Oak BayBritish Columbia

Few places match Oak Bay for health: it beats 98% of Canadian towns

The health survey and life expectancy numbers here cover the South Vancouver Island Health Service Delivery Area

For Oak Bay itself the measure is access, and it scores well: 1.4 km to the nearest hospital, where 3.7 km is typical. Smoking is rarer than in the province: 6% of adults, against 8.9% for British Columbia. In the health survey, 55% of adults in the region rated their health very good or excellent, higher than both British Columbia’s towns (50%) and Canadian towns (52%). The region’s 2022/2024 life expectancy is 82.7, with women at 84.9 and men at 80.5.

Oak Bay’s Violent Crime Severity Index, 23, runs below British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns

Violent incidents came to 3.8 per 1,000 residents a year, below British Columbia’s towns (12.5) and Canadian towns (12) alike. Thefts, break-ins and damage add up to 18.9 per 1,000 residents a year.

Measured against local pay, Oak Bay costs more to live in than 97% of Canadian towns

Source area for rent as a share of income and monthly rent for a two-bedroom: the Victoria metro area

Rent took 24% of household income, about level with British Columbia’s towns (24%) and above Canadian towns (20%). Shelter took 30% or more of income for 23% of households, above both British Columbia’s towns (21%) and Canadian towns (18%).

Trips to work from Oak Bay are shorter than from British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: 21 min on average

17 above the middle in British Columbia, 7 below: Oak Bay’s 32 tested schools

Within 3 km of Oak Bay are 29 elementary schools, 4 secondary schools, 4 schools for every grade and 1 alternative or adult school.

Oak Bay has cooler summers than British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: July highs of 20.6°C

Winter lows average 3.8°C in January, above British Columbia’s towns (0.5°C) and Canadian towns (−13.5°C) alike. A normal December brings 12 cm of snow, the most of any month. For the wettest month, look to November: 129 mm on average.

Older residents shape Oak Bay: 34% are 65 or over, above British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns

Children are 13% of the town. 2% of residents have an Indigenous identity, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (5%) and Canadian towns (2.8%).

Earthquake risk in Oak Bay runs 27 times the typical Canadian town’s: $0.81 per $1,000 a year

In Health Canada’s survey, just 1.8% of homes tested in the area exceeded 200 Bq/m³ (6.6% typical). The national inventory holds one flood map for it, from Capital Regional District. Fire seldom reaches Oak Bay: since 1986, 0.1% of the land within 25 km has burned (0.001% a year).

In Oak Bay, November normally means 10°C afternoons and 5°C nights

Over the year, August is warmest at 21°C by day and February coldest at 4°C by night. Looking ahead to December, expect highs near 8°C and lows near 4°C. November normally sees 129 mm of precipitation. Hour-by-hour figures come from ECCC’s Gonzales Point forecast, on the Weather page.

Oak Bay’s MP is Will Greaves (Liberal Party of Canada), for Victoria

Across British Columbia, 20 of the 43 MPs sit with the Liberal Party of Canada.

GVPL: Oak Bay Branch is Oak Bay’s public library

It sits 0.4 km from the centre of Oak Bay.

A national park 11 km from Oak Bay: Gulf Islands National Park Reserve

26 beaches are mapped within 5 km, the nearest Willows Beach. The nearest provincial park, Discovery Island Marine Park, is 3.6 km away. Out to 10 km from the town’s edge, 5.4% of the land is protected; 2.3% is typical for a Canadian town. 17 protected areas lie within 10 km.

In Oak Bay, 59% of homes go back before 1961

The registers put 3 historic places inside its boundary, 2 of them of the highest rank. Chinese Cemetery at Harling Point, begun in 1903, is the oldest by its record. The list takes in a heritage lighthouse.