SummerlandBritish Columbia

This town in British Columbia has a population of 12,343. Statistics Canada places it in the Okanagan-Similkameen census division.

4 places within 19 kmMap →

Photo: (WT-shared) Bulliver at wts wikivoyage · CC BY-SA 1.0

Population

12,343

people, 2025 estimate

Median age

54.4

years · British Columbia’s towns: 48

Postsecondary

57%

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

Walk, cycle, transit

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

Is Summerland a good place to live?

Summerland’s schools beat most (A−). Walking, cycling and public transport work well here (A−). The catch is cost of living (D−). Hazards are a real consideration (D−). Overall, that makes a B, better than 59% of Canadian towns. That places it #50 of 250 in British Columbia.

Health is graded on the health region's survey figures and life expectancy, with the distance to hospital giving the town its own spread. Wildfire lowers this town's Hazard risk Grade: a high share of the land around it has burned in the last 40 years.

StrongestA⁻Schools A⁻WalkabilityWeakestD⁻Hazard risk D⁻Cost of living

How Summerland grades

Each subject compares Summerland 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

Hazard riskAmong the weakest of the towns comparedD⁻Open →Cost of livingBased on what homes cost against what households earnD⁻Open →SchoolsSchools rank among the strongest comparedA⁻Open →WalkabilityNear the top of the towns comparedA⁻Open →Jobs & incomeBased on what households earn, poverty and workB⁺Open →HealthResidents are healthier than in most townsB⁺Open →SafetyNear typical for the towns comparedBOpen →

How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →

What makes Summerland stand out

The 3 things Summerland does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Hazard risk

Behind 97%

of Canadian towns on hazard risk

Its hazard risk grade: D−.

Cost of living

Behind 96%

of Canadian towns on cost of living

Its cost of living grade: D−.

Residents 65 and over

Who lives here

32% are 65 or over

Against 19% in the median of Canadian towns

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Summerland.

Natural hazardsHazard risk D⁻

Summerland earns a D− for hazard risk

Highwildfire bandD⁻Hazard risk Grade

Measured across the Okanagan health region: radon tests

Averaged over the years, quake damage costs $0.018 per $1,000 of buildings, lower than British Columbia’s towns ($0.36) and near Canadian towns ($0.030). In Health Canada’s survey, 17% of homes tested in the area exceeded 200 Bq/m³ (6.6% typical). Wildfire is a real hazard for Summerland: 17% of the land within 25 km has burned since 1986, 0.45% a year, in the high band. Okanagan Basin Water Board has mapped the flood hazard here: one study on the national inventory.

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

Summerland17%

British Columbia’s towns1.8%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	Summerland	British Columbia	Canada
Radon tests above the guideline	17%	1.8%	6.6%
Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year	$0.018	$0.36	$0.030

$0.018

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

High

wildfire band

0.2 km

to the nearest land burned since 1986

flood study on the national inventory

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

WildfireHigh wildfire band · 17% of the land within 25 km burned since 1986 FloodOne flood study on record Earthquakes$0.018 a year per $1,000 · Canadian towns: $0.030 Radon17% 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

HousingCost of living D⁻

Most households in Summerland own their home: 82%, more than in British Columbia’s towns or across Canadian towns

$650,000median home value, 2021D⁻Cost of living Grade

Owners put the median home at $650,000, lower than British Columbia’s towns ($720,000) yet higher than Canadian towns ($406,000). Rent took a quarter of household income, near British Columbia’s towns (24%) and higher than Canadian towns (20%).

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

Summerland$650,000

British Columbia$720,000

Canadian towns$406,000

Census 2021	Summerland	British Columbia	Canada
Households owning their home	82%	76%	74%
Rent as a share of income	25%	24%	20%
Median home value, 2021	$650,000	$720,000	$406,000
Households spending 30%+ on shelter	20%	21%	18%

$1,671

monthly rent for a two-bedroom

$930

median monthly shelter cost for owners, 2021

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

Owners and renters82% own their home Cost of living7.9 times household income · The median owner’s estimate, $650,000, against the median household income Renting$1,671 a month · A two-bedroom apartment, CMHC’s survey

Statistics Canada, Census 2021; CMHC Rental Market Survey via Statistics Canada · Values come from owners at the 2021 census and incomes from 2020, so they predate the later rise in rates.

Climate

Summer runs warm in Summerland: July highs of 29.2°C, above British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns

29.2°CJuly afternoons

Frosty days number 109 in a normal year, between British Columbia’s towns (60) and Canadian towns (159). Winter lows in Summerland average −3.2°C in January. Snow peaks in December: 20 cm in a normal year. June is the wettest month, with 44 mm of rain and snow on average.

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter2.8°C

Spring15.8°C

Summer27.4°C

Autumn14.5°C

Normals, 1991–2020	Summerland	British Columbia	Canada
July afternoon high	29.2°C	23.1°C	25.5°C
Precipitation a year	344 mm	1,152 mm	883 mm
January night low	−3.2°C	0.5°C	−13.5°C
Days with frost a year	109	60	159

62 cm

of snow a year

109

days with frost a year

160

frost-free days, 30 Apr to 8 Oct

days with precipitation a year

Full pageSummerland’s climate pageOpen the full Climate page

The yearJuly highs 29.2°C, January lows −3.2°C Rain and snow344 mm a year · Canadian towns: 883 mm Snow62 cm of snow a year Weather station17 km to the station · Penticton

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

SchoolsSchools A⁻

Independent schools are common around Summerland: 3 of 6

6schools within 3 kmA⁻Schools Grade

Within 3 km of Summerland are 5 elementary schools and 1 secondary school. The 5 with results split, 2 in the upper two fifths in British Columbia and 2 in the lower.

School	Level	Students	System
Summerland Elementary Fourth fifth in British ColumbiaIn SummerlandElementary	Elementary	–	English public
Unisus Senior School IndependentIn SummerlandSecondary	Secondary	–	Independent

See all 6 schools →

Schools by system · Schools within 3 km

English public3

Independent3

Schools within 3 km	Summerland	British Columbia	Canada
Nearest secondary school	2.4 km	1.8 km	1.2 km

2.4 km

to the nearest secondary school

Full pageSummerland’s schools pageOpen the full Schools page

Every school6 schools within 3 km · 5 elementary schools and 1 secondary school Results2 of 5 in the top two fifths · of the schools with results, placed against every school in British Columbia Language0 of 6 teach in French · 2% of schools in British Columbia Questions“What schools are there in Summerland?”

Provincial school lists and results, 2025/26

Work & commuteJobs & income B⁺

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

9%walk, cycle or take transit

The car took 88% of commuters, about level with both British Columbia’s towns (87%) and Canadian towns (89%).

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van88%

Walk7%

Bicycle1%

Public transit0%

Census 2021	Summerland	British Columbia	Canada
Average trip	21 min	26 min	26 min
Car or van	88%	87%	89%

$82,000

median household income, 2020

21%

worked from home, May 2021

46%

of commuters work inside the municipality

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

Unemployment8.2% unemployed · Of the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Getting to work9% walk, cycle or take transit Where people commute to1,230 commuters · The biggest flow out: to Penticton

Statistics Canada, Census 2021 (labour and commuting) · Counted in May 2021, under pandemic rules: fewer commutes and more people between jobs than in a normal year.

HealthHealth B⁺

Around Summerland, 52% of adults call their health very good or excellent

52%very good or excellent healthB⁺Health Grade

The town’s own part is the trip to care, and Summerland is well placed: 2.0 km to a hospital on average, against 3.7 km typical. Smoking is commoner than in the province: 12% of adults, against 8.9% for British Columbia. Arthritis, diabetes and high blood pressure affect 16% of the region’s adults on average, above British Columbia’s towns (15%) but below Canadian towns (17%). Across the region, life runs to 81.0 years on average: women 84.1, men 78.2, in 2022/2024. Summerland doesn’t get its own health survey and life expectancy figures; the ones here come from the Okanagan Health Service Delivery Area.

Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised

Summerland52%

British Columbia’s towns50%

Canadian towns52%

Health	Summerland	British Columbia	Canada
Smokers	12%	9%	12%
Chronic conditions (average share)	16%	15%	17%
Very good or excellent health	52%	50%	52%

2.0 km

from homes to a hospital, on average

12%

of adults smoke, age-standardised

1.8 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

Full pageSummerland’s health pageOpen the full Health page

Health survey52% very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised Getting care2.0 km to a hospital · A pharmacy 1.8 km away on average The wider areaLife expectancy: women 84.1, men 78.2 Conditions and habits16% with chronic conditions · adults, age-standardised

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

Who lives here

A median age of 54.4: Summerland is older than 94% of Canadian towns

54.4median age

Visible minorities make up 6% of the population, below British Columbia’s towns (8.6%) and Canadian towns (15%) alike. Immigrants make up 12% of residents, about level with British Columbia’s towns (12%) and above Canadian towns (6.4%).

SummerlandBritish ColumbiaCanada

British ColumbiaCanada

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

32%

Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over

No certificate, diploma or degree13%

Postsecondary qualification57%

Women and men · all residents

Women make up 52.3% of Summerland

5,745 men and 6,295 women lived here in 2021, against a share of women of 50.9% for Canada.

Who lives in Summerland
	Summerland	British Columbia	Canada
Under 15	13%	14%	16%
15 to 64	55%	64%	64%
65+	32%	21%	19%
No certificate, diploma or degree	13%	13%	16%
Postsecondary qualification	57%	56%	56%

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

Ages54.4 median age · 32% are 65 or over Households5,085 households · 2.3 people per household Immigrants12% are immigrants · 6% belong to a visible minority English and French7% speak both · 0% speak French but not English

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

SafetySafety B

Violent crime weighs less on Summerland than on British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: a violent severity index of 39

56Crime Severity Index

Violent incidents came to 10.3 per 1,000 residents a year, below both British Columbia’s towns (12.5) and Canadian towns (12). Property crime accounts for 27.2 incidents per 1,000 residents a year.

Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year

202374

202452

202543

2023–2025	Summerland	British Columbia	Canada
Violent Crime Severity Index	39	76	86
Property crime per 1,000	27.2	31	31.2
Violent crime	10.3	12.5	12

non-violent Crime Severity Index

13%

of incidents cleared, 2023–25

Full pageSummerland’s safety reportOpen the full Safety report

Safety56 Crime Severity Index · The index weighs each crime Summerland’s police recorded by how serious it is.Questions“Is Summerland safe?”

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

Outdoors

Summerland has more protected land around it than nearly 9 in 10 Canadian towns

11%of the land within 10 km protected

Public parks and reserves within 10 km: 18, above British Columbia’s towns (14) and Canadian towns (4) alike. National parks are all over 100 km off. Swimmers have 45 beaches within 5 km, Crescent Beach the nearest.

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

Summerland11%

British Columbia’s towns6.7%

Canadian towns2.3%

Outdoors	Summerland	British Columbia	Canada
Protected land within 10 km	11%	6.7%	2.3%
Public protected areas within 10 km	18	14	4

At the edge

to Sun-Oka Beach Park

beaches within 5 km

public protected areas within 10 km

Full pageSummerland’s outdoors pageOpen the full Outdoors page

Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas25 protected areas within 10 km · Okanagan Mountain Park National & provincial parksAt the edge to a provincial park · Sun-Oka Beach Park

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

Weather

Expect November days around 7°C in Summerland, nights around freezing

7°Ca normal November afternoon

Rain and snow over a typical November come to 28 mm. Snowfall in a normal November: 8 cm. A normal December brings highs of 2°C, lows of −3°C. Also worth knowing: the year peaks in July (29°C) and bottoms out in January (−3°C).

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

November7°C

December2°C

January2°C

February5°C

Season	High	Low	Rain and snow
Winter	3°C	−3°C	77 mm
Spring	16°C	3°C	87 mm
Summer	27°C	12°C	99 mm
Autumn	15°C	4°C	82 mm

0°C

a normal November night

28 mm

of rain and snow in a normal November

Full pageSummerland’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 January

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

Town hall

Amelia Boultbee represents Summerland in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

Locally, Summerland is run as a district municipality.

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

Member of ParliamentDan Albas Provincial legislaturePenticton-Summerland

Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada

Library & civic lifeCivic life grade A⁻

ORL: Summerland Branch is Summerland’s public library

From the centre of Summerland, it is 0.3 km away.

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

The libraries1 Libraries Places to belong2.8 charities per 1,000 residents

Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada

History

Canada’s registers list 1 historic place in Summerland

1historic place

19% of its homes were built before 1961, above British Columbia’s towns (11%) and Canadian towns (18%) alike.

Historic places by designation · inside the town

Highest designations0

Other federal designations1

Provincial and local listings0

Among them

Former Superintendent’s Residence #12 1923

1923

oldest construction date on the record

19%

of homes built before 1961 · Canadian towns 18%

Heritage	Summerland	British Columbia	Canada
Homes built before 1961	19%	11%	18%

Full pageSummerland’s history pageOpen the full History page

On the registersOne historic place inside the town Older homes19% built before 1961 · Canadian towns: 18%Questions“How many historic places does Summerland have?”

Canadian Register of Historic Places, Directory of Federal Heritage Designations, Québec’s Répertoire du patrimoine culturel, Wikidata; Census 2021 homes by period

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Summerland

15pages on Summerland

The big questions

SafetyBCrime Severity Index 56 Housing & costD⁻Homes 7.9 × income Property pricesSchoolsA⁻6 schools within 3 km HealthB⁺Life expectancy 81 in its region Work & commuteB⁺50% of adults in work Natural hazardsD⁻Wildfire band: high

Out and about

Outdoors11% of the land within 10 km protected AttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 29°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 54.4 HistoryOne place on the heritage registers Town hallFamous people

Nearby attractions

Kettle Valley Steam Railway and 4 more in and around Summerland

From museums to parks and historic sites: Summerland’s places to visit and those just beyond its edge, most famous first.

All attractions →

Heritage railwayKettle Valley Steam Railwayin town MuseumMuseumSummerland Museum and Archivesin town Heritage railwayHeritage railway#3716in town Heritage railwayHeritage railway#803in town MuseumMuseumSummerland Museum & Heritage Societyin town

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

Photo credits (1)

Kettle Valley Steam Railway: BC Model Railroading, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Famous people from Summerland

8 notable people were born in Summerland.

See all 8 →

Nigel BowenAustralian politician and judge · 1911–1994

Steve O'RourkeCanadian ice hockey player and coach · born 1974

Shane HeyerCanadian ice hockey official · born 1964

Larry HaleCanadian ice hockey defenceman · 1941–2019

Nicole DunsdonCanadian model · born 1970

Rylund JohnsonCanadian politician

Photo credits

Nigel Bowen: Australian News and Information Bureau, Public domain · Steve O'Rourke: Jenn G from Seattle, WA, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Shane Heyer: Marcusvfx, CC BY-SA 3.0

About Summerland

Town in British Columbia

The boundary here is Statistics Canada’s: Summerland 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: 12,343 (people, 2025 estimate)
Province or territory: British Columbia
Census division: Okanagan-Similkameen
Census subdivision: 5907035

Summerland’s neighbours

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

Electoral Area F, Okanagan-SimilkameenNaramataPenticton 1PentictonSummerland

How the neighbours grade

Town	People	km	Overall	Cost	Safety	Health
Summerland	12,343	—	B	D⁻	B	B⁺
Electoral Area F, Okanagan-Similkameen	2,149	6.7	—	C	C⁺	B
Naramata	2,077	7.5	—	D	C⁺	B
Penticton 1	2,147	15	—	—	—	B⁺
Penticton	39,068	15	C	D⁻	D	B⁺

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

Questions about Summerland

How old are the people of Summerland?

The median resident is 54.4 years old, against 45.2 for the median of Canadian towns. 13% are under 15 and 32% are 65 or over.

Who are the people of Summerland?

At the 2021 census, 12% were immigrants and 6% belonged to a visible minority (Canadian towns’ median: 15%). 5% identify as First Nations, Métis or Inuit.

What kind of homes are in Summerland?

Single-detached houses make up 72% of the homes here, where Canadian towns sit at 64%; 0% are in high-rise apartments. 27% of households are one person, and the average is 2.3.

Has Summerland grown?

Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses it went from 11,615 to 12,042 residents (up 3.7%; Canadian towns’ median: 4.1%), and Statistics Canada now estimates 12,343.

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).