Cumberland County, Subdivision DNova Scotia
A town in Nova Scotia, home to 4,692 people. It lies in Cumberland.
Is Cumberland County, Subdivision D a good place to live?
Cumberland County, Subdivision D grades D− overall, better than 4% of Canadian towns, and ranks #80 of 88 in Nova Scotia. Where it falls short is health (D). Jobs and pay trail most towns (C−). The rest of its grades are middling: B− for cost of living, B− for walkability and C+ for hazard risk.
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. Crime here is counted against the people who live here, but many visitors or second-home owners add to it, so the rate per resident runs higher than residents' own risk. 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.
What makes Cumberland County, Subdivision D stand out
The 3 things Cumberland County, Subdivision D does most differently from other towns.
How Cumberland County, Subdivision D grades
Each subject compares Cumberland County, Subdivision D 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 →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Cumberland County, Subdivision D.
For health, Cumberland County, Subdivision D gets a D
Residents have 12 km to cover to reach a hospital, above both Nova Scotia’s towns (9.2 km) and Canadian towns (3.7 km). People in the region live to 79.3 on average: 81.5 for women and 77.1 for men in 2022/2024. The region has more smokers than Nova Scotia, 17% of adults to 14%. Across the region, just over two in five adults say their health is very good or excellent; Nova Scotia as a whole reaches 48%.
Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised
| Health | Cumberland County, Subdivision D | 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 · Not measured by town: health survey and life expectancy (the Zone 2 - Northern)
Household incomes in Cumberland County, Subdivision D trail those of 81% of Canadian towns
Commutes averaged 24 min, close to Nova Scotia’s towns (23 min) and below Canadian towns (26 min). Driving is how nine in ten commuters got to work at the census.
How working residents got to work · census 2021
| Census 2021 | Cumberland County, Subdivision D | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip | 24 min | 23 min | 26 min |
| Car or van | 90% | 92% | 89% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021 (labour and commuting) · These are May 2021 figures, gathered while COVID-19 kept many people home or out of work.
Crime runs heavier where Cumberland County, Subdivision D is policed than in Nova Scotia’s towns or Canadian towns, at an index of 93
Measured across the Cumberland County detachment area: Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000
Violent incidents in its police area came to 18.6 per 1,000 residents a year, above both Nova Scotia’s towns (14.5) and Canadian towns (12). Property crime in its police area ran at 35.2 per 1,000 residents a year, close to Nova Scotia’s towns (36.2) and above Canadian towns (31.2).
Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year
| 2023–2025 | Cumberland County, Subdivision D | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crime Severity Index | 93 | 71 | 67 |
| Violent crime | 18.6 | 14.5 | 12 |
Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average
More of the land around Cumberland County, Subdivision D is protected than around 9 in 10 Canadian towns
For a national park, Prince Edward Island National Park is 65 km away. Protected areas open to the public, within 10 km of the town: 42, higher than both Nova Scotia’s towns (23.5) and Canadian towns (4). Within its own boundary, 7.1% of the town is protected.
Protected land · of the land within 10 km
| Outdoors | Cumberland County, Subdivision D | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protected land within 10 km | 15% | 8.7% | 2.3% |
| Public protected areas within 10 km | 42 | 23.5 | 4 |
Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches
Older than 98% of Canadian towns: half of Cumberland County, Subdivision D is over 58.4
1.7% of residents belong to a visible minority, below Nova Scotia’s towns (4%) and Canadian towns (15%) alike. Immigrants make up 5.4% of residents, higher than Nova Scotia’s towns (4.3%) yet lower than Canadian towns (6.4%).
Ages · Share of residents in each age group, Census 2021
Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over
Women and men · all residents
49.7% of Cumberland County, Subdivision D’s residents are women
Census 2021 put women at 2,130 and men at 2,155; women are 50.9% of Canada.
| Cumberland County, Subdivision D | Nova Scotia | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 9.6% | 14% | 16% |
| 15 to 64 | 55% | 62% | 64% |
| 65+ | 35% | 25% | 19% |
| No certificate, diploma or degree | 23% | 18% | 16% |
| Postsecondary qualification | 49% | 54% | 56% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; Nova Scotia and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+
Cumberland County, Subdivision D is wetter than 83% of Canadian towns: 1,134 mm of rain and snow a year
In July, daytime highs in Cumberland County, Subdivision D average 25.4°C. A normal winter brings 187 cm of snow, lower than Nova Scotia’s towns (215 cm) yet higher than Canadian towns (141 cm). Rain and snow peak in October, at 119 mm. January is the snowiest month, with 53 cm on average.
Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Normals, 1991–2020 | Cumberland County, Subdivision D | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days with frost a year | 173 | 133 | 159 |
| Precipitation a year | 1,134 mm | 1,393 mm | 883 mm |
| July afternoon high | 25.4°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 (Tatamagouche)
Flood mapping exists for Cumberland County, Subdivision D: 3 on record, latest by Province of Nova Scotia
Of the homes tested for radon, 13% were over 200 Bq/m³, close to Nova Scotia’s towns (13%) and above Canadian towns (6.6%). Seismic risk in Cumberland County, Subdivision D sits near the middle: $0.020 of expected damage per $1,000 of buildings a year, the typical town $0.030. Nobody publishes radon tests for Cumberland County, Subdivision D alone, so this card uses the figure for the Zone 3 health region.
Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³
| Hazards | Cumberland County, Subdivision D | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radon tests above the guideline | 13% | 13% | 6.6% |
| Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year | $0.020 | $0.018 | $0.030 |
NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory
Cumberland County, Subdivision D in November: highs near 8°C, lows near −1°C
For today and the week ahead, the Weather page carries ECCC’s Tatamagouche forecast. A typical November adds 7 cm of snow. By December, a normal day reaches 2°C and a night falls to −7°C. Expect about 118 mm of rain and snow over November.
Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Season | High | Low | Rain and snow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | 0°C | −10°C | 278 mm |
| Spring | 9°C | −1°C | 241 mm |
| Summer | 24°C | 12°C | 263 mm |
| Autumn | 14°C | 4°C | 352 mm |
ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Tatamagouche); the forecast is on the Weather page
Cumberland—Colchester, which takes in Cumberland County, Subdivision D, is held by Alana Hirtle (Liberal Party of Canada)
Cumberland County, Subdivision D’s riding for the Nova Scotia House of Assembly isn’t shown: no open file of the province’s riding boundaries could be found.
Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada
Cumberland County, Subdivision D has one public library, Pugwash Library
It sits 3.2 km from the centre of Cumberland County, Subdivision D.
Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada
Cumberland County, Subdivision D’s teenagers travel 43 km to the nearest high school
Elementary school is 3.5 km away at the nearest, higher than both Nova Scotia’s towns (1.9 km) and Canadian towns (0.5 km).
| School | Level | Students | System |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyrus Eaton Elementary SchoolIn Cumberland County, Subdivision DElementary | Elementary | – | English public |
| Schools within 3 km | Cumberland County, Subdivision D | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nearest secondary school | 43 km | 4.3 km | 1.2 km |
| Nearest elementary school | 3.5 km | 1.9 km | 0.5 km |
Provincial school lists and results, 2025-26 · Source note: the province reports its assessments by regional centre, and that series stops in 2019–20, so there’s no schools grade in Nova Scotia.
More households own their home in Cumberland County, Subdivision D than in Nova Scotia’s towns or across Canadian towns: 87%
Shelter took 30% or more of income for just over one in ten households, below Nova Scotia’s towns (13%) and Canadian towns (18%) alike. Rent took a fifth of household income, below Nova Scotia’s towns (21%) and close to Canadian towns (20%).
What homes were worth · The median owner’s estimate at the 2021 census
| Census 2021 | Cumberland County, Subdivision D | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households spending 30%+ on shelter | 11% | 13% | 18% |
| Households owning their home | 87% | 82% | 74% |
| Rent as a share of income | 20% | 21% | 20% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; CMHC Rental Market Survey via Statistics Canada · These are 2021 census values, as owners judged them, set against household income in 2020.
Cumberland County, Subdivision D has 3 historic places on the registers, one in the top tier
35% of its homes were built before 1961, above both Nova Scotia’s towns (28%) and Canadian towns (18%). The oldest dated place, Thinkers' Lodge, goes back to 1800. Counted by designation, there are a provincial or municipal listing and a heritage lighthouse.
Historic places by designation · inside the town
Among them
| Heritage | Cumberland County, Subdivision D | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homes built before 1961 | 35% | 28% | 18% |
Canadian Register of Historic Places, Directory of Federal Heritage Designations, Québec’s Répertoire du patrimoine culturel, Wikidata; Census 2021 homes by period
Malagash Salt Mine Museum and 3 more in and around Cumberland County, Subdivision D
Sights in Cumberland County, Subdivision D and close by, ordered by how widely each is known.
Everything we know about Cumberland County, Subdivision D
Famous people from Cumberland County, Subdivision D
8 notable people were born in Cumberland County, Subdivision D.
Photo credits
Simon Newcomb: Harris & Ewing, Public domain · Charles Aubrey Eaton: Bain, Public domain · William R. Eaton: Bench and Bar Publishing Company (Denver, CO), publisher., Public domain · Norman MacKenzie: Unknown author, Public domain
Questions about Cumberland County, Subdivision D
Who are the people of Cumberland County, Subdivision D?
Visible minorities are 2% of the population, where the middle of Canadian towns is 15%. Immigrants make up 5%, and Indigenous people 3%.
What kind of homes are in Cumberland County, Subdivision D?
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 Cumberland County, Subdivision D a young town or an old one?
58.4 is the median age, 45.2 the median among Canadian towns; 35% of residents are 65 or over and 10% under 15.
Is Cumberland County, Subdivision D growing?
Yes: the census counted 4,155 in 2016 and 4,283 in 2021, a rise of 3.1%, against 4.1% for the median of Canadian towns. The 2025 estimate is 4,692.
About Cumberland County, Subdivision D
Town in Nova Scotia
Every figure TownRatings gives for Cumberland County, Subdivision D covers the municipality as Statistics Canada maps it, one census subdivision in Nova Scotia.
Statistics Canada: population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155), Census of Population 2021, 2021 census boundaries.
- Population
- 4,692 (people, 2025 estimate)
- Province or territory
- Nova Scotia
- Census division
- Cumberland
- Census subdivision
- 1211014
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).