Photo: André Carrotflower · CC BY-SA 2.0Argyle has less crime per resident than 66% of Canadian towns
Annual rates stand at 11.6 violent incidents and 17.9 incidents of property crime for every thousand residents, next to 12.9 and 31.2 in the typical town its size. On top of that, its letter for safety is B+, worked out from crime the police covering Argyle reported over 2023 to 2025: #2 of 88 in Nova Scotia. Violence accounts for an index of 68.3 and other offences for 46, against usual levels of 85.7 and 62.8.
Statistics Canada, police-reported crime, 2023–2025 means. The index weighs each crime by its seriousness; rates are incidents per 1,000 residents a year. Measured across the Yarmouth detachment area: crime severity, crime rate and incident counts.
What stands out about safety in Argyle
Lower than most of Nova Scotia
Set among Nova Scotia’s towns, whose median is 71.4, Argyle scores 52.1. Towns its size ↓
Easing since 2023
Argyle’s index went from 54.2 in 2023 to 45.2 in 2025; the typical Canadian town its size moved from 74.3 to 64.2. Year by year ↓
In the middle of towns its size
Counting up from the lowest index, Argyle is 22nd of the 40 Canadian towns closest in population. Towns its size ↓
Written from Statistics Canada’s police-reported crime by police service and detachment, 2023–2025. Figures are what police recorded, not convictions.
Inside Argyle’s B+ for safety
How sure: Less sure than most: the grade leans on the closest detachment, 22 km from Argyle, since none reports under the town’s name.
The grade weighs the Crime Severity Index and its violent half, averaged over 2023–2025, against every Canadian town and city neighbourhood of 1,000 people or more.
Its place: #2 of 88 in Nova Scotia and #570 of 2,572 Canadian towns.
The Crime Severity Index and its two halves, beside the typical figure for Canadian towns of 2,500 to 10,000 people.
What police record in Argyle, by type
Against the typical town its size, Argyle runs highest on mischief (6.6 per 1,000 against 4.9). Motor vehicle theft and theft under $5,000 sit below it.
Every Statistics Canada violation line
| Violation | Incidents a year | Per 1,000 | Cleared |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 0 | 0 | — |
| Sexual violations against children | 11.3 | 0.6 | 80% |
| Assaults against a peace officer | 2.3 | 0.1 | — |
| Firearms: use, discharge, pointing | 2 | 0.1 | — |
| Robbery | 0.7 | 0.04 | — |
| Forcible confinement or kidnapping | 0.7 | 0.04 | — |
| Other violent violations | 8.3 | 0.4 | 45% |
| Breaking and entering | 50.7 | 2.7 | 12% |
| Possession of stolen property | 2 | 0.1 | — |
| Theft of a motor vehicle | 25 | 1.3 | 17% |
| Theft over $5,000 | 4 | 0.2 | — |
| Theft under $5,000 | 55.3 | 2.9 | 24% |
| Mischief | 126 | 6.6 | 12% |
| Weapons violations | 5.7 | 0.3 | 53% |
| Administration of justice violations | 37.3 | 2 | 64% |
| Other Criminal Code violations | 18.7 | 1 | 36% |
| Drug violations | 9.7 | 0.5 | 10% |
| Impaired driving | 71.7 | 3.8 | 29% |
| Failing to stop or remain | 0 | 0 | — |
Statistics Canada’s violation groups for the whole police service or detachment, incidents a year its own. Cleared: incidents solved by a charge or otherwise, as a share of those reported.
Incidents per 1,000 residents a year, 2023–2025 means, against the typical figure for Canadian towns of 2,500 to 10,000 people.
Argyle’s index fell 17% from 2023 to 2025
Crime Severity Index
At 56.7, 2024 topped the three years, and 2025 was lowest at 45.2. Set beside it, the typical Canadian town its size went from 74.3 in 2023 to 64.2 in 2025.
Every year as a table
| Year | Argyle | Typical town its size |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 45.2 | 64.2 |
| 2024 | 56.7 | 68.8 |
| 2023 | 54.2 | 74.3 |
Statistics Canada, Crime Severity Index by police service, each year as published. Typical: the median of Canadian towns of 2,500 to 10,000 people.
The Crime Severity Index of the police covering Argyle, each year, against the typical Canadian town its size.
The detachment closest to Argyle, 19,000 residents, recorded about 220 violent incidents a year, 2023–2025
Violent incidents per 1,000 a year, 2023–2025
Property crimes per 1,000 a year, 2023–2025
Statistics Canada counts actual incidents; those police record as unfounded are listed apart and kept out of its crime rates and severity index. Each incident is filed under its most serious violation, which the survey sets partly by the maximum penalty.
Property crime adds about 340 a year and other violations 190 (2023–2025 average). Of 1,000 dots, one per resident, the coloured ones are a year’s incidents at these rates.
By its index, Argyle stands 22nd of 40 towns its size
| # | Town | People | Severity index | Violent index | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Douro-Dummer Ontario | 8,379 | 14.9 | 13.8 | A+ |
| … | |||||
| 19 | Aylmer Ontario | 8,371 | 49 | 63.6 | B+ |
| 20 | Electoral Area A, Comox Valley British Columbia | 8,415 | 49.5 | 61.5 | B+ |
| 21 | Cardinal Ontario | 7,952 | 51.4 | 74.1 | B+ |
| 22 | Argyle Nova Scotia | 8,216 | 52.1 | 68.3 | B+ |
| 23 | McNab/Braeside Ontario | 8,340 | 52.1 | 81.8 | B+ |
| 24 | St. Marys Ontario | 8,203 | 52.5 | 75.2 | B+ |
| 25 | Acton Vale Quebec | 7,945 | 54.1 | 86 | B |
| … | |||||
| 32 | Clare Nova Scotia | 8,020 | 79.7 | 93.8 | C |
| … | |||||
| 40 | Happy Valley-Goose Bay Newfoundland and Labrador | 8,197 | 360 | 345 | D− |
The 40 Canadian towns of 2,500+ people closest in population; city neighbourhoods, city totals and reserves are left out. Towns on one police service or detachment share its index.
The Canadian towns closest to Argyle in population, the lowest Crime Severity Index first (2023–2025 means).
Crime in the places around Argyle
A neighbour policed by the same service carries the same figure, so it isn’t set against it.
Each place’s police figures, 2023–2025 means.
What this data can and can’t tell you
- An index, not a verdict. Statistics Canada, which publishes the index, attaches a caution: “The CSI is not an indicator of overall safety and should be interpreted in the broader community context.” The number weighs each reported crime by its seriousness before dividing by residents.
- The index’s scale. Canada’s own index has been below its 2006 base of 100 for years, so 100 marks a fixed reference, not today’s national average.
- What clearance means. Police clear an incident by charging someone, recommending a charge, or closing it another way. The rate weighs serious crimes more, as the index does.
Questions about safety in Argyle
Is Argyle safe?
On Statistics Canada’s figures, Argyle scores 52.1 on the Crime Severity Index for 2023–2025, with 11.6 violent and 17.9 property incidents per 1,000 residents a year. Set that beside 68.5, the median for Canadian towns of 2,500 to 10,000 people.
What is the most common crime in Argyle?
Police record mischief most, 6.6 per 1,000 residents a year, ahead of other Criminal Code offences (4.7) and Criminal Code traffic offences (4.4).
Is crime going up in Argyle?
Over 2023–2025 the index dropped 17%, to 45.2 from 54.2.
How much of Argyle’s crime do police solve?
Weighted by seriousness, police cleared 33% of crime (62% of violent crime, 16% of the rest). The typical Canadian town its size clears 34%.
Whose figures are these?
A shared service or detachment’s, reported as one for Argyle and everywhere else it polices.
Source: Statistics Canada, police-reported crime by police service and detachment, 2023–2025 (Statistics Canada Open Licence); TownRatings calculation.
Sources: Statistics Canada, Crime severity index and weighted clearance rates, police services (tables 35-10-0186 to 0190, 0061, 0063, 0064), 2023–2025 · Statistics Canada, Incident-based crime statistics by detailed violations, police services (35-10-0178 to 0185) · Safety Grade: TownRatings calculation. 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).