BonavistaNewfoundland and Labrador
Its census division is Division No. 7. A town of 3,293 in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Is Bonavista a good place to live?
Bonavista’s weakest is health (C−). At C overall, Bonavista ranks #19 of 32 in Newfoundland and Labrador. It comes out better than just over a quarter of Canadian towns. Safety is weaker too (C). Natural hazards are few (A+). Housing is within reach (B+).
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. No School Grade: this province doesn't publish comparable results school by school. Health is graded on the health region's survey figures and life expectancy, with the distance to hospital giving the town its own spread.
How Bonavista grades
Each subject compares Bonavista 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 →
What makes Bonavista stand out
The 3 things Bonavista does most differently from other towns.
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Bonavista.
Few places are as safe from hazards as Bonavista: it beats 96% of Canadian towns
Shared with the rest of the Eastern Regional Integrated Health Authority: radon tests
In Health Canada’s survey, just 4% of homes tested in the area exceeded 200 Bq/m³ (6.6% typical). Seismic risk runs low: $0.009 of expected damage per $1,000 of buildings a year, the typical town $0.030. No one has filed a flood map for Bonavista on the national inventory.
Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³
| Hazards | Bonavista | Newfoundland and Labrador | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radon tests above the guideline | 4% | 4% | 6.6% |
| Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year | $0.009 | $0.011 | $0.030 |
NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory
In and around Bonavista, 2 schools: 1 elementary school and 1 secondary school
Teenagers have 118 km to go to the closest secondary school, above Newfoundland and Labrador’s towns (25 km) and Canadian towns (1.2 km) alike. Elementary school is 84 km away at the nearest, above Newfoundland and Labrador’s towns (3.5 km) and Canadian towns (0.5 km) alike.
| School | Level | Students | System |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew Elementary SchoolIn BonavistaElementary | Elementary | – | English public |
| Discovery CollegiateIn BonavistaSecondary | Secondary | – | English public |
| Schools within 3 km | Bonavista | Newfoundland and Labrador | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nearest secondary school | 118 km | 25 km | 1.2 km |
| Nearest elementary school | 84 km | 3.5 km | 0.5 km |
Statistics Canada’s Open Database of Educational Facilities · Ungraded on schools in Newfoundland and Labrador, because the province publishes no results school by school.
Chronic conditions run high around Bonavista: 24% on average, against 17% for the typical Canadian town
Health survey and life expectancy for the Eastern Rural Zone
Measured from where people live, the nearest hospital is 1.2 km away, below both Newfoundland and Labrador’s towns (8.5 km) and Canadian towns (3.7 km). Adults here are less upbeat about their health than the province: 44% very good or excellent, against 52% in Newfoundland and Labrador. Statistics Canada puts the region’s life expectancy at 78.6, women 80.8 and men 76.4 (2022/2024). Smoking is commoner than in the province: 17% of adults, against 15% for Newfoundland and Labrador.
Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised
| Health | Bonavista | Newfoundland and Labrador | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions (average share) | 24% | 22% | 17% |
| Very good or excellent health | 44% | 50% | 52% |
| Smokers | 17% | 15% | 12% |
| Life expectancy at birth | 78.6 | 78.6 | 81.5 |
Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities
Commuters in Bonavista have a short way to work, 12 min on average, less than in Newfoundland and Labrador’s towns and Canadian towns
92% of commuters took the car to work at the census.
How working residents got to work · census 2021
| Census 2021 | Bonavista | Newfoundland and Labrador | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip | 12 min | 19 min | 26 min |
| Car or van | 92% | 92% | 89% |
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.
Crime runs heavier where Bonavista is policed than in Newfoundland and Labrador’s towns or Canadian towns, at an index of 93
For violence alone, its police area’s index was 63, lower than both Newfoundland and Labrador’s towns (82) and Canadian towns (86). The force’s area logs 16.5 violent incidents per 1,000 residents a year. Bonavista shares its Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000 numbers with the rest of the Bonavista detachment area.
Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year
| 2023–2025 | Bonavista | Newfoundland and Labrador | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crime Severity Index | 93 | 81 | 67 |
| Violent Crime Severity Index | 63 | 82 | 86 |
| Violent crime | 16.5 | 16.7 | 12 |
Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average
Summers stay cool in Bonavista: July afternoons reach 19.7°C, below Newfoundland and Labrador’s towns and Canadian towns
Snow peaks in January: 58 cm in a normal year. A normal January night drops to −7.0°C, above both Newfoundland and Labrador’s towns (−8.7°C) and Canadian towns (−13.5°C). Rain and snow peak in October, at 129 mm.
Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Normals, 1991–2020 | Bonavista | Newfoundland and Labrador | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| July afternoon high | 19.7°C | 21.2°C | 25.5°C |
| Snowfall a year | 229 cm | 363 cm | 141 cm |
| January night low | −7.0°C | −8.7°C | −13.5°C |
| Precipitation a year | 1,260 mm | 1,305 mm | 883 mm |
Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Bonavista)
Bonavista’s grade for cost of living: a B+
Just over one in ten households spent 30% or more of their income on shelter, below Newfoundland and Labrador’s towns (15%) and Canadian towns (18%) alike. Households that own their home make up 80%.
What homes were worth · The median owner’s estimate at the 2021 census
| Census 2021 | Bonavista | Newfoundland and Labrador | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households spending 30%+ on shelter | 12% | 15% | 18% |
| Rent as a share of income | 18% | 17% | 20% |
| Households owning their home | 80% | 78% | 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.
Children make up only 11% of Bonavista, fewer than in Newfoundland and Labrador’s towns and Canadian towns
0.3% of residents belong to a visible minority, lower than both Newfoundland and Labrador’s towns (1.2%) and Canadian towns (15%). People 65 and over make up 31% of the town.
Ages · Share of residents in each age group, Census 2021
Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over
Women and men · all residents
51.7% of Bonavista’s residents are women
Women numbered 1,650 and men 1,540 in 2021, next to a 50.9% share of women for Canada.
| Bonavista | Newfoundland and Labrador | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 11% | 13% | 16% |
| 15 to 64 | 59% | 61% | 64% |
| 65+ | 31% | 26% | 19% |
| No certificate, diploma or degree | 34% | 21% | 16% |
| Postsecondary qualification | 34% | 53% | 56% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+
Bonavista in November: highs near 6°C, lows near 1°C
Expect about 112 mm of rain and snow over November. A normal December brings highs of 2°C, lows of −3°C. Snowfall in a normal November: 10 cm. August brings the warmest days, 20°C; February the coldest nights, −8°C.
Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Season | High | Low | Rain and snow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | 0°C | −6°C | 325 mm |
| Spring | 5°C | −2°C | 288 mm |
| Summer | 18°C | 10°C | 285 mm |
| Autumn | 11°C | 5°C | 363 mm |
ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Bonavista); the forecast is on the Weather page
Bonavista sends Jonathan Rowe (Conservative Party of Canada) to the Commons from Terra Nova—The Peninsulas
With no licence on the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador’s ridings map, Bonavista isn’t placed in a riding here.
Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada
Bonavista has one public library, Bonavista Memorial Public Library
The library is 0.5 km from the centre of Bonavista.
Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada
Dungeon Provincial Park reaches the edge of Bonavista
Within 10 km are 2 protected areas. For a national park, Terra Nova National Park is 40 km away. The protected share within 10 km is 0.7%, where a typical Canadian town has 2.3%. Swimmers have 5 beaches within 5 km, Sandy Cove the nearest.
Protected land · of the land within 10 km
| Outdoors | Bonavista | Newfoundland and Labrador | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protected land within 10 km | 0.7% | 0.4% | 2.3% |
| Public protected areas within 10 km | 2 | 1 | 4 |
Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches
An older town: 38% of Bonavista’s homes predate 1961
Counted by designation, there are 3 Recognized Federal Heritage Buildings and a provincial or municipal listing. Its oldest building on the record is Cape Bonavista Light, from 1843. Inside the town the registers count 6 historic places; 2 are top designations.
Historic places by designation · inside the town
Among them
| Heritage | Bonavista | Newfoundland and Labrador | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homes built before 1961 | 38% | 17% | 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 Bonavista
Ryan Premises and 9 more in and around Bonavista
Sights in Bonavista and close by, ordered by how widely each is known.
Museum · Parks CanadaRyan Premisesin town
National historic site · Parks CanadaRyan Residencein town
Museum · Parks CanadaRyan Retail Storein town
Museum · Parks CanadaRyan Store and Fish Purchasing Centrein townMuseumMuseumMockbeggar Plantationin townMuseumMuseumBonavista Archivesin townPhotos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (4)
- Ryan Premises: Silverchemist, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ryan Residence: Lukester878, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ryan Retail Store: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ryan Store and Fish Purchasing Centre: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Famous people from Bonavista
8 notable people were born in Bonavista.
Photo credits
Michael Ryder: Boston_Bruins_-_Savard_Lucic_Ryder.jpg : Dan4th Nicholas from Cambridge, MA, USA derivative work: Leech44, CC BY 2.0 · Adam Pardy: Resolute, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Daniel Ryder: Resolute, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Andrew Sweetland: Keith & Alyssa from Rochester, NY, CC BY 2.0
About Bonavista
Town in Newfoundland and Labrador
Statistics Canada treats Bonavista as a single census subdivision in Newfoundland and Labrador, and TownRatings keeps to that line.
Statistics Canada: population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155), Census of Population 2021, 2021 census boundaries.
- Population
- 3,293 (people, 2025 estimate)
- Province or territory
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Census division
- Division No. 7
- Census subdivision
- 1007023
Bonavista’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Statistics Canada
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bonavista | 3,293 | — | C | B+ | C | C− |
| Trinity Bay North | 1,692 | 15 | — | A− | C | D− |
People: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about Bonavista
What kind of homes are in Bonavista?
Single-detached houses make up 90% of the homes here, where Canadian towns sit at 64%; 0% are in high-rise apartments. 31% of households are one person, and the average is 2.1.
Is Bonavista growing?
It went from 3,448 people in 2016 to 3,190 in 2021, down 7.5%, while the median of Canadian towns grew 4.1%. StatCan’s 2025 estimate is 3,293.
How old are the people of Bonavista?
Its median age is 54.8, where Canadian towns sit at 45.2.
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).