SquamishBritish Columbia

TownGrade

A⁻

#395 of 2,556

28,578 people call this town in British Columbia home. It is part of Squamish-Lillooet, a census division.

1 place within 19 kmMap →

Photo: The original uploader was Damieng at English Wikipedia . · CC BY-SA 3.0

Population

28,578

people, 2025 estimate

Median age

37.6

years · British Columbia’s towns: 48

Postsecondary

65%

of residents 15 and over hold a postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree · Canadian towns: 56%

Walk, cycle, transit

12%

walk, cycle or take transit to work · Canadian towns: 8%

Is Squamish a good place to live?

Health is a strength (A+). The drawback is cost of living (D−). All told, that adds up to an A− overall and a rank of #12 of 250 in British Columbia. It comes out better than just over four fifths of Canadian towns. Its remaining grades are unremarkable: C+ for safety and C+ 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.

StrongestA⁺Health A⁺Schools AJobs & incomeWeakestD⁻Cost of living

How Squamish grades

Each subject compares Squamish 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

HealthAmong the healthiest places comparedA⁺Open →SchoolsNear the top of the towns comparedA⁺Open →Cost of livingGraded on home prices against local incomesD⁻Open →Jobs & incomeIncomes and work are among the strongest comparedAOpen →WalkabilityAmong the best of the towns comparedAOpen →Hazard riskNear typical for the towns comparedC⁺Open →SafetyGraded on crime per residentC⁺Open →

How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →

What makes Squamish stand out

The 3 things Squamish does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Immigrants

Who lives here

20% are immigrants

Midway across Canadian towns: 6%

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

Population growth, 2016 to 2021

Growth

+22% more people than in 2016

Where the typical figure for Canadian towns is 4%

Statistics Canada, Census 2016 and 2021

Health

Better than 99%

of Canadian towns on health

Its health grade: A+.

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Squamish.

HealthHealth A⁺

Health in Squamish beats almost every Canadian town

59%very good or excellent healthA⁺Health Grade

Measured across the North Shore/Coast Garibaldi Health Service Delivery Area: health survey and life expectancy

Measured from where Squamish’s residents live, a hospital is 3.7 km away, near the 3.7 km most towns see. The three chronic conditions the survey tracks average 12% of adults, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (15%) and Canadian towns (17%). Adults here are more upbeat about their health than the province: 59% very good or excellent, against 50% in British Columbia. Statistics Canada puts the region’s life expectancy at 84.3, women 86.3 and men 82.3 (2022/2024).

Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised

Squamish59%

British Columbia’s towns50%

Canadian towns52%

Health	Squamish	British Columbia	Canada
Very good or excellent health	59%	50%	52%
Chronic conditions (average share)	12%	15%	17%
Life expectancy at birth	84.3	81.0	81.5
Smokers	6.5%	9%	12%

84.3

years of life expectancy, 2022/2024

6.5%

of adults smoke, age-standardised

3.2 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

Full pageSquamish’s health pageOpen the full Health page

Health survey59% very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised Getting care3.7 km to a hospital · A pharmacy 3.2 km away on average The wider areaLife expectancy: women 86.3, men 82.3 Conditions and habits12% with chronic conditions · adults, age-standardised

Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities

SchoolsSchools A⁺

Of Squamish’s 11 tested schools, 6 sit above the middle in British Columbia and 3 below

15schools within 3 kmA⁺Schools Grade

In or within 3 km of Squamish: 10 elementary schools, 1 secondary school, 2 schools for every grade and 2 alternative or adult schools. One of the 15 teaches in French, against 2% of schools in British Columbia. Teenagers have 2.8 km to go to the closest secondary school, above both British Columbia’s towns (1.8 km) and Canadian towns (1.2 km).

School	Level	Students	System
Brackendale Elementary Middle fifth in British ColumbiaIn SquamishElementary	Elementary	–	English public
Howe Sound Secondary Second fifth in British ColumbiaIn SquamishSecondary	Secondary	–	English public
Les Aiglons FrenchTeaches in FrenchAll grades	All grades	–	French public
Skyridge Montessori Elementary IndependentResults in the top fifth in British ColumbiaAll grades	All grades	–	Independent

See all 15 schools →

Schools by system · Schools within 3 km

English public10

Independent4

French public1

Schools within 3 km	Squamish	British Columbia	Canada
School boards	2	2	3
Nearest secondary school	2.8 km	1.8 km	1.2 km

2.8 km

to the nearest secondary school

Full pageSquamish’s schools pageOpen the full Schools page

Results6 of 11 in the top two fifths · of the schools with results, placed against every school in British Columbia Every school15 schools within 3 km · 10 elementary schools, 1 secondary school, 2 schools for every grade and 2 alternative or adult schools Language1 of 15 teach in French · 2% of schools in British Columbia The boards2 school boards · SD 48 Sea to Sky Questions“What schools are there in Squamish?”

Provincial school lists and results, 2025/26

HousingCost of living D⁻

Measured against local pay, Squamish costs more to live in than 96% of Canadian towns

$1,000,000median home value, 2021D⁻Cost of living Grade

25% of households spent 30% or more of their income on shelter, above both British Columbia’s towns (21%) and Canadian towns (18%). Home ownership covers 70% of households. Squamish doesn’t get its own rent as a share of income and monthly rent for a two-bedroom figures; the ones here come from the Squamish metro area.

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

Squamish$1,000,000

British Columbia$720,000

Canadian towns$406,000

Census 2021	Squamish	British Columbia	Canada
Median home value, 2021	$1,000,000	$720,000	$406,000
Households spending 30%+ on shelter	25%	21%	18%
Rent as a share of income	23%	24%	20%
Households owning their home	70%	76%	74%

$2,179

monthly rent for a two-bedroom

$2,140

median monthly shelter cost for owners, 2021

Full pageSquamish’s cost of living pageOpen the full Cost of living page

Cost of living8.9 times household income · The median owner’s estimate, $1,000,000, against the median household income Renting$2,179 a month · A two-bedroom apartment, CMHC’s survey Owners and renters70% own their home

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.

Work & commuteJobs & income A

Household incomes in Squamish top those of 94% of Canadian towns

12%walk, cycle or take transit

Commutes averaged 28 min, close to British Columbia’s towns (26 min) and above Canadian towns (26 min). 85% of commuters took the car to work at the census.

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van85%

Walk6%

Bicycle4%

Public transit2%

Census 2021	Squamish	British Columbia	Canada
Average trip	28 min	26 min	26 min
Car or van	85%	87%	89%

$111,000

median household income, 2020

27%

worked from home, May 2021

64%

of commuters work inside the municipality

Full pageSquamish’s work & commute pageOpen the full Work & commute page

Unemployment6.8% unemployed · Of the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Getting to work12% walk, cycle or take transit Where people commute to630 commuters · The biggest flow out: to Whistler

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.

Climate

January nights in Squamish drop to −0.9°C (British Columbia towns 0.5°C, Canadian towns −13.5°C)

24.5°CJuly afternoons

Gardeners get 192 frost-free days, from 19 April to 28 October. Frosty days number 74 in a normal year, between British Columbia’s towns (60) and Canadian towns (159). A July afternoon in Squamish typically reaches 24.5°C. A normal December brings 14 cm of snow, the most of any month.

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter5.3°C

Spring14.6°C

Summer23.4°C

Autumn14.1°C

Normals, 1991–2020	Squamish	British Columbia	Canada
Precipitation a year	2,344 mm	1,152 mm	883 mm
January night low	−0.9°C	0.5°C	−13.5°C
Days with frost a year	74	60	159
Snowfall a year	37 cm	51 cm	141 cm

37 cm

of snow a year

days with frost a year

192

frost-free days, 19 Apr to 28 Oct

148

days with precipitation a year

Full pageSquamish’s climate pageOpen the full Climate page

The yearJuly highs 24.5°C, January lows −0.9°C Rain and snow2,344 mm a year · Canadian towns: 883 mm Snow37 cm of snow a year Weather station5.5 km to the station · Squamish

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

Who lives here

Children make up 19% of Squamish, above British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns

37.6median age

People 65 and over make up just over a tenth of the town, below both British Columbia’s towns (21%) and Canadian towns (19%). Visible minorities make up 15% of the population, higher than British Columbia’s towns (8.6%) and near Canadian towns (15%).

SquamishBritish ColumbiaCanada

British ColumbiaCanada

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

19%

Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over

No certificate, diploma or degree9%

Postsecondary qualification65%

Women and men · all residents

49.5% of Squamish’s residents are women

In 2021 there were 11,780 women to 12,040 men; Canada as a whole is 50.9% women.

Who lives in Squamish
	Squamish	British Columbia	Canada
Under 15	19%	14%	16%
15 to 64	70%	64%	64%
65+	12%	21%	19%
No certificate, diploma or degree	8.8%	13%	16%
Postsecondary qualification	65%	56%	56%

Full pageSquamish’s Who lives here pageOpen the full Who lives here page

Ages37.6 median age · 12% are 65 or over Households9,190 households · 2.6 people per household Immigrants20% are immigrants · 15% belong to a visible minority English and French13% speak both · 0.1% speak French but not English

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

Outdoors

Protected areas cover 30% of the country around Squamish

30%of the land within 10 km protected

The tally of protected areas open to the public within 10 km is 18, above both British Columbia’s towns (14) and Canadian towns (4). The nearest national park is Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, 85 km away. Inside the town itself, 21% of the land is protected. For walks, 3 named routes run within 2 km, such as the Sea to Sky Trail and Shannon Basin Loop.

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

Squamish30%

British Columbia’s towns6.7%

Canadian towns2.3%

Outdoors	Squamish	British Columbia	Canada
Protected land within 10 km	30%	6.7%	2.3%
Public protected areas within 10 km	18	14	4

85 km

to Gulf Islands National Park Reserve

At the edge

to Alice Lake Park

beaches within 5 km

public protected areas within 10 km

Full pageSquamish’s outdoors pageOpen the full Outdoors page

Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas20 protected areas within 10 km · Garibaldi Park National & provincial parks85 km to a national park · Gulf Islands National Park Reserve Footpaths & routes3 named routes · Sea to Sky Trail

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

Natural hazardsHazard risk C⁺

Earthquake risk in Squamish runs 9 times the typical Canadian town’s: $0.28 per $1,000 a year

Lowwildfire bandC⁺Hazard risk Grade

Wildfire is rare near Squamish: 0.4% of the land within 25 km has burned since 1986, a burn rate of 0.009% a year. In Health Canada’s survey, just 2.5% of homes tested in the area exceeded 200 Bq/m³ (6.6% typical). The national inventory holds 3 flood maps for it, the newest from Squamish Lillooet Regional District.

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

Squamish2.5%

British Columbia’s towns1.8%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	Squamish	British Columbia	Canada
Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year	$0.28	$0.36	$0.030
Radon tests above the guideline	2.5%	1.8%	6.6%

$0.28

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

Low

wildfire band

0.2 km

to the nearest land burned since 1986

flood studies on the national inventory

Full pageSquamish’s flood & hazards pageOpen the full Flood & hazards page

Earthquakes$0.28 a year per $1,000 · Canadian towns: $0.030 WildfireLow wildfire band · 0.4% of the land within 25 km burned since 1986 Flood3 flood studies on record Radon2.5% 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 · Radon tests: one figure for all of the North Shore/Coast Garibaldi health region

SafetySafety C⁺

Squamish is graded a C+ for safety

70Crime Severity Index

Police recorded 13.9 violent incidents per 1,000 residents a year, above British Columbia’s towns (12.5) and Canadian towns (12) alike. For violence alone the index was 62, below British Columbia’s towns (76) and Canadian towns (86) alike.

Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year

202378

202467

202565

2023–2025	Squamish	British Columbia	Canada
Violent Crime Severity Index	62	76	86
Violent crime	13.9	12.5	12

non-violent Crime Severity Index

17%

of incidents cleared, 2023–25

Full pageSquamish’s safety reportOpen the full Safety report

Safety70 Crime Severity Index · The index weighs each crime Squamish’s police recorded by how serious it is.Questions“Is Squamish safe?”

Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average

Weather

In Squamish, November normally means 8°C afternoons and 2°C nights

8°Ca normal November afternoon

The month after, December, normally sees 4°C afternoons and −1°C nights. Expect around 3 cm of snow in November. Precipitation in November averages 383 mm. July brings the warmest days, 25°C; December the coldest nights, −1°C.

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

November8°C

December4°C

January5°C

February8°C

Season	High	Low	Rain and snow
Winter	5°C	−1°C	914 mm
Spring	15°C	4°C	483 mm
Summer	23°C	12°C	168 mm
Autumn	14°C	5°C	779 mm

2°C

a normal November night

383 mm

of rain and snow in a normal November

Full pageSquamish’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 December

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

Town hall

Squamish’s MP is Patrick Weiler (Liberal Party of Canada), for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country

Squamish is a district municipality by Statistics Canada’s count of municipalities.

Full pageSquamish’s town hall & politics pageOpen the full Town hall & politics page

Provincial legislatureWest Vancouver-Sea to Sky

Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada

Library & civic lifeCivic life grade B

Squamish Public Library is Squamish’s public library

Squamish Public Library has one location for the 29,659 people it serves.

Full pageSquamish’s library & civic life pageOpen the full Library & civic life page

A year at the library4.7 visits per person served The libraries1 Libraries Places to belong1.2 charities per 1,000 residents

Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Squamish

15pages on Squamish

The big questions

SafetyC⁺Crime Severity Index 70 Housing & costD⁻Homes 8.9 × income Property pricesSchoolsA⁺15 schools within 3 km HealthA⁺Life expectancy 84.3 in its region Work & commuteA72% of adults in work Natural hazardsC⁺Wildfire band: low

Out and about

Outdoors30% of the land within 10 km protected AttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 25°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 37.6 HistoryTown hallFamous people

Nearby attractions

Railway Museum of British Columbia and 7 more in and around Squamish

Sights in Squamish and close by, ordered by how widely each is known.

All attractions →

Heritage railwayRailway Museum of British Columbiain town Art galleryArt galleryBrakendale Art Galleryin town AttractionAttractionSea to Sky Gondolain town AttractionAttractionSquamish Canyonin town Historic siteHistoric siteMurrin Provincial Park Pictographin town Heritage railwayHeritage railwayRoyal Hudson 2860in town

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

Photo credits (1)

Railway Museum of British Columbia: Ymblanter, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Famous people from Squamish

10 notable people were born in Squamish.

See all 10 →

Jackson GoldstoneCanadian cyclist · born 2004

Mikayla MartinCanadian skicrosser · 1997–2019

Sleepy TomMusical artist · born 1990

Miranda MillerCanadian cyclist · born 1990

Joe CapilanoSquamish leader · 1850–1910

Mike CarneyCanadian alpine skier · born 1966

Photo credits

Jackson Goldstone: Stephen LaBonte, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Mikayla Martin: Wendymonica, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Sleepy Tom: Tonewise, CC BY-SA 4.0

About Squamish

Town in British Columbia

The boundary here is Statistics Canada’s: Squamish is one census subdivision in British Columbia, and TownRatings describes all of it.

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

Population: 28,578 (people, 2025 estimate)
Province or territory: British Columbia
Census division: Squamish-Lillooet
Census subdivision: 5931006

Squamish’s neighbours

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

Electoral Area D, Squamish-LillooetSquamish

How the neighbours grade

Town	People	km	Overall	Cost	Safety	Health
Squamish	28,578	—	A⁻	D⁻	C⁺	A⁺
Electoral Area D, Squamish-Lillooet	1,055	4.1	—	D⁻	B	A⁺

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

Questions about Squamish

Is Squamish growing?

Yes: the census counted 19,497 in 2016 and 23,819 in 2021, a rise of 22.2%, against 4.1% for the median of Canadian towns. The 2025 estimate is 28,578.

What kind of homes are in Squamish?

Single-detached houses make up 41% of the homes here, where Canadian towns sit at 64%; 7% are in high-rise apartments. 24% of households are one person, and the average is 2.6.

How old are the people of Squamish?

The median resident is 37.6 years old, against 45.2 for the median of Canadian towns. 19% are under 15 and 12% are 65 or over.

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).