Port AlberniBritish Columbia
Its census division is Alberni-Clayoquot. It is a town of 19,671 residents in British Columbia.
Is Port Alberni a good place to live?
The data are hard on it. Crime runs high (D). Port Alberni’s overall grade is D−, better than 3% of Canadian towns. It ranks #239 of 250 in British Columbia. Prices are high against local incomes (D). Where it does best is walkability (A). The rest of its grades are middling: B− for health and B− for hazard risk.
Health is graded on the health region's survey figures and life expectancy, with the distance to hospital giving the town its own spread.
How Port Alberni grades
Each subject compares Port Alberni 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 →
What makes Port Alberni stand out
The 3 things Port Alberni does most differently from other towns.
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Port Alberni.
Violent crime weighs more on Port Alberni than on British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: a violent severity index of 248
Thefts, break-ins and damage came to 83.5 per 1,000 residents a year, higher than both British Columbia’s towns (31) and Canadian towns (31.2). The violent crime rate is 37.6 per 1,000 residents a year.
Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year
| 2023–2025 | Port Alberni | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Severity Index | 248 | 76 | 86 |
| Property crime per 1,000 | 83.5 | 31 | 31.2 |
| Violent crime | 37.6 | 12.5 | 12 |
Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average
Fewer households own their home in Port Alberni than in British Columbia’s towns or across Canadian towns: 69%
Shelter took 30% or more of income for 22% of households, close to British Columbia’s towns (21%) and above Canadian towns (18%). Owners put the median home at $400,000, about level with Canadian towns ($406,000) and below British Columbia’s towns ($720,000).
What homes were worth · The median owner’s estimate at the 2021 census
| Census 2021 | Port Alberni | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value, 2021 | $400,000 | $720,000 | $406,000 |
| Households owning their home | 69% | 76% | 74% |
| Rent as a share of income | 24% | 24% | 20% |
| Households spending 30%+ on shelter | 22% | 21% | 18% |
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: one figure for all of the Port Alberni metro area
Of Port Alberni’s 11 tested schools, 1 sit above the middle in British Columbia and 6 below
Its 3 km reach takes in 9 elementary schools, 1 secondary school and 3 alternative or adult schools, all of Port Alberni’s schooling. Schooling in French is on offer at one of the 13; in British Columbia, 2% of schools teach in it.
| School | Level | Students | System |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberni Elementary Middle fifth in British ColumbiaIn Port AlberniElementary | Elementary | – | English public |
| Alberni District Secondary Fourth fifth in British ColumbiaIn Port AlberniSecondary | Secondary | – | English public |
| des Grands-cedres FrenchTeaches in FrenchElementary | Elementary | – | French public |
| John Paul II Catholic School CatholicResults in the top fifth in British ColumbiaElementary | Elementary | – | Independent |
Schools by system · Schools within 3 km
| Schools within 3 km | Port Alberni | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| School boards | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Provincial school lists and results, 2025/26
Winters are mild in Port Alberni: January nights hold at 1.5°C, above British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns
Most of the snow comes in December, about 17 cm. Frost comes on 46 days a year, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (60) and Canadian towns (159). The frost-free season runs from 1 April to 6 November, 218 days. A normal December brings 194 mm of precipitation, more than any other month.
Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Normals, 1991–2020 | Port Alberni | 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 |
Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Comox)
Trips to work from Port Alberni are shorter than from British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: 18 min on average
The car took 89% of commuters, in line with British Columbia’s towns (87%) and Canadian towns (89%).
How working residents got to work · census 2021
| Census 2021 | Port Alberni | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip | 18 min | 26 min | 26 min |
| Car or van | 89% | 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.
More of Port Alberni’s residents have an Indigenous identity than in British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: 16%
6.2% of residents belong to a visible minority, below British Columbia’s towns (8.6%) and Canadian towns (15%) alike. Immigrants make up 10% of residents, lower than British Columbia’s towns (12%) yet higher than Canadian towns (6.4%).
Ages · Share of residents in each age group, Census 2021
Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over
Women and men · all residents
51.1% of Port Alberni’s residents are women
In 2021 there were 9,335 women to 8,925 men; Canada as a whole is 50.9% women.
| Port Alberni | British Columbia | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 14% | 14% | 16% |
| 15 to 64 | 59% | 64% | 64% |
| 65+ | 27% | 21% | 19% |
| No certificate, diploma or degree | 22% | 13% | 16% |
| Postsecondary qualification | 46% | 56% | 56% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; British Columbia and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+
What November brings in Port Alberni: 3°C at night, 9°C by day
The forecast on the Weather page is ECCC’s for Port Alberni. Rain and snow over a typical November come to 189 mm. July brings the warmest days, 23°C; February the coldest nights, 1°C.
Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| 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 |
ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Comox); the forecast is on the Weather page
Courtenay—Alberni was won by 8,431 votes in 2021, a tighter race than two in three ridings
Port Alberni is a city by Statistics Canada’s count of municipalities.
Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada
Port Alberni has two public libraries, VIRL: Port Alberni Branch and Port Alberni Branch
No library board reports for Port Alberni alone: its libraries belong to a county or regional system, whose figures cover many towns.
Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada
Expect 79.8 years of life in the region around Port Alberni, 1.7 under the typical Canadian town
Source area for health survey and life expectancy: the Central Vancouver Island Health Service Delivery Area
What sets Port Alberni apart within its region is a short trip to hospital, 2.2 km for the average resident (3.7 km typical). Smoking is commoner than in the province: 12% of adults, against 8.9% for British Columbia. In the health survey, 47% of adults in the region rated their health very good or excellent, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (50%) and Canadian towns (52%).
Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised
| Health | Port Alberni | 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
31 named trails run within 2 km of Port Alberni
For a national park, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is 43 km away. Swimmers have 4 beaches within 5 km, Scout Camp Beach the nearest. Sproat Lake Park is the closest provincial park, at 5.3 km. Parks and reserves take up 1.8% of the ground within 10 km, below British Columbia’s towns (6.7%) and Canadian towns (2.3%) alike.
Protected land · of the land within 10 km
| Outdoors | Port Alberni | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protected land within 10 km | 1.8% | 6.7% | 2.3% |
| Public protected areas within 10 km | 8 | 14 | 4 |
Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches
Shaking costs buildings in Port Alberni $0.63 a year per $1,000 of value, 21 times the typical town’s
Flood mapping exists: a study by Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District. Health Canada’s survey found radon above the guideline in 0.9% of homes, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (1.8%) and Canadian towns (6.6%). Wildfire is a moderate presence around Port Alberni: 2.1% of the land within 25 km has burned since 1986, 0.05% a year, short of the band that counts against Risk.
Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³
| Hazards | Port Alberni | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year | $0.63 | $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 · Radon tests: the Central Vancouver Island health region
Everything we know about Port Alberni
Alberni Pacific Railway and 10 more in and around Port Alberni
Museums, historic sites, parks, gardens and days out in and near Port Alberni, the best known first.
MuseumMcLean Mill3.8 km outside town, to the northPhotos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (1)
- McLean Mill: Dave Bonser, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Famous people from Port Alberni
26 notable people were born in Port Alberni.
Photo credits
Kim Campbell: Simon Fraser University - University Communications, CC BY 2.0 · Laurent Brossoit: TheAHL, CC BY 2.0 · Rick Hansen: Urban Mixer (Raj Taneja), CC BY-SA 2.0 · Colin Hansen: Province of British Columbia, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Davis Payne: Johnmaxmena2, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Ryan Van Poederooyen: Florian Stangl, CC BY 2.0
About Port Alberni
Town in British Columbia
TownRatings follows Statistics Canada’s map: Port Alberni is one municipality in British Columbia, figures and all.
Statistics Canada: population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155), Census of Population 2021, 2021 census boundaries.
- Population
- 19,671 (people, 2025 estimate)
- Province or territory
- British Columbia
- Census division
- Alberni-Clayoquot
- Census subdivision
- 5923008
Port Alberni’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Statistics Canada
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port Alberni | 19,671 | — | D− | D | D | B− |
| Electoral Area F, Alberni-Clayoquot | 2,141 | 3.4 | — | D | B+ | B− |
| Electoral Area E, Alberni-Clayoquot | 3,069 | 6 | B− | C− | B+ | B− |
| Electoral Area D, Alberni-Clayoquot | 1,875 | 12 | — | C− | B+ | B− |
People: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about Port Alberni
Who are the people of Port Alberni?
6% of residents belong to a visible minority, against 15% for the median of Canadian towns; 16% have an Indigenous identity and 10% are immigrants.
Is Port Alberni a young town or an old one?
The median resident is 49.2 years old, against 45.2 for the median of Canadian towns. 14% are under 15 and 27% are 65 or over.
Is Port Alberni growing?
Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses it went from 17,678 to 18,259 residents (up 3.3%; Canadian towns’ median: 4.1%), and Statistics Canada now estimates 19,671.
What kind of homes are in Port Alberni?
68% of homes are single-detached houses, against 64% for the median of Canadian towns, and 2% are in apartment buildings of five storeys or more. A household averages 2.1 people; 35% are one person living alone.
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).