MarpoleVancouver
Of Vancouver’s 29 neighbourhoods, this is one. 28,182 people live in this neighbourhood in Vancouver.
Is Marpole a good place to live?
Some subjects shine; others lag. Its weakest subject is cost of living (D−). Also worth knowing: it does especially well on health (A+). Getting around on foot or by bus is easy (A+). Overall, that makes a C, good for #146 of 250 in British Columbia. Nationally, it does better than nearly a third of Canadian towns. Jobs & income is weaker too (D).
Rents here are the metro area's average, shared by every town and neighbourhood in it. Safety less sure: this is the whole city's figure, because the city doesn't publish open neighbourhood crime rates. Health is graded on the health region's survey figures and life expectancy, with the distance to hospital giving the town its own spread.
What makes Marpole stand out
The 3 things Marpole does most differently from other towns.
How Marpole grades
Each subject compares Marpole 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 TownRatings grades Canadian towns →
Colbourne House and 19 more in and around Marpole
The best-known places to visit in and around Marpole come first; the full list is on the Attractions page.
GardenQueen Elizabeth Park2.6 km outside town, to the northeast
GardenVanDusen Botanical Garden2.3 km outside town, to the north
ZooBloedel Conservatory2.6 km outside town, to the northeast
CathedralHoly Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral4.9 km outside town, to the northeastMuseumMuseum12 Service Battalion Museum2.9 km outside town, to the southPhotos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (4)
- Queen Elizabeth Park: Craig Nagy from Vancouver, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- VanDusen Botanical Garden: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Bloedel Conservatory: Sporkist/Taz ( http://taz.sporkism.org ), CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral: Akatnick, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Marpole.
Rent takes more of local pay in Marpole than in British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: 42% of household income
Nearly two in five households spent 30% or more of their income on shelter, higher than both British Columbia’s towns (21%) and Canadian towns (18%). Households that own their home make up 41%.
What homes were worth · The median owner’s estimate at the 2021 census
| Census 2021 | Marpole | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent as a share of income | 42% | 24% | 20% |
| Households spending 30%+ on shelter | 39% | 21% | 18% |
| Households owning their home | 41% | 76% | 74% |
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. · Rent as a share of income and monthly rent for a two-bedroom published for the Vancouver metro area, not by town
For health, Marpole is ahead of 96% of Canadian towns
Smoking takes in 7.3% of adults, age-standardised, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (9%) and Canadian towns (12%). Across the region, life runs to 83.3 years on average: women 86.5, men 80.2, in 2022/2024. About as many adults call their health very good or excellent here as across British Columbia, 50% against 50%. For Marpole itself the measure is access: 3.5 km to the nearest hospital, much like the typical 3.7 km.
Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised
| Health | Marpole | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions (average share) | 13% | 15% | 17% |
| Life expectancy at birth | 83.3 | 81.0 | 81.5 |
| Smokers | 7.3% | 9% | 12% |
| Very good or excellent health | 50% | 50% | 52% |
Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities · Health survey and life expectancy: one figure for all of the Vancouver Health Service Delivery Area
Trips to work from Marpole take longer than from British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: 30 min on average
How working residents got to work · census 2021
| Census 2021 | Marpole | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip | 30 min | 26 min | 26 min |
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.
Winters are mild in Marpole: January nights hold at 1.4°C, above British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns
A normal November brings 175 mm of precipitation, more than any other month. There are 40 days of frost in a typical year, below British Columbia’s towns (60) and Canadian towns (159) alike. The frost-free season runs from 19 March to 10 November, 235 days. The warmest afternoons come in July, at around 22.4°C in Marpole.
Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Normals, 1991–2020 | Marpole | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days with frost a year | 40 | 60 | 159 |
| January night low | 1.4°C | 0.5°C | −13.5°C |
| July afternoon high | 22.4°C | 23.1°C | 25.5°C |
| Snowfall a year | 37 cm | 51 cm | 141 cm |
Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Vancouver International (Airport))
For the force that serves Marpole, the Crime Severity Index is 93, above British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns
The violent index for its police area came to 99, above British Columbia’s towns (76) and Canadian towns (86) alike. Thefts, break-ins and damage add up to 43.6 per 1,000 residents a year where it is policed. Nobody publishes Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000 for Marpole alone, so this card uses the figure for the Vancouver service area.
Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year
| 2023–2025 | Marpole | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crime per 1,000 | 43.6 | 31 | 31.2 |
| Crime Severity Index | 93 | 83 | 67 |
| Violent Crime Severity Index | 99 | 76 | 86 |
Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average
Results around Marpole lean high: 24 of 43 schools in the top two fifths in British Columbia
3 of the 55 teach in French, against 2% of schools in British Columbia. Taken together, Marpole and its 3 km edge hold 39 elementary schools, 10 secondary schools, 2 schools for every grade and 4 alternative or adult schools.
| School | Level | Students | System |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Lloyd George Elementary Fourth fifth in British ColumbiaIn MarpoleElementary | Elementary | – | English public |
| Tamim Academy of Vancouver IndependentIn MarpoleAll grades | All grades | – | Independent |
| des Colibris FrenchTeaches in FrenchElementary | Elementary | – | French public |
| Crofton House IndependentResults in the top fifth in British ColumbiaElementary | Elementary | – | Independent |
Schools by system · Schools within 3 km
| Schools within 3 km | Marpole | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| School boards | 3 | 2 | 3 |
Provincial school lists and results, 2025/26
Visible minorities make up more of Marpole than of British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: 72%
11% are under 15, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (14%) and Canadian towns (16%). Those 65 and older account for 17% of residents.
Ages · Share of residents in each age group, Census 2021
Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over
Women and men · all residents
51.1% of Marpole’s residents are women
Here the census found 14,410 women and 13,780 men; across Canada the share of women is 50.9%.
| Marpole | British Columbia | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 11% | 14% | 16% |
| 15 to 64 | 72% | 64% | 64% |
| 65+ | 17% | 21% | 19% |
| No certificate, diploma or degree | 8.7% | 13% | 16% |
| Postsecondary qualification | 66% | 56% | 56% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; British Columbia and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+
Expect November days around 9°C in Marpole, nights around 4°C
The forecast on the Weather page is ECCC’s for Vancouver. Snowfall in a normal November: 3 cm. A normal December brings highs of 7°C, lows of 1°C. In November, the normal is 175 mm of rain and snow.
Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Season | High | Low | Rain and snow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | 7°C | 1°C | 437 mm |
| Spring | 13°C | 6°C | 251 mm |
| Summer | 21°C | 13°C | 121 mm |
| Autumn | 14°C | 7°C | 350 mm |
ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Vancouver International (Airport)); the forecast is on the Weather page
2 MPs share Marpole, which straddles Richmond Centre—Marpole and Vancouver Granville
Most of Marpole (81% of residents) is represented by Chak Au, and much of the rest by Taleeb Noormohamed.
Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada
Marpole has one public library, VPL: Marpole Branch
The library figures on this page are Vancouver’s: Vancouver Public Library serves all 742,394 people of the city, Marpole among them.
Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada
Few places match Marpole for protected land nearby: more than 9 in 10 Canadian towns
Mount Seymour Park is the closest provincial park, at 15 km. The closest of Canada’s national parks is Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, at 38 km. The 10 km around town hold 13 protected areas. Biggest among them: Sturgeon Bank Wildlife Management Area, 7,775 ha, 3.4 km off.
Protected land · of the land within 10 km
| Outdoors | Marpole | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protected land within 10 km | 17% | 6.7% | 2.3% |
| Public protected areas within 10 km | 11 | 14 | 4 |
Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches
Earthquakes are Marpole’s biggest hazard: $0.43 of damage a year per $1,000 of buildings, 14 times the norm
Area-wide: radon tests, counted over the Vancouver health region · Earthquake risk for the city of Vancouver
In Health Canada’s survey, just 1.2% of homes tested in the area exceeded 200 Bq/m³ (6.6% typical). Flood mapping exists: a study by City of Vancouver. Burn scars are few around Marpole, with 0.2% of the land within 25 km touched by fire since 1986 (0.004% a year).
Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³
| Hazards | Marpole | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year | $0.43 | $0.36 | $0.030 |
| Radon tests above the guideline | 1.2% | 1.8% | 6.6% |
NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory
One place in Marpole, at the top of the registers
At the 2021 census, 15% of homes dated from before 1961, higher than British Columbia’s towns (11%) yet lower than Canadian towns (18%).
Historic places by designation · inside the town
Among them
- Marpole Midden 1892
| Heritage | Marpole | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homes built before 1961 | 15% | 11% | 18% |
Canadian Register of Historic Places, Directory of Federal Heritage Designations, Québec’s Répertoire du patrimoine culturel, Wikidata; Census 2021 homes by period
Everything we know about Marpole
Marpole’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Statistics Canada
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marpole | 28,182 | — | C | D− | C− | A+ |
| Oakridge | 14,071 | 1.8 | C+ | D− | C− | A+ |
| Sunset | 37,186 | 2.8 | C+ | D− | C− | A+ |
| Kerrisdale | 14,105 | 2.9 | B | D− | C− | A+ |
| Shaughnessy | 8,034 | 3.7 | B | D | C− | A+ |
| South Cambie | 9,846 | 4.1 | B | D− | C− | A+ |
| Riley Park | 23,682 | 4.3 | B | D− | C− | A+ |
People: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about Marpole
Is Marpole a young town or an old one?
At 40.3, its median age compares with 45.2 across Canadian towns. Children make up 11% of the population and seniors 17%.
About Marpole
Neighbourhood in Vancouver
Marpole is one of Vancouver’s neighbourhoods, which TownRatings draws from census dissemination areas and names from the city’s own map or OpenStreetMap.
Statistics Canada: population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155), Census of Population 2021, 2021 census boundaries.
- Population
- 28,182 (people, 2021 estimate)
- Province or territory
- British Columbia
- City
- Vancouver
- Census subdivision
- 5915022
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).