ValemountBritish Columbia

The town has 1,082 residents and lies in British Columbia. It lies in Fraser-Fort George.

Photo: RockyGoat · Public domain

Population

1,082

people, 2025 estimate

Median age

44.8

years · British Columbia’s towns: 48

Postsecondary

45%

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

Walk, cycle, transit

16%

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

Is Valemount a good place to live?

Where it does best is walkability (A+). Its weakest is schools (D). Owners valued their homes at a median $300,000 in 2021, which is 4.9 years of the typical household’s pay. Police record more crime here than in most towns (D).

Figures: home values and income: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. With fewer than 2,500 residents, Valemount gets subject grades but no overall one among Canadian towns.

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. 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⁺WalkabilityWeakestDSchools DSafety

How Valemount grades

Each subject compares Valemount 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

With fewer than 2,500 residents, Valemount gets subject grades but no overall one among Canadian towns.

WalkabilityAmong the easiest places to get around without a carA⁺Open →SchoolsNear the bottom of the towns comparedDOpen →SafetyBased on crimes reported per residentDOpen →Cost of livingHomes are among the least affordable for local incomesC⁻Open →Hazard riskWeaker than most of the towns comparedCOpen →HealthBased on how healthy residents are for their agesCOpen →Jobs & incomeGraded on incomes, poverty and employmentBOpen →

How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →

What makes Valemount stand out

The 3 things Valemount does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Walkability

Better than 98%

of Canadian towns on walkability

Its walkability grade: A+.

Unemployment rate, Census 2021

Work

5% unemployment

Of the labour force, against 10% for the median of Canadian towns

59% of residents 15 and over were in work, May 2021.

Immigrants

Who lives here

15% are immigrants

Compare 6% for the median of Canadian towns

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Valemount.

SchoolsSchools D

No high school in or near Valemount: the closest is 79 km off

2schools within 3 kmDSchools Grade

School	Level	Students	System
Valemount Elementary Bottom fifth in British ColumbiaIn ValemountElementary	Elementary	–	English public

See all 2 schools →

Schools within 3 km	Valemount	British Columbia	Canada
Nearest secondary school	79 km	1.8 km	1.2 km

79 km

to the nearest secondary school

Full pageValemount’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 Valemount?”

Provincial school lists and results, 2025/26

Climate

January lows in Valemount: −10.6°C, against 0.5°C in British Columbia’s towns and −13.5°C in Canadian towns

24.6°CJuly afternoons

The thermometer drops below freezing on 193 days a year, higher than both British Columbia’s towns (60) and Canadian towns (159). Gardeners get 102 frost-free days, from 31 May to 11 September. Summer highs in Valemount reach 24.6°C in July. January is the snowiest month, with 114 cm on average.

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter−2.1°C

Spring11.9°C

Summer23.3°C

Autumn9.6°C

Normals, 1991–2020	Valemount	British Columbia	Canada
Snowfall a year	416 cm	51 cm	141 cm
Days with frost a year	193	60	159
January night low	−10.6°C	0.5°C	−13.5°C
July afternoon high	24.6°C	23.1°C	25.5°C

416 cm

of snow a year

193

days with frost a year

102

frost-free days, 31 May to 11 Sep

158

days with precipitation a year

Full pageValemount’s climate pageOpen the full Climate page

The yearJuly highs 24.6°C, January lows −10.6°C Rain and snow1,040 mm a year · Canadian towns: 883 mm Snow416 cm of snow a year Weather station78 km to the station · Blue River

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

SafetySafety D

The police who cover Valemount record more serious crime than British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: a Crime Severity Index of 132

132Crime Severity Index

Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000 for the Valemount detachment area

Violent incidents in its police area came to 19.2 per 1,000 residents a year, above British Columbia’s towns (12.5) and Canadian towns (12) alike. For every 1,000 residents of its police area, 42.3 property crimes are reported each year.

Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year

2023172

202477

2025148

2023–2025	Valemount	British Columbia	Canada
Crime Severity Index	132	83	67
Violent crime	19.2	12.5	12
Property crime per 1,000	42.3	31	31.2
Violent Crime Severity Index	104	76	86

145

non-violent Crime Severity Index

40%

of incidents cleared, 2023–25

Full pageValemount’s safety reportOpen the full Safety report

Safety132 Crime Severity Index · The index weighs each crime Valemount’s police recorded by how serious it is.Questions“Is Valemount safe?”

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

HousingCost of living C⁻

Between the home and the car, Valemount’s households spend 42% of income, above the 29% of the typical Canadian town

$300,000median home value, 2021C⁻Cost of living Grade

Rent took 20% of household income, about level with Canadian towns (20%) and below British Columbia’s towns (24%). Home ownership covers 69% of households.

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

Valemount$300,000

British Columbia$720,000

Canadian towns$406,000

Census 2021	Valemount	British Columbia	Canada
Median home value, 2021	$300,000	$720,000	$406,000
Rent as a share of income	20%	24%	20%
Households owning their home	69%	76%	74%
Households spending 30%+ on shelter	21%	21%	18%

$750

monthly rent for a two-bedroom

$670

median monthly shelter cost for owners, 2021

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

Cost of living4.9 times household income · The median owner’s estimate, $300,000, against the median household income Renting$750 a month · The median rent at the 2021 census Owners and renters69% own their home

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.

Natural hazardsHazard risk C

Hazards in Valemount: wildfire low, radon over the guideline in 12% of tested homes

Lowwildfire bandCHazard risk Grade

Wildfire is rare near Valemount: 1.4% of the land within 25 km has burned since 1986, a burn rate of 0.04% a year. No flood study for Valemount is on the national inventory.

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

Valemount12%

British Columbia’s towns1.8%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	Valemount	British Columbia	Canada
Radon tests above the guideline	12%	1.8%	6.6%
Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year	$0.052	$0.36	$0.030

$0.052

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

Low

wildfire band

3.3 km

to the nearest land burned since 1986

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

Radon12% of tests above the guideline WildfireLow wildfire band · 1.4% of the land within 25 km burned since 1986 FloodNo flood study on record Earthquakes$0.052 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 · Area behind the radon tests figures: the Northern Interior health region

HealthHealth C

Valemount’s region trails the typical Canadian town by 4.9 years: life expectancy 76.6

39%very good or excellent healthCHealth Grade

Source area for health survey and life expectancy: the Northern Interior Health Service Delivery Area

Residents have 0.7 km to cover to reach a hospital, below British Columbia’s towns (4.4 km) and Canadian towns (3.7 km) alike. Smoking is commoner than in the province: just over one in ten adults, against 8.9% for British Columbia. Across the region, 39% of adults say their health is very good or excellent; British Columbia as a whole reaches 50%.

Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised

Valemount39%

British Columbia’s towns50%

Canadian towns52%

Health	Valemount	British Columbia	Canada
Very good or excellent health	39%	50%	52%
Life expectancy at birth	76.6	81.0	81.5
Chronic conditions (average share)	20%	15%	17%
Smokers	12%	9%	12%

76.6

years of life expectancy, 2022/2024

0.7 km

from homes to a hospital, on average

12%

of adults smoke, age-standardised

0.4 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

Full pageValemount’s health pageOpen the full Health page

Health survey39% very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised Getting care0.7 km to a hospital · A pharmacy 0.4 km away on average The wider areaLife expectancy: women 79.5, men 74.0 Conditions and habits20% with chronic conditions · adults, age-standardised

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

Work & commuteJobs & income B

Trips to work from Valemount are shorter than from British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: 17 min on average

16%walk, cycle or take transit

80% of commuters drove, below British Columbia’s towns (87%) and Canadian towns (89%) alike.

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van80%

Bicycle8%

Walk7%

Census 2021	Valemount	British Columbia	Canada
Average trip	17 min	26 min	26 min
Car or van	80%	87%	89%

$60,400

median household income, 2020

worked from home, May 2021

96%

of commuters work inside the municipality

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

Unemployment4.7% unemployed · Of the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Getting to work16% walk, cycle or take transit Where people commute to10 commuters · The biggest flow out: to Parkland County

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.

Weather

Expect November days around 1°C in Valemount, nights around −4°C

1°Ca normal November afternoon

Precipitation in November averages 120 mm. The month after, December, normally sees −3°C afternoons and −10°C nights. Expect around 75 cm of snow in November. ECCC’s forecast for Jasper is on the Weather page, hour by hour.

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

November1°C

December−3°C

January−3°C

February1°C

Season	High	Low	Rain and snow
Winter	−2°C	−10°C	257 mm
Spring	12°C	−2°C	200 mm
Summer	23°C	8°C	274 mm
Autumn	10°C	0°C	310 mm

−4°C

a normal November night

120 mm

of rain and snow in a normal November

Full pageValemount’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 (Blue River); the forecast is on the Weather page

Town hall

Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, which takes in Valemount, is held by Bob Zimmer (Conservative Party of Canada)

Valemount is in Prince George-Valemount for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, whose current MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly, the provincial or territorial legislature) no open source we can use records yet.

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

Who runs itVillage

Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada

Library & civic lifeCivic life grade B⁺

Valemount Public Library is Valemount’s public library

The figures are those of Valemount Public Library, which serves 1,766 people in and around Valemount.

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

The libraries1 Libraries Places to belong11.1 charities per 1,000 residents

Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada

Outdoors

Valemount is 34 km from Jasper National Park

3.4%of the land within 10 km protected

Protected areas cover 3.4% of the land within 10 km, below British Columbia’s towns (6.7%) but above Canadian towns (2.3%). Mount Terry Fox Park is the closest provincial park, at 8.0 km.

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

Valemount3.4%

British Columbia’s towns6.7%

Canadian towns2.3%

Outdoors	Valemount	British Columbia	Canada
Protected land within 10 km	3.4%	6.7%	2.3%
Public protected areas within 10 km	5	14	4

34 km

to Jasper National Park

8.0 km

to Mount Terry Fox Park

public protected areas within 10 km

Full pageValemount’s outdoors pageOpen the full Outdoors page

Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas9 protected areas within 10 km · Mount Robson Park National & provincial parks34 km to a national park · Jasper National Park

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

Who lives here

More of Valemount’s residents have an Indigenous identity than in British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: 15%

44.8median age

21% of residents are 65 or over, about level with British Columbia’s towns (21%) and above Canadian towns (19%). Visible minorities make up 12% of the population, higher than British Columbia’s towns (8.6%) yet lower than Canadian towns (15%).

ValemountBritish ColumbiaCanada

British ColumbiaCanada

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

15%

Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over

No certificate, diploma or degree17%

Postsecondary qualification45%

Women and men · all residents

50.2% of Valemount’s residents are women

530 women and 525 men at the 2021 census; across Canada, women are 50.9%.

Who lives in Valemount
	Valemount	British Columbia	Canada
Under 15	15%	14%	16%
15 to 64	64%	64%	64%
65+	21%	21%	19%
No certificate, diploma or degree	17%	13%	16%
Postsecondary qualification	45%	56%	56%

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

Immigrants15% are immigrants · 12% belong to a visible minority Ages44.8 median age · 21% are 65 or over Households515 households · 2 people per household English and French5% speak both · 0% speak French but not English

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

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Valemount

15pages on Valemount

The big questions

SafetyDCrime Severity Index 132 Housing & costC⁻Homes 4.9 × income Property pricesSchoolsD2 schools within 3 km HealthCLife expectancy 76.6 in its region Work & commuteB59% of adults in work Natural hazardsCWildfire band: low

Out and about

Outdoors3.4% of the land within 10 km protected AttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 25°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 44.8 HistoryTown hallFamous people

Nearby attractions

Valemount & Area Museum and 2 more in and around Valemount

The best-known places to visit in and around Valemount come first; the full list is on the Attractions page.

All attractions →

MuseumMuseumValemount & Area Museumin town AttractionAttractionCranberry Marsh Trail Headin town Art galleryArt galleryMountain Dristwood Galleryin town

About Valemount

Town in British Columbia

Statistics Canada treats Valemount 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: 1,082 (people, 2025 estimate)
Province or territory: British Columbia
Census division: Fraser-Fort George
Census subdivision: 5953007

Questions about Valemount

Is Valemount growing?

Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses it went from 1,021 to 1,052 residents (up 3%; Canadian towns’ median: 4.1%), and Statistics Canada now estimates 1,082.

Is Valemount a young town or an old one?

The median resident is 44.8 years old, against 45.2 for the median of Canadian towns. 15% are under 15 and 21% are 65 or over.

What kind of homes are in Valemount?

Single-detached houses make up 64% of the homes here, where Canadian towns sit at 64%; 0% are in high-rise apartments. 39% of households are one person, and the average is 2.

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).