SparwoodBritish Columbia

Sparwood’s household incomes are higher than in 93% of Canadian towns

The average trip to work took 25 min, lower than British Columbia’s towns (26 min) and near Canadian towns (26 min). Driving is how 90% of commuters got to work at the census.

January lows in Sparwood: −10.7°C, against 0.5°C in British Columbia’s towns and −13.5°C in Canadian towns

A normal winter brings 280 cm of snow, above British Columbia’s towns (51 cm) and Canadian towns (141 cm) alike. Between the last spring frost, 30 May, and the first in autumn, 7 September, lie 98 days. Sparwood sees July afternoons of 24.9°C on average. Most of the snow comes in December, about 60 cm.

Renting in Sparwood costs 15% of household income, less than in British Columbia’s towns and across Canadian towns

11% of households spent 30% or more of their income on shelter, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (21%) and Canadian towns (18%). Home ownership covers 72% of households.

19% of homes tested in Sparwood’s area are above the radon guideline

Shared with the rest of the East Kootenay health region: radon tests

The expected yearly loss to earthquakes is $0.025 for each $1,000 of buildings, lower than British Columbia’s towns ($0.36) and near Canadian towns ($0.030). Flood mapping exists: 2 studies, most recently by Regional District of East Kootenay. The burn rate around Sparwood is 0.05% a year (2% of the land within 25 km since 1986), a moderate band.

Violent crime weighs more where Sparwood is policed than in British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: a violent severity index of 122

The force’s area logs 22.2 thefts, break-ins and acts of damage per 1,000 residents a year. Across the area its police cover, the Crime Severity Index averaged 80 over 2023–25, close to British Columbia’s towns (83) and above Canadian towns (67). Its police area records 14.6 violent incidents per 1,000 residents a year.

A town of families: 20% of people in Sparwood are under 15, more than in British Columbia’s towns and across Canadian towns

6.3% of residents came to Canada as immigrants, about level with Canadian towns (6.4%) and below British Columbia’s towns (12%). Over-65s are 14% of the population.

A normal November in Sparwood runs from −6°C to 2°C

In November, the normal is 72 mm of rain and snow. Snow is normal by November, about 47 cm over the month. By December, a normal day reaches −3°C and a night falls to −11°C. For today and the week ahead, the Weather page carries ECCC’s Sparwood forecast.

Rob Morrison (Conservative Party of Canada) represents Sparwood in Ottawa as MP for Columbia—Kootenay—Southern Rockies

Sparwood sends one MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly, the provincial or territorial legislature) to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from Kootenay-Rockies, though no open record we can reuse gives the name.

Sparwood earns a B+ for civic life grade

Sparwood Public Library has one location for the 5,520 people it serves.

Protected areas cover 23% of the country around Sparwood

Waterton Lakes National Park is the closest national park, 49 km from town. Within 10 km, the count of public protected areas is 8, lower than British Columbia’s towns (14) yet higher than Canadian towns (4).

Sparwood earns a B− for schools

Measured from the centre, the closest high school lies 32 km off, above both British Columbia’s towns (1.8 km) and Canadian towns (1.2 km).

The nearest hospital is 28 km from the average home in Sparwood

A child born in the region can expect 80.5 years, about level with British Columbia’s towns (81.0) and below Canadian towns (81.5). Smoking is commoner than in the province: 13% of adults, against 8.9% for British Columbia. Adults here are more upbeat about their health than the province: 57% very good or excellent, against 50% in British Columbia.