West VancouverBritish Columbia
It belongs to the Vancouver metropolitan area. 47,929 residents make their home in this town in British Columbia.
Is West Vancouver a good place to live?
At B+ overall, West Vancouver ranks #21 of 250 in British Columbia. That leaves it better than 71% of Canadian towns. Its best grade is for health (A+). It also does well on schools (A). Buying in is costly (D−). Its other grades sit near the middle: B for safety, B− for jobs & income and C+ for hazard risk.
Rents here are the metro area's average, shared by every town and neighbourhood in 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.
What makes West Vancouver stand out
The 3 things West Vancouver does most differently from other towns.
How West Vancouver grades
Each subject compares West Vancouver 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 →
Cypress Mountain Ski Area and 75 more in and around West Vancouver
From museums to parks and historic sites: West Vancouver’s places to visit and those just beyond its edge, most famous first.
LighthousePoint Atkinson Lighthousein town
GardenStanley Park1.9 km outside town, to the south
MuseumMuseum of Vancouver4.6 km outside town, to the south · 78K visitors a year
AquariumVancouver Aquarium1.9 km outside town, to the southArt galleryArt galleryWest Vancouver Art Museumin townPhotos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (4)
- Point Atkinson Lighthouse: Clayoquot, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Stanley Park: squeakymarmot, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Museum of Vancouver: Bobanny, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Vancouver Aquarium: Emancipator at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in West Vancouver.
Renting in West Vancouver eats 27% of household income, more than in British Columbia’s towns and across Canadian towns
Two in five households spent 30% or more of their income on shelter, above British Columbia’s towns (21%) and Canadian towns (18%) alike. The owner-occupied share of households is 71%.
What homes were worth · The median owner’s estimate at the 2021 census
| Census 2021 | West Vancouver | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households spending 30%+ on shelter | 40% | 21% | 18% |
| Rent as a share of income | 27% | 24% | 20% |
| Households owning their home | 71% | 76% | 74% |
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. · Rent as a share of income and monthly rent for a two-bedroom: the Vancouver metro area
Health in West Vancouver beats almost every Canadian town
Smoking takes in 6.5% of adults, age-standardised, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (9%) and Canadian towns (12%). Across the region, life runs to 84.3 years on average: women 86.3, men 82.3, in 2022/2024. The survey puts the region’s share in very good or excellent health at 59%, ahead of the 50% for British Columbia. What sets West Vancouver apart within its region is a longer trip to hospital, 7.5 km for the average resident (3.7 km typical).
Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised
| Health | West Vancouver | 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% |
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
The top fifth in British Columbia holds 17 of the 31 schools around West Vancouver with results
Its schools answer to 4 boards. Of the 37, one teaches in French (2% of schools in British Columbia). Within 3 km of West Vancouver are 27 elementary schools, 6 secondary schools and 4 alternative or adult schools.
| School | Level | Students | System |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caulfeild Elementary Top fifth in British ColumbiaIn West VancouverElementary | Elementary | – | English public |
| Rockridge SecondaryIn West VancouverSecondary | Secondary | – | English public |
| Andre-Piolat FrenchTeaches in FrenchElementary | Elementary | – | French public |
| Chartwell Elementary Top fifth in British ColumbiaResults in the top fifth in British ColumbiaElementary | Elementary | – | English public |
Schools by system · Schools within 3 km
| Schools within 3 km | West Vancouver | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| School boards | 4 | 2 | 3 |
Provincial school lists and results, 2025/26
West Vancouver has milder winters than British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: January lows of 3.3°C
Frost comes on 17 days a year, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (60) and Canadian towns (159). A July afternoon in West Vancouver typically reaches 23.0°C. A normal December brings 14 cm of snow, the most of any month. For the wettest month, look to November: 245 mm on average.
Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Normals, 1991–2020 | West Vancouver | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days with frost a year | 17 | 60 | 159 |
| January night low | 3.3°C | 0.5°C | −13.5°C |
| Precipitation a year | 1,537 mm | 1,152 mm | 883 mm |
| Snowfall a year | 37 cm | 51 cm | 141 cm |
Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Vancouver (Harbour))
A national route near West Vancouver: the The Trans Canada Trail
For a swim, Altamont Beach is the nearest of 132 beaches within 5 km. Gulf Islands National Park Reserve is the closest national park, 51 km from town. Within 10 km are 56 protected areas. 8.0 km out lies the largest, Sturgeon Bank Wildlife Management Area, at 7,775 ha.
Protected land · of the land within 10 km
| Outdoors | West Vancouver | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public protected areas within 10 km | 51 | 14 | 4 |
| Protected land within 10 km | 8.6% | 6.7% | 2.3% |
Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches
West Vancouver is graded a B for safety
Each year, 8.2 violent crimes are recorded per 1,000 residents. Its violent severity index came to 60, lower than both British Columbia’s towns (76) and Canadian towns (86).
Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year
| 2023–2025 | West Vancouver | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crime | 8.2 | 12.5 | 12 |
| Violent Crime Severity Index | 60 | 76 | 86 |
Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average
Visible minorities make up more of West Vancouver than of British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: 43%
Those 65 and older account for 29% of residents. First Nations, Métis and Inuit people make up 1% of residents, below British Columbia’s towns (5%) and Canadian towns (2.8%) alike. Also worth knowing: the share of residents under 15 is 14%.
Ages · Share of residents in each age group, Census 2021
Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over
Women and men · all residents
Women make up 53.3% of West Vancouver
Of the 2021 count, 23,495 were women and 20,625 men (women across Canada: 50.9%).
| West Vancouver | British Columbia | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 14% | 14% | 16% |
| 15 to 64 | 58% | 64% | 64% |
| 65+ | 29% | 21% | 19% |
| No certificate, diploma or degree | 7.7% | 13% | 16% |
| Postsecondary qualification | 69% | 56% | 56% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; British Columbia and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+
Earthquakes are West Vancouver’s biggest hazard: $0.27 of damage a year per $1,000 of buildings, 9 times the norm
The national inventory holds one flood map for it, from City of Vancouver. In Health Canada’s survey, just 2.5% of homes tested in the area exceeded 200 Bq/m³ (6.6% typical). Little of the land around West Vancouver has burned: 0.2% within 25 km since 1986, or 0.005% a year.
Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³
| Hazards | West Vancouver | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year | $0.27 | $0.36 | $0.030 |
| Radon tests above the guideline | 2.5% | 1.8% | 6.6% |
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
What November brings in West Vancouver: 5°C at night, 10°C by day
About 3 cm of snow falls in a normal November. Rain and snow over a typical November come to 245 mm. Then December: 7°C by day, 3°C at night. For today and the week ahead, the Weather page carries ECCC’s West Vancouver forecast.
Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Season | High | Low | Rain and snow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | 8°C | 3°C | 554 mm |
| Spring | 14°C | 7°C | 353 mm |
| Summer | 22°C | 14°C | 158 mm |
| Autumn | 14°C | 9°C | 473 mm |
ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Vancouver (Harbour)); the forecast is on the Weather page
Just 2,438 votes decided West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country in 2021, closer than nine in ten Canada’s ridings
West Vancouver is a district municipality by Statistics Canada’s count of municipalities.
Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada
West Vancouver’s public library is West Vancouver Memorial Library
The library is 1.9 km from the centre of West Vancouver.
Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada
The car carries only 80% of commuters in West Vancouver, fewer than in British Columbia’s towns and across Canadian towns
Commutes averaged 26 min, near both British Columbia’s towns (26 min) and Canadian towns (26 min).
How working residents got to work · census 2021
| Census 2021 | West Vancouver | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car or van | 80% | 87% | 89% |
| Average trip | 26 min | 26 min | 26 min |
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.
All of West Vancouver’s 2 historic places are top designations
Just beyond the boundary, the registers place one more. The oldest dated place, Point Atkinson Lighthouse, goes back to 1912. Homes from before 1961 make up just over a fifth of the stock, above both British Columbia’s towns (11%) and Canadian towns (18%).
Historic places by designation · inside the town
Among them
| Heritage | West Vancouver | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homes built before 1961 | 21% | 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 West Vancouver
Famous people from West Vancouver
17 notable people were born in West Vancouver.
Photo credits
Serinda Swan: AMFM STUDIOS LLC, CC BY 3.0 · Andrew Lord: Augustiner, CC BY 3.0 · Jake Christiansen: Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0 · John Negrin: TheAHL, CC BY 2.0 · Kevin Falcon: Province of British Columbia, CC BY 3.0 · Ian McAllister: Fireguy, CC BY-SA 4.0
West Vancouver’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Statistics Canada
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Vancouver | 47,929 | — | B+ | D− | B | A+ |
| Capilano 5 | 3,376 | 4 | — | — | — | A+ |
| West End | 30,785 | 6.9 | B− | D− | C− | A+ |
| Coal Harbour | 10,407 | 7.1 | B− | D− | C− | A+ |
| Davie Village | 16,833 | 7.5 | C+ | D− | C− | A+ |
| North Vancouver | 66,624 | 8.2 | B+ | D− | C | A+ |
| Granville Entertainment District | 19,125 | 8.3 | B− | D− | C− | A+ |
People: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about West Vancouver
What kind of homes are in West Vancouver?
Mostly 56% single-detached houses (the median of Canadian towns: 64%), with 22% of homes in buildings of five or more storeys. Households hold 2.5 people on average, and 28% have just one.
Has West Vancouver grown?
It grew from 42,473 people in 2016 to 44,122 in 2021, up 3.9%; the median of Canadian towns grew 4.1%. StatCan’s 2025 estimate is 47,929.
About West Vancouver
Town in British Columbia
TownRatings counts West Vancouver as Statistics Canada does, as one municipality in British Columbia; the census, crime and housing figures all follow that boundary.
Statistics Canada: population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155), Census of Population 2021, 2021 census boundaries.
- Population
- 47,929 (people, 2025 estimate)
- Province or territory
- British Columbia
- Census division
- Greater Vancouver
- Metro area
- Vancouver
- Census subdivision
- 5915055
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).