Colchester County, Subdivision BNova Scotia
This town in Nova Scotia has a population of 21,578. It belongs to the Truro metropolitan area.
Is Colchester County, Subdivision B a good place to live?
More weak spots than strong ones. Health is a weak point (D). Colchester County, Subdivision B grades D overall, better than 9% of Canadian towns, and ranks #67 of 88 in Nova Scotia. It also trails on walkability (C).
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 Colchester County, Subdivision B grades
Each subject compares Colchester County, Subdivision B 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 Colchester County, Subdivision B stand out
The 3 things Colchester County, Subdivision B does most differently from other towns.
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Colchester County, Subdivision B.
Colchester County, Subdivision B earns a D for health
Area-wide: health survey and life expectancy, counted over the Zone 2 - Northern
For Colchester County, Subdivision B itself the measure is access, and it lags: 7.8 km to the nearest hospital, where 3.7 km is typical. In the health survey, 42% of adults in the region rated their health very good or excellent, below Nova Scotia’s towns (49%) and Canadian towns (52%) alike. Statistics Canada puts the region’s life expectancy at 79.3, women 81.5 and men 77.1 (2022/2024). The region has more smokers than Nova Scotia, 17% of adults to 14%.
Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised
| Health | Colchester County, Subdivision B | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very good or excellent health | 42% | 49% | 52% |
| Chronic conditions (average share) | 21% | 20% | 17% |
| Smokers | 17% | 15% | 12% |
| Life expectancy at birth | 79.3 | 80.0 | 81.5 |
Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities
Household incomes in Colchester County, Subdivision B trail those of 66% of Canadian towns
Getting to work takes 23 min on average.
How working residents got to work · census 2021
| Census 2021 | Colchester County, Subdivision B | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip | 23 min | 23 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.
July highs in Colchester County, Subdivision B: 25.0°C, against 23.1°C in Nova Scotia’s towns and 25.5°C in Canadian towns
Snow peaks in January: 53 cm in a normal year. Precipitation totals 1,179 mm a year, below Nova Scotia’s towns (1,393 mm) but above Canadian towns (883 mm). The frost-free season runs from 1 June to 25 September, 115 days. December is the wettest month, with 121 mm of rain and snow on average.
Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Normals, 1991–2020 | Colchester County, Subdivision B | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Precipitation a year | 1,179 mm | 1,393 mm | 883 mm |
| Days with frost a year | 170 | 133 | 159 |
| July afternoon high | 25.0°C | 23.1°C | 25.5°C |
| Snowfall a year | 187 cm | 215 cm | 141 cm |
Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Debert)
Colchester County, Subdivision B earns a C+ for safety
The violent index for its police area came to 101, above Nova Scotia’s towns (94) and Canadian towns (86) alike. Property crime in the area its police cover: 29.4 per 1,000 people a year.
Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year
| 2023–2025 | Colchester County, Subdivision B | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crime per 1,000 | 29.4 | 36.2 | 31.2 |
| Violent Crime Severity Index | 101 | 94 | 86 |
Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average · Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000: one figure for all of the Colchester County detachment area
Colchester County, Subdivision B earns a C+ for cost of living
Measured across the Truro metro area: rent as a share of income and monthly rent for a two-bedroom
Shelter took 30% or more of income for just over one in ten households, close to Nova Scotia’s towns (13%) and below Canadian towns (18%). The owner-occupied share of households is 78%.
What homes were worth · The median owner’s estimate at the 2021 census
| Census 2021 | Colchester County, Subdivision B | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households spending 30%+ on shelter | 12% | 13% | 18% |
| Rent as a share of income | 22% | 21% | 20% |
| Households owning their home | 78% | 82% | 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.
Protected land around Colchester County, Subdivision B beats 8 in 10 Canadian towns
84 areas within 10 km are protected for nature. The closest provincial park is Rushtons Beach Provincial Park, 2.3 km from the edge of town. A drive of 72 km reaches Prince Edward Island National Park, the nearest national park. Swimmers have 5 beaches within 5 km, Lower Debert Beach the nearest.
Protected land · of the land within 10 km
| Outdoors | Colchester County, Subdivision B | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public protected areas within 10 km | 73 | 23.5 | 4 |
| Protected land within 10 km | 9% | 8.7% | 2.3% |
Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches
The 15 schools of Colchester County, Subdivision B: 12 elementary schools, 2 secondary schools and 1 school for every grade
The nearest secondary school is 8.4 km away, above both Nova Scotia’s towns (4.3 km) and Canadian towns (1.2 km). Of the 15, one teaches in French (6% of schools in Nova Scotia).
| School | Level | Students | System |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bible Hill Consolidated SchoolIn Colchester County, Subdivision BElementary | Elementary | – | English public |
| Bible Hill Junior High SchoolIn Colchester County, Subdivision BSecondary · Grades 8–9 | Secondary · Grades 8–9 | – | English public |
| École acadienne de Truro FrenchTeaches in FrenchElementary | Elementary | – | French public |
Schools by system · Schools within 3 km
| Schools within 3 km | Colchester County, Subdivision B | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| School boards | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Nearest secondary school | 8.4 km | 4.3 km | 1.2 km |
| Nearest elementary school | 5.4 km | 1.9 km | 0.5 km |
Provincial school lists and results, 2025-26 · Why no schools grade in Nova Scotia? The province reports its assessments by regional centre, and that series stops in 2019–20.
Expect November days around 8°C in Colchester County, Subdivision B, nights around −1°C
Snowfall in a normal November: 7 cm. Next comes December, with normal highs of 2°C and lows of −7°C. Rain and snow over a typical November come to 114 mm. The forecast on the Weather page is ECCC’s for Truro.
Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Season | High | Low | Rain and snow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | 0°C | −10°C | 289 mm |
| Spring | 10°C | −2°C | 261 mm |
| Summer | 23°C | 11°C | 278 mm |
| Autumn | 14°C | 3°C | 350 mm |
ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Debert); the forecast is on the Weather page
Alana Hirtle (Liberal Party of Canada) represents Colchester County, Subdivision B in Ottawa as MP for Cumberland—Colchester
Of the 11 Commons seats from Nova Scotia, the Liberal Party of Canada holds 11.
Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada
Tatamagouche Library is Colchester County, Subdivision B’s public library
It stands 30 km from the centre of Colchester County, Subdivision B.
Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada
Colchester County, Subdivision B: median age 48.8, 8,700 households
A quarter of residents are 65 or over, about level with Nova Scotia’s towns (25%) and above Canadian towns (19%). Under 15: 15% of residents.
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 51.1% of Colchester County, Subdivision B
Of the 2021 count, 10,120 were women and 9,685 men (women across Canada: 50.9%).
| Colchester County, Subdivision B | Nova Scotia | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 15% | 14% | 16% |
| 15 to 64 | 61% | 62% | 64% |
| 65+ | 25% | 25% | 19% |
| No certificate, diploma or degree | 20% | 18% | 16% |
| Postsecondary qualification | 51% | 54% | 56% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; Nova Scotia and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+
Colchester County, Subdivision B is on Canada’s flood inventory: 4 listed, led by Province of Nova Scotia
In Health Canada’s survey, 13% of homes tested in the area exceeded 200 Bq/m³ (6.6% typical). For earthquakes Colchester County, Subdivision B is middling, $0.017 a year per $1,000 against $0.030 for the typical town. Behind radon tests sits data gathered across the Zone 3 health region, with Colchester County, Subdivision B one part of it.
Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³
| Hazards | Colchester County, Subdivision B | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radon tests above the guideline | 13% | 13% | 6.6% |
| Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year | $0.017 | $0.018 | $0.030 |
NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory
Heritage in Colchester County, Subdivision B: 4 historic places, one of the highest rank
On the list: 3 provincial or municipal listings. Its oldest building on the record is Fraser Octagon House, from 1857. Homes from before 1961 make up a fifth of the stock, lower than Nova Scotia’s towns (28%) yet higher than Canadian towns (18%).
Historic places by designation · inside the town
Among them
| Heritage | Colchester County, Subdivision B | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homes built before 1961 | 20% | 28% | 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 Colchester County, Subdivision B
Balmoral Grist Mill Museum and 10 more in and around Colchester County, Subdivision B
From museums to parks and historic sites: Colchester County, Subdivision B’s places to visit and those just beyond its edge, most famous first.
MuseumBalmoral Grist Mill Museumin town
MuseumSutherland Steam Mill Museumin townAttractionAttraction176 Nova Scotia Agriculture, Food Permit Renewalin townMuseumMuseumTatamagouche Heritage Centrein townMuseumMuseumAnna Swan Museum At the Creameryin townMuseumMuseumCreamery Square Heritage Centre And Creamery Museumin townPhotos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (2)
- Balmoral Grist Mill Museum: Derek Andrews, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Sutherland Steam Mill Museum: Dennis G. Jarvis, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Famous people from Colchester County, Subdivision B
14 notable people were born in Colchester County, Subdivision B.
Photo credits
Ron Joyce: Ronald V. Joyce, C.M., C.B.H.F., CC BY-SA 4.0 · John Mattatall: David W. Carmichael, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Mike Smith: Gillian Cormier, CC BY 2.5 · Arthur Drysdale: Unknown author, Public domain
About Colchester County, Subdivision B
Town in Nova Scotia
TownRatings counts Colchester County, Subdivision B as Statistics Canada does, as one municipality in Nova Scotia; 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
- 21,578 (people, 2025 estimate)
- Province or territory
- Nova Scotia
- Census division
- Colchester
- Metro area
- Truro
- Census subdivision
- 1210008
Colchester County, Subdivision B’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Statistics Canada
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colchester County, Subdivision B | 21,578 | — | D | C+ | C+ | D |
| Truro | 14,652 | 9.9 | D | C− | C− | C− |
| Millbrook 27 | 1,122 | 13 | — | — | C+ | C− |
| Colchester County, Subdivision C | 14,211 | 17 | D | B− | C+ | D |
People: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about Colchester County, Subdivision B
Who are the people of Colchester County, Subdivision B?
4% of residents belong to a visible minority, against 15% for the median of Canadian towns; 4% have an Indigenous identity and 5% are immigrants.
What kind of homes are in Colchester County, Subdivision B?
Mostly 74% single-detached houses (the median of Canadian towns: 64%), with 0% of homes in buildings of five or more storeys. Households hold 2.3 people on average, and 28% have just one.
Is Colchester County, Subdivision B growing?
It grew from 19,534 people in 2016 to 19,806 in 2021, up 1.4%; the median of Canadian towns grew 4.1%. StatCan’s 2025 estimate is 21,578.
Is Colchester County, Subdivision B a young town or an old one?
At 48.8, its median age compares with 45.2 across Canadian towns. Children make up 15% of the population and seniors 25%.
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).