowwildfire bandB⁻Hazard risk Grade

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

Electoral Area F, Nanaimo0.9%

British Columbia’s towns1.8%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	Electoral Area F, Nanaimo	British Columbia	Canada
Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year	$0.40	$0.36	$0.030
Radon tests above the guideline	0.9%	1.8%	6.6%

$0.40

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

Low

wildfire band

2.2 km

to the nearest land burned since 1986

flood study on the national inventory

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

Earthquakes$0.40 a year per $1,000 · Canadian towns: $0.030 WildfireLow wildfire band · 1.1% 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

HealthHealth B⁻

Expect 79.8 years of life in the region around Electoral Area F, Nanaimo, 1.7 under the typical Canadian town

The three chronic conditions the survey tracks average 16% of adults, higher than British Columbia’s towns (15%) yet lower than Canadian towns (17%). The region has more smokers than British Columbia, just over one in ten adults to 8.9%. Adults here are less upbeat about their health than the province: 47% very good or excellent, against 50% in British Columbia. Measured from where Electoral Area F, Nanaimo’s residents live, the nearest hospital is 8.4 km away, beyond the typical 3.7 km.

47%very good or excellent healthB⁻Health Grade

Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised

Electoral Area F, Nanaimo47%

British Columbia’s towns50%

Canadian towns52%

Health	Electoral Area F, 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

8.4 km

from homes to a hospital, on average

12%

of adults smoke, age-standardised

5.5 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

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

Health survey47% very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised Getting care8.4 km to a hospital · A pharmacy 5.5 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

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Electoral Area F, Nanaimo

15pages on Electoral Area F, Nanaimo

The big questions

SafetyA⁻Crime Severity Index 45 Housing & costDHomes 8.7 × income Property pricesSchoolsA⁻11 schools within 3 km HealthB⁻Life expectancy 79.8 in its region Work & commuteC53% of adults in work Natural hazardsB⁻Wildfire band: low

Out and about

Outdoors2.3% of the land within 10 km protected AttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 23°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 49.6 HistoryTown hallFamous people

Famous people from around Electoral Area F, Nanaimo

No notable person born in Electoral Area F, Nanaimo is on our list; these were born in the towns around it.

How we find them →

John SavageBritish Columbia politician · born in Qualicum Beach · 1936–2018

Justin SorensenPlayer of American and Canadian football · born in Parksville · born 1986

Nicholas BennettCanadian Paralympic swimmer · born in Parksville · born 2003

Trevor HirschfieldCanadian wheelchair rugby player · born in Parksville · born 1983

Darren BerreclothCanadian mountain biker · born in Parksville · born 1981

Sascha BraunigCanadian artist · born in Qualicum Beach · born 1983

Photo credits

Justin Sorensen: Michael Tedesco, CC BY 2.0

Electoral Area F, Nanaimo’s neighbours

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

Qualicum BeachElectoral Area G, NanaimoParksvilleElectoral Area F, Nanaimo

How the neighbours grade

Town	People	km	Overall	Cost	Safety	Health
Electoral Area F, Nanaimo	8,810	—	C⁺	D	A⁻	B⁻
Qualicum Beach	9,640	6.8	B	D⁻	B⁺	B⁻
Electoral Area G, Nanaimo	8,412	7.6	B	D	A⁻	B⁻
Parksville	15,371	8.9	C	D⁻	C⁻	B

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

Questions about Electoral Area F, Nanaimo

Who are the people of Electoral Area F, Nanaimo?

3% of residents belong to a visible minority, against 15% for the median of Canadian towns; 7% have an Indigenous identity and 11% are immigrants.

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

Single-detached houses make up 78% of the homes here, where Canadian towns sit at 64%; 0% are in high-rise apartments. 30% of households are one person, and the average is 2.2.

Is Electoral Area F, Nanaimo growing?

It added people: 7,724 in 2016, 8,216 in 2021, 6.4% more, where the middle of Canadian towns grew 4.1%. Statistics Canada’s 2025 estimate is 8,810.

Is Electoral Area F, Nanaimo a young town or an old one?

Its median age is 49.6, where Canadian towns sit at 45.2.

About Electoral Area F, Nanaimo

Town in British Columbia

TownRatings counts Electoral Area F, Nanaimo as Statistics Canada does, as one municipality in British Columbia; the census, crime and housing figures all follow that boundary.

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

Population: 8,810 (people, 2025 estimate)
Province or territory: British Columbia
Census division: Nanaimo
Census subdivision: 5921032

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).