West KelownaBritish Columbia

West Kelowna gets a D− for hazard risk

Source area for radon tests: the Okanagan health region

The expected yearly loss to earthquakes is $0.015 for each $1,000 of buildings, below British Columbia’s towns ($0.36) and close to Canadian towns ($0.030). More homes than usual carry radon here, 17% over the guideline where the typical town has 6.6%. Wildfire is a real hazard for West Kelowna: a fifth of the land within 25 km has burned since 1986, 0.52% a year, in the high band. Flood mapping exists: 2 studies, most recently by Okanagan Basin Water Board.

More households own their home in West Kelowna than in British Columbia’s towns or across Canadian towns: 83%

A year’s rent came to 26% of the median household income, near British Columbia’s towns (24%) and higher than Canadian towns (20%). The median home value was $750,000, close to British Columbia’s towns ($720,000) and above Canadian towns ($406,000). West Kelowna shares its rent as a share of income and monthly rent for a two-bedroom numbers with the rest of the Kelowna metro area.

West Kelowna has warmer summers than British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: July afternoons reach 28.5°C

On a January night, the temperature in West Kelowna falls to about −5.9°C. The year’s precipitation totals 344 mm, below both British Columbia’s towns (1,152 mm) and Canadian towns (883 mm). Most of the snow comes in December, about 20 cm. Rain and snow peak in June, at 44 mm.

Households in West Kelowna have higher incomes than those in 85% of Canadian towns

Commutes averaged 24 min, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (26 min) and Canadian towns (26 min). The car carried 91% of commuters at the census.

West Kelowna gets a C+ for safety

Police recorded 14.3 violent incidents per 1,000 residents a year, above both British Columbia’s towns (12.5) and Canadian towns (12). Property crime accounts for 26.4 incidents per 1,000 residents a year.

Results around West Kelowna split both ways in British Columbia: 8 of 27 schools high, 12 low

Its 3 km reach takes in 23 elementary schools, 2 secondary schools, 1 school for every grade and 4 alternative or adult schools, all of West Kelowna’s schooling. Of the 30, one teaches in French (2% of schools in British Columbia).

Very good or excellent health for 52% of adults in West Kelowna’s health region

The average trip from home to a hospital is 8.5 km, higher than both British Columbia’s towns (4.4 km) and Canadian towns (3.7 km). At 12%, the share of adults who smoke tops the 8.9% for British Columbia. A baby born in the region can expect 81.0 years, 84.1 for a girl and 78.2 for a boy (2022/2024). West Kelowna doesn’t get its own health survey and life expectancy figures; the ones here come from the Okanagan Health Service Delivery Area.

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

Within 10 km, the count of public protected areas is 16, higher than both British Columbia’s towns (14) and Canadian towns (4). For a swim, Tugboat Bay Beach is the nearest of 40 beaches within 5 km. The Bat House Interpretive Trail is the one mapped walking route close by.

West Kelowna in November: highs near 6°C, lows near −2°C

A normal November brings 28 mm of rain and snow. About 8 cm of snow falls in a normal November. For today and the week ahead, the Weather page carries ECCC’s Kelowna forecast.

Okanagan Lake West—South Kelowna, which takes in West Kelowna, is held by Dan Albas (Conservative Party of Canada)

In the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, West Kelowna belongs to West Kelowna-Peachland; who holds it as MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly, the provincial or territorial legislature) isn’t on an open record, so no one is named.

ORL: West Kelowna Branch and Westbank Branch are West Kelowna’s two public libraries

No library board reports for West Kelowna alone: its libraries belong to a county or regional system, whose figures cover many towns.

West Kelowna: median age 44, 13,975 households

6.1% of residents have an Indigenous identity, above both British Columbia’s towns (5%) and Canadian towns (2.8%). Children are 16% of the town. Over-65s are just over a fifth of the population.