Electoral Area A, Sunshine CoastBritish Columbia

TownGrade

C⁻

#2,184 of 2,556

A town of 3,256 in British Columbia. Between 2016 and 2021, its population grew by 16%.

1 place within 19 kmMap →

Photo: Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center · Public domain

Population

3,256

people, 2025 estimate

Median age

61.2

years · British Columbia’s towns: 48

Postsecondary

53%

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 Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast a good place to live?

Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast grades low on several counts. Its lowest grade is for cost of living (D−). The town’s overall grade of C− puts it better than a fifth of Canadian towns, #197 of 250 in British Columbia. Jobs & income is weaker too (D). People here tend to be in good health (A). Its remaining grades are unremarkable: C+ for schools, B for walkability and B for hazard risk.

This town's rent is the 2021 census rent scaled to 2025 by its province's ratio of surveyed to census rents: no rental survey covers it, so its Cost Grade is less sure. Safety is the police detachment's figure, shared with the towns and countryside around it. Crime here is counted against the people who live here, but many visitors or second-home owners add to it, so the rate per resident runs higher than residents' own 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.

StrongestAHealthWeakestD⁻Cost of living DJobs & income

How Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast grades

Each subject compares Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast 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

Cost of livingHomes are among the least affordable for local incomesD⁻Open →HealthIn the top fifth of the towns comparedAOpen →Jobs & incomeBased on what households earn, poverty and workDOpen →SafetyMore crime than in most townsC⁺Open →WalkabilityAbove the middle of the towns comparedBOpen →Hazard riskNear typical for the towns comparedBOpen →SchoolsGraded on exam and test resultsC⁺Open →

How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →

What makes Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast stand out

The 3 things Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Home value ÷ household income

Housing

11.5 times household income

The middle of Canadian towns: 4.7 times

Median owner’s estimate $740,000, Census 2021; income for 2020.

Residents 65 and over

Who lives here

40% are 65 or over

Canadian towns centre on 19%

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

Immigrants

Who lives here

17% are immigrants

Against 6% in the median of Canadian towns

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast.

HousingCost of living D⁻

Measured against local pay, Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast costs more to live in than almost every Canadian town

$740,000median home value, 2021D⁻Cost of living Grade

The owner-occupied share of households is 84%. Rent took just over a quarter of household income, above British Columbia’s towns (24%) and Canadian towns (20%) alike.

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

Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast$740,000

British Columbia$720,000

Canadian towns$406,000

Census 2021	Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast	British Columbia	Canada
Rent as a share of income	26%	24%	20%
Households owning their home	84%	76%	74%
Households spending 30%+ on shelter	20%	21%	18%

$1,050

monthly rent for a two-bedroom

$596

median monthly shelter cost for owners, 2021

Full pageElectoral Area A, Sunshine Coast’s cost of living pageOpen the full Cost of living page

Cost of living11.5 times household income · The median owner’s estimate, $740,000, against the median household income Renting$1,050 a month · The median rent at the 2021 census Owners and renters84% 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.

HealthHealth A

Health in Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast beats 93% of Canadian towns

59%very good or excellent healthAHealth Grade

Measured from where people live, the nearest hospital is 27 km away, above British Columbia’s towns (4.4 km) and Canadian towns (3.7 km) alike. The region has fewer smokers than British Columbia, 6.5% of adults to 8.9%. For 2022/2024, the region’s figure is 84.3 years at birth, 86.3 for women and 82.3 for men. In addition, across the region, 59% of adults say their health is very good or excellent; British Columbia as a whole manages 50%.

Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised

Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast59%

British Columbia’s towns50%

Canadian towns52%

Health	Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast	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

27 km

from homes to a hospital, on average

6.5%

of adults smoke, age-standardised

2.4 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

Full pageElectoral Area A, Sunshine Coast’s health pageOpen the full Health page

Health survey59% very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised Getting care27 km to a hospital · A pharmacy 2.4 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 · Data for health survey and life expectancy covers the North Shore/Coast Garibaldi Health Service Delivery Area

Work & commuteJobs & income D

Households in Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast have lower incomes than those in 79% of Canadian towns

7%walk, cycle or take transit

The average trip to work took 30 min, above British Columbia’s towns (26 min) and Canadian towns (26 min) alike. 87% of commuters took the car to work at the census.

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van87%

Walk6%

Public transit2%

Census 2021	Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast	British Columbia	Canada
Average trip	30 min	26 min	26 min
Car or van	87%	87%	89%

$64,000

median household income, 2020

22%

worked from home, May 2021

61%

of commuters work inside the municipality

Full pageElectoral Area A, Sunshine Coast’s work & commute pageOpen the full Work & commute page

Unemployment13% unemployed · Of the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Getting to work7% walk, cycle or take transit Where people commute to95 commuters · The biggest flow out: to Sechelt

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

Winters are mild in Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast: January nights hold at 1.5°C, above British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns

23.1°CJuly afternoons

A normal winter brings 51 cm of snow, close to British Columbia’s towns (51 cm) and below Canadian towns (141 cm). Gardeners get 218 frost-free days, from 1 April to 6 November. Midsummer afternoons in Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast peak at about 23.1°C. Most of the snow comes in December, about 17 cm.

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter6.6°C

Spring13.2°C

Summer22.0°C

Autumn13.6°C

Normals, 1991–2020	Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast	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

51 cm

of snow a year

days with frost a year

218

frost-free days, 1 Apr to 6 Nov

131

days with precipitation a year

Full pageElectoral Area A, Sunshine Coast’s climate pageOpen the full Climate page

The yearJuly highs 23.1°C, January lows 1.5°C Rain and snow1,152 mm a year · Canadian towns: 883 mm Snow51 cm of snow a year Weather station64 km to the station · Comox

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

Who lives here

More of Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast’s residents have an Indigenous identity than in British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: 11%

61.2median age

5% of residents belong to a visible minority, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (8.6%) and Canadian towns (15%).

Electoral Area A, Sunshine CoastBritish ColumbiaCanada

British ColumbiaCanada

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

40%

Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over

No certificate, diploma or degree15%

Postsecondary qualification53%

Women and men · all residents

47.5% of Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast’s residents are women

Of the 2021 count, 1,445 were women and 1,595 men (women across Canada: 50.9%).

Who lives in Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast
	Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast	British Columbia	Canada
Under 15	7.6%	14%	16%
15 to 64	52%	64%	64%
65+	40%	21%	19%
No certificate, diploma or degree	15%	13%	16%
Postsecondary qualification	53%	56%	56%

Full pageElectoral Area A, Sunshine Coast’s Who lives here pageOpen the full Who lives here page

Immigrants17% are immigrants · 5% belong to a visible minority Ages61.2 median age · 40% are 65 or over Households1,565 households · 1.9 people per household English and French6% speak both · 0.2% speak French but not English

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

SafetySafety C⁺

For safety, Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast gets a C+

77Crime Severity Index

Area-wide: Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000, counted over the Sunshine Coast detachment area

Its police area recorded 16 violent incidents per 1,000 residents a year, above both British Columbia’s towns (12.5) and Canadian towns (12). The violent index for its police area came to 94, above both British Columbia’s towns (76) and Canadian towns (86).

Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year

202378

202480

202571

2023–2025	Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast	British Columbia	Canada
Violent crime	16	12.5	12
Violent Crime Severity Index	94	76	86

non-violent Crime Severity Index

27%

of incidents cleared, 2023–25

Full pageElectoral Area A, Sunshine Coast’s safety reportOpen the full Safety report

Safety77 Crime Severity Index · The index weighs each crime Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast’s police recorded by how serious it is.Questions“Is Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast safe?”

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

Outdoors

Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast has more protected land around it than 9 in 10 Canadian towns

16%of the land within 10 km protected

Within its own boundary, just over a tenth of the town is protected. The nearest national park is Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, 87 km away. The 10 km around town hold 27 protected areas.

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast16%

British Columbia’s towns6.7%

Canadian towns2.3%

Outdoors	Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast	British Columbia	Canada
Protected land within 10 km	16%	6.7%	2.3%
Public protected areas within 10 km	20	14	4

87 km

to Gulf Islands National Park Reserve

At the edge

to Skookumchuck Narrows Park

beaches within 5 km

public protected areas within 10 km

Full pageElectoral Area A, Sunshine Coast’s outdoors pageOpen the full Outdoors page

Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas27 protected areas within 10 km · Clendinning Park National & provincial parks87 km to a national park · Gulf Islands National Park Reserve

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

Natural hazardsHazard risk B

Hazards in Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast: wildfire low, radon over the guideline in 2.5% of tested homes

Lowwildfire bandBHazard risk Grade

NRCan’s model puts the yearly earthquake loss at $0.14 per $1,000 of building value, lower than British Columbia’s towns ($0.36) yet higher than Canadian towns ($0.030). No one has filed a flood map for Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast on the national inventory.

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

Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast2.5%

British Columbia’s towns1.8%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast	British Columbia	Canada
Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year	$0.14	$0.36	$0.030
Radon tests above the guideline	2.5%	1.8%	6.6%

$0.14

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

Low

wildfire band

1.1 km

to the nearest land burned since 1986

Full pageElectoral Area A, Sunshine Coast’s flood & hazards pageOpen the full Flood & hazards page

Radon2.5% of tests above the guideline WildfireLow wildfire band · 0.4% of the land within 25 km burned since 1986 FloodNo flood study on record Earthquakes$0.14 a year per $1,000 · Canadian towns: $0.030 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

SchoolsSchools C⁺

Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast’s teenagers travel 25 km to the nearest high school

2schools within 3 kmC⁺Schools Grade

School	Level	Students	System
Madeira Park Elementary Middle fifth in British ColumbiaIn Electoral Area A, Sunshine CoastElementary	Elementary	–	English public

See all 2 schools →

Schools within 3 km	Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast	British Columbia	Canada
Nearest secondary school	25 km	1.8 km	1.2 km

25 km

to the nearest secondary school

Full pageElectoral Area A, Sunshine Coast’s schools pageOpen the full Schools page

Every school2 elementary schools Results0 of 2 in the top two fifths · of the schools with results, placed against every school in British Columbia Language0 of 2 teach in French · 2% of schools in British Columbia Questions“What schools are there in Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast?”

Provincial school lists and results, 2025/26

Weather

What November brings in Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast: 3°C at night, 9°C by day

9°Ca normal November afternoon

Rain and snow over a typical November come to 189 mm. ECCC’s forecast for Sechelt is on the Weather page, hour by hour.

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

November9°C

December6°C

January6°C

February7°C

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

3°C

a normal November night

189 mm

of rain and snow in a normal November

Full pageElectoral Area A, Sunshine Coast’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 February

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

Town hall

Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast sends Patrick Weiler (Liberal Party of Canada) to the Commons from West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country

Locally, Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast is run as a regional district electoral area.

Full pageElectoral Area A, Sunshine Coast’s town hall & politics pageOpen the full Town hall & politics page

Provincial legislaturePowell River-Sunshine Coast

Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada

Library & civic lifeCivic life grade A⁻

For civic life grade, Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast gets an A−

The next is Roberts Creek Community Library (Roberts Creek), 36 km away.

Full pageElectoral Area A, Sunshine Coast’s library & civic life pageOpen the full Library & civic life page

Places to belong0 charities per 1,000 residents

Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast

15pages on Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast

The big questions

SafetyC⁺Crime Severity Index 77 Housing & costD⁻Homes 11.5 × income Property pricesSchoolsC⁺2 schools within 3 km HealthALife expectancy 84.3 in its region Work & commuteD42% of adults in work Natural hazardsBWildfire band: low

Out and about

Outdoors16% of the land within 10 km protected AttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 23°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 61.2 HistoryTown hallFamous people

Nearby attractions

Chatterbox Falls and 4 more in and around Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast

Sights in Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast and close by, ordered by how widely each is known.

All attractions →

WaterfallChatterbox Fallsin town

WaterfallJames Bruce Fallsin town MuseumMuseumEgmont Heritage Centrein town

WaterfallWaterfallDeserted River600 m outside town, to the northeast

Historic siteHistoric siteDoriston Steam Donkey2.5 km outside town, to the east

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

Photo credits (2)

Chatterbox Falls: Darrell Greenwood, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
James Bruce Falls: McKay Savage from London, UK, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

About Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast

Town in British Columbia

Statistics Canada treats Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast as a single census subdivision in British Columbia, and TownRatings keeps to that line.

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

Population: 3,256 (people, 2025 estimate)
Province or territory: British Columbia
Census division: Sunshine Coast
Census subdivision: 5929018

Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast’s neighbours

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

Welcome BeachElectoral Area A, Sunshine Coast

How the neighbours grade

Town	People	km	Overall	Cost	Safety	Health
Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast	3,256	—	C⁻	D⁻	C⁺	A
Welcome Beach	3,130	16	C⁺	D⁻	C⁺	A⁺

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

Questions about Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast

Is Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast growing?

Yes: the census counted 2,619 in 2016 and 3,039 in 2021, a rise of 16%, against 4.1% for the median of Canadian towns. The 2025 estimate is 3,256.

What kind of homes are in Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast?

Mostly 89% single-detached houses (the median of Canadian towns: 64%), with 0% of homes in buildings of five or more storeys. Households hold 1.9 people on average, and 35% have just one.

How old are the people of Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast?

At 61.2, its median age compares with 45.2 across Canadian towns. Children make up 8% of the population and seniors 40%.

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).