SaanichBritish Columbia

Renting in Saanich eats 27% of household income, more than in British Columbia’s towns and across Canadian towns

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

69% of households own their home, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (76%) and Canadian towns (74%). Shelter took 30% or more of income for nearly a quarter of households, above both British Columbia’s towns (21%) and Canadian towns (18%).

Few places match Saanich for health: it beats 97% of Canadian towns

Measured across the South Vancouver Island Health Service Delivery Area: health survey and life expectancy

The survey finds 55% of adults in very good or excellent health, above British Columbia’s towns (50%) and Canadian towns (52%) alike. The region has fewer smokers than British Columbia, 6% of adults to 8.9%. Life expectancy in the region is 82.7 years (84.9 for women, 80.5 for men, 2022/2024). For Saanich itself the measure is access: 2.7 km to the nearest hospital, much like the typical 3.7 km.

Commuters in Saanich have a short way to work, 21 min on average, less than in British Columbia’s towns and across Canadian towns

77% of commuters drove, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (87%) and Canadian towns (89%).

Winters are mild in Saanich: January nights hold at 3.4°C, above British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns

For the wettest month, look to November: 123 mm on average. There are 19 days of frost in a typical year, below British Columbia’s towns (60) and Canadian towns (159) alike. Midsummer afternoons in Saanich peak at about 23.7°C. A normal December brings 12 cm of snow, the most of any month.

Violent crime weighs less on Saanich than on British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: a violent severity index of 50

Property crime ran at 19.9 incidents per 1,000 residents a year, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (31) and Canadian towns (31.2). Per 1,000 residents, 9.1 violent crimes are recorded each year.

Schools in Saanich: 4 boards, side by side

2 of the 83 teach in French, against 2% of schools in British Columbia. Of its 73 tested schools, 34 sit in the top two fifths in British Columbia and 22 in the bottom two. In or within 3 km of Saanich: 60 elementary schools, 10 secondary schools, 6 schools for every grade and 7 alternative or adult schools.

Gulf Islands National Park Reserve is 5.8 km from Saanich

Biggest among them: Greater Victoria Water Supply Area, 20,620 ha, 7.7 km off. 43 protected areas lie within 10 km. Of the land within 10 km, 11% has protected status, higher than both British Columbia’s towns (6.7%) and Canadian towns (2.3%). Protected areas take in 9.4% of the town itself.

Earthquake risk in Saanich runs 25 times the typical Canadian town’s: $0.76 per $1,000 a year

The national inventory holds one flood map for it, from Capital Regional District. Fewer homes than usual carry radon here, 1.8% over the guideline where the typical town has 6.6%. Wildfire is rare near Saanich: 0.2% of the land within 25 km has burned since 1986, a burn rate of 0.005% a year.

Expect November days around 10°C in Saanich, nights around 5°C

In November, the normal is 123 mm of rain and snow. The month after, December, normally sees 8°C afternoons and 3°C nights. Expect around 4 cm of snow in November. At the extremes, July afternoons reach 24°C and February nights 3°C.

Saanich is split between 3 federal ridings, chiefly Saanich—Gulf Islands and Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke

8 public library branches serve Saanich

Among them: Greater Victoria Public Library - Bruce Hutchison Branch, GVPL: Emily Carr Branch, GVPL: Nellie McClung Branch and 5 more.

Visible minorities make up more of Saanich than of British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: 25%

Those 65 and older account for 23% of residents. Children under 15 make up 13%, below British Columbia’s towns (14%) and Canadian towns (16%) alike.

Heritage in Saanich: 2 historic places, all of the highest rank

The earliest construction date, 1854, belongs to Craigflower Schoolhouse.