NainNewfoundland and Labrador

It is a town of 1,222 residents in Newfoundland and Labrador. It is part of Division No. 11, a census division.

Photo: Chaughten · CC BY-SA 3.0

Population

1,222

people, 2025 estimate

Median age

29.4

years · Newfoundland and Labrador’s towns: 49.4

Postsecondary

27%

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

Walk, cycle, transit

30%

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

Is Nain a good place to live?

Buying a home costs less than in most towns (A+). It also does well on walkability (B+). Safety lags (D−). Health outcomes fall short of most towns (D).

An overall grade comes at 2,500 residents for Canadian towns; Nain has its subject grades alone.

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.

StrongestA⁺Cost of living A⁺Hazard riskWeakestD⁻Safety DHealth

How Nain grades

Each subject compares Nain 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

An overall grade comes at 2,500 residents for Canadian towns; Nain has its subject grades alone.

Cost of livingAmong the best of the towns comparedA⁺Open →SafetyBased on crimes reported per residentD⁻Open →Hazard riskNatural hazards pose little risk hereA⁺Open →HealthNear the bottom of the towns comparedDOpen →WalkabilityBased on walking, cycling and transit to everyday placesB⁺Open →Jobs & incomeIncomes and work beat most townsBOpen →

SchoolsIn Newfoundland and Labrador, there’s no schools grade: the province publishes no results school by school.–

How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →

What makes Nain stand out

The 3 things Nain does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Home value ÷ household income

Housing

1.1 times household income

Against 4.7 for the median of Canadian towns

Median owner’s estimate $100,000, Census 2021; income for 2020.

Immigrants

Who lives here

1% are immigrants

Next to 6%, the median among Canadian towns

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

Residents 65 and over

Who lives here

Only 6% are 65 or over

Half of Canadian towns are above 19%, half below

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Nain.

HousingCost of living A⁺

Renting in Nain costs 8% of household income, less than in Newfoundland and Labrador’s towns and across Canadian towns

$100,000median home value, 2021A⁺Cost of living Grade

Owners make up 76% of households.

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

Nain$100,000

Newfoundland and Labrador$215,000

Canadian towns$406,000

Census 2021	Nain	Newfoundland and Labrador	Canada
Households spending 30%+ on shelter	0%	15%	18%
Rent as a share of income	8%	17%	20%

$548

monthly rent for a two-bedroom

$348

median monthly shelter cost for owners, 2021

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

Renting$548 a month · The median rent at the 2021 census Cost of living1.1 times household income · The median owner’s estimate, $100,000, against the median household income Owners and renters76% own their home

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.

SafetySafety D⁻

Violent crime weighs more where Nain is policed than in Newfoundland and Labrador’s towns or Canadian towns: a violent severity index of 1,280

737Crime Severity Index

The Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000 numbers here cover the Nain detachment area

Its police area records 192.8 violent incidents per 1,000 residents a year. Across the area its police cover, the Crime Severity Index averaged 737 over 2023–25, above Newfoundland and Labrador’s towns (81) and Canadian towns (67) alike. The force’s area logs 437.3 thefts, break-ins and acts of damage per 1,000 residents a year.

Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year

2023667

2024632

2025911

2023–2025	Nain	Newfoundland and Labrador	Canada
Crime Severity Index	737	81	67
Violent Crime Severity Index	1,280	82	86
Violent crime	192.8	16.7	12
Property crime per 1,000	437.3	34.8	31.2

525

non-violent Crime Severity Index

35%

of incidents cleared, 2023–25

Full pageNain’s safety reportOpen the full Safety report

Safety737 Crime Severity Index · The index weighs each crime Nain’s police recorded by how serious it is.Questions“Is Nain safe?”

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

Natural hazardsHazard risk A⁺

Hazard risk in Nain is lower than in 98% of Canadian towns

Lowwildfire bandA⁺Hazard risk Grade

Radon tests for the Labrador-Grenfell Regional Integrated Health Auth health region

Seismic risk runs low: $0.010 of expected damage per $1,000 of buildings a year, the typical town $0.030. Wildfire is rare near Nain: 0.1% of the land within 25 km has burned since 1986, a burn rate of 0.002% a year. Radon is lower than usual: 3% of tested homes in the survey area topped the guideline, against 6.6% for the typical town.

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

Nain3%

Newfoundland and Labrador’s towns4%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	Nain	Newfoundland and Labrador	Canada
Radon tests above the guideline	3%	4%	6.6%
Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year	$0.010	$0.011	$0.030

Low

wildfire band

23 km

to the nearest land burned since 1986

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

WildfireLow wildfire band · 0.1% of the land within 25 km burned since 1986 FloodNo flood study on record Earthquakes$0.010 a year per $1,000 · Canadian towns: $0.030 Radon3% of tests above the guideline Be readyAlerts, FireSmart and radon tests

NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory

Schools

Nain’s one school is Jens Haven Memorial

1school within 3 km

Secondary school means a trip of 151 km at the nearest, higher than both Newfoundland and Labrador’s towns (25 km) and Canadian towns (1.2 km).

School	Level	Students	System
Jens Haven MemorialIn NainAll grades	All grades	–	English public

Schools within 3 km	Nain	Newfoundland and Labrador	Canada
Nearest secondary school	151 km	25 km	1.2 km
Nearest elementary school	151 km	3.5 km	0.5 km

151 km

to the nearest secondary school

151 km

to the nearest elementary school

Full pageNain’s schools pageOpen the full Schools page

Every school1 school for every grade Language0 of 1 teach in French · 2% of schools in Newfoundland and Labrador Questions“What schools are there in Nain?”

Statistics Canada’s Open Database of Educational Facilities · In Newfoundland and Labrador, no schools grade. The province publishes no results school by school.

Climate

Nain has cooler summers than Newfoundland and Labrador’s towns or Canadian towns: July highs of 14.8°C

14.8°CJuly afternoons

There are 226 days of frost in a typical year, higher than both Newfoundland and Labrador’s towns (171) and Canadian towns (159). January nights in Nain drop to −21.1°C on average. March is the snowiest month, with 71 cm on average. The most precipitation falls in July: 105 mm in a normal year.

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter−11.3°C

Spring−0.6°C

Summer13.9°C

Autumn5.5°C

Normals, 1991–2020	Nain	Newfoundland and Labrador	Canada
July afternoon high	14.8°C	21.2°C	25.5°C
Snowfall a year	421 cm	363 cm	141 cm
January night low	−21.1°C	−8.7°C	−13.5°C
Days with frost a year	226	171	159

421 cm

of snow a year

226

days with frost a year

frost-free days, 15 Jun to 23 Sep

120

days with precipitation a year

Full pageNain’s climate pageOpen the full Climate page

The yearJuly highs 14.8°C, January lows −21.1°C Rain and snow871 mm a year · Canadian towns: 883 mm Snow421 cm of snow a year Weather station2.9 km to the station · Nain

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

HealthHealth D

Nain’s region trails the typical Canadian town by 4.4 years: life expectancy 77.1

60%very good or excellent healthDHealth Grade

A hospital lies 373 km from the typical home, higher than both Newfoundland and Labrador’s towns (8.5 km) and Canadian towns (3.7 km). The region has more smokers than Newfoundland and Labrador, 19% of adults to 15%. Adults here are more upbeat about their health than the province: 60% very good or excellent, against 52% in Newfoundland and Labrador. Nobody publishes health survey and life expectancy for Nain alone, so this card uses the figure for the Labrador-Grenfell Zone.

Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised

Nain60%

Newfoundland and Labrador’s towns50%

Canadian towns52%

Health	Nain	Newfoundland and Labrador	Canada
Very good or excellent health	60%	50%	52%
Smokers	19%	15%	12%
Life expectancy at birth	77.1	78.6	81.5
Chronic conditions (average share)	21%	22%	17%

77.1

years of life expectancy, 2022/2024

373 km

from homes to a hospital, on average

19%

of adults smoke, age-standardised

373 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

Full pageNain’s health pageOpen the full Health page

Health survey60% very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised Getting careA pharmacy 373 km away on average The wider areaLife expectancy: women 79.2, men 74.6 Conditions and habits21% with chronic conditions · adults, age-standardised

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

Who lives here

More of Nain’s residents have an Indigenous identity than in Newfoundland and Labrador’s towns or Canadian towns: 96%

29.4median age

NainNewfoundland and LabradorCanada

Newfoundland and LabradorCanada

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

30%

Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over

No certificate, diploma or degree41%

Postsecondary qualification27%

Women and men · all residents

Women make up 50.9% of Nain

By the 2021 count the town had 430 women and 415 men, while Canada has 50.9% women.

Who lives in Nain
	Nain	Newfoundland and Labrador	Canada
Under 15	30%	13%	16%
15 to 64	64%	61%	64%
65+	5.9%	26%	19%
No certificate, diploma or degree	41%	21%	16%
Postsecondary qualification	27%	53%	56%

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

Immigrants1% are immigrants · 0% belong to a visible minority Ages29.4 median age · 6% are 65 or over Households245 households · 3.4 people per household English and French0% speak French but not English

Statistics Canada, Census 2021; Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+

Work & commuteJobs & income B

Commuters in Nain have a short way to work, 12 min on average, less than in Newfoundland and Labrador’s towns and across Canadian towns

30%walk, cycle or take transit

The car carried 35% of commuters at the census.

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van35%

Walk30%

Census 2021	Nain	Newfoundland and Labrador	Canada
Car or van	35%	92%	89%
Average trip	12 min	19 min	26 min

$89,000

median household income, 2020

worked from home, May 2021

86%

of commuters work inside the municipality

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

Unemployment10% unemployed · Of the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Getting to work30% walk, cycle or take transit Where people commute to10 commuters · The biggest flow out: to Happy Valley-Goose Bay

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.

Weather

Nain in November: highs near −1°C, lows near −7°C

−1°Ca normal November afternoon

December follows at −8°C by day and −15°C by night. Rain and snow over a typical November come to 62 mm. November usually brings some 44 cm of snow. At the extremes, August afternoons reach 16°C and February nights −22°C.

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

November−1°C

December−8°C

January−13°C

February−13°C

Season	High	Low	Rain and snow
Winter	−11°C	−19°C	201 mm
Spring	−1°C	−10°C	198 mm
Summer	14°C	5°C	260 mm
Autumn	6°C	−1°C	212 mm

−7°C

a normal November night

62 mm

of rain and snow in a normal November

Full pageNain’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 August, coldest February

ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Nain); the forecast is on the Weather page

Town hall

Nain sends Philip Earle (Liberal Party of Canada) to the Commons from Labrador

Of the 7 Commons seats from Newfoundland and Labrador, the Liberal Party of Canada holds 4.

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

Who runs itTown

Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada

Library & civic lifeCivic life grade C

No public library is mapped in or near Nain

Visits and loans aren’t published as open data in Newfoundland and Labrador, so this page has none for Nain.

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

Places to belong0.8 charities per 1,000 residents

Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada

Outdoors

Protected land is absent from the 10 km around Nain

0%of the land within 10 km protected

There is no national park within 100 km of the town.

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

Nain0%

Newfoundland and Labrador’s towns0.4%

Canadian towns2.3%

Outdoors	Nain	Newfoundland and Labrador	Canada
Protected land within 10 km	0%	0.4%	2.3%
Public protected areas within 10 km	0	1	4

Full pageNain’s outdoors pageOpen the full Outdoors page

Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas0 protected areas within 10 km

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

History

Nain: 2 historic places, one with the highest designation

2historic places

4.1% of its homes were built before 1961, below Newfoundland and Labrador’s towns (17%) and Canadian towns (18%) alike. The record has a provincial or municipal listing.

Historic places by designation · inside the town

Highest designations1

Other federal designations0

Provincial and local listings1

Among them

4.1%

of homes built before 1961 · Canadian towns 18%

National Historic Site

Heritage	Nain	Newfoundland and Labrador	Canada
Homes built before 1961	4.1%	17%	18%

Full pageNain’s history pageOpen the full History page

On the registers2 historic places inside the town Highest designations1 top designation · Kitjigattalik - Ramah Chert Quarries Older homes4.1% built before 1961 · Canadian towns: 18%Questions“How many historic places does Nain have?”

Canadian Register of Historic Places, Directory of Federal Heritage Designations, Québec’s Répertoire du patrimoine culturel, Wikidata; Census 2021 homes by period

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Nain

15pages on Nain

The big questions

SafetyD⁻Crime Severity Index 737 Housing & costA⁺Homes 1.1 × income Property pricesSchoolsOne school within 3 km HealthDLife expectancy 77.1 in its region Work & commuteB53% of adults in work Natural hazardsA⁺Wildfire band: low

Out and about

OutdoorsAttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 15°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 29.4 History2 places on the heritage registers Town hallFamous people

About Nain

Town in Newfoundland and Labrador

The boundary here is Statistics Canada’s: Nain is one census subdivision in Newfoundland and Labrador, and TownRatings describes all of it.

Statistics Canada: population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155), Census of Population 2021, 2021 census boundaries.

Population: 1,222 (people, 2025 estimate)
Province or territory: Newfoundland and Labrador
Census division: Division No. 11
Census subdivision: 1011035

Questions about Nain

Has Nain grown?

Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses it fell from 1,125 to 847 residents (24.7% down; Canadian towns’ median grew 4.1%); Statistics Canada now estimates 1,222.

How old are the people of Nain?

The median resident is 29.4 years old, against 45.2 for the median of Canadian towns. 30% are under 15 and 6% are 65 or over.

What kind of homes are in Nain?

Mostly 86% single-detached houses (the median of Canadian towns: 64%), with 0% of homes in buildings of five or more storeys. Households hold 3.4 people on average, and 12% have just one.

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).