LunenburgNova Scotia
26,862 people call this town in Nova Scotia home.
Is Lunenburg a good place to live?
A tough set of grades. The weak point is health (D). Lunenburg ranks #73 of 88 in Nova Scotia, with a D overall. Set against the rest, it does better than 7% of Canadian towns. Floods and other hazards weigh less here (A−). At $250,000, the median home value in 2021 came to 3.6 times local household income.
Figures: home values and income: Statistics Canada, Census 2021.
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.
What makes Lunenburg stand out
The 3 things Lunenburg does most differently from other towns.
How Lunenburg grades
Each subject compares Lunenburg 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 →
Fort Point Museum and 17 more in and around Lunenburg
What there is to see in Lunenburg and within a short drive, starting with the places most people have heard of.
MuseumLaHave Islands Marine Museumin town
MuseumWile Carding Mill600 m outside town, to the south
MuseumKnaut-Rhuland House600 m outside town, to the east
MuseumFisheries Museum of the Atlantic800 m outside town, to the eastTheme parkTheme parkParkdale-Maplewood Museumin townPhotos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (4)
- LaHave Islands Marine Museum: Fralambert, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Wile Carding Mill: Verne Equinox, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Knaut-Rhuland House: Skeezix1000, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic: Vanbasten 23, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Lunenburg.
For health, Lunenburg gets a D
In the health survey, 44% of adults in the region rate their health very good or excellent, fewer than Nova Scotia’s 48%. The average trip from home to a hospital is 12 km, above both Nova Scotia’s towns (9.2 km) and Canadian towns (3.7 km). At 19%, the share of adults who smoke tops the 14% for Nova Scotia. Across the region, life runs to 80.0 years on average: women 82.5, men 77.6, in 2022/2024.
Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised
| Health | Lunenburg | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smokers | 19% | 15% | 12% |
| Very good or excellent health | 44% | 49% | 52% |
| Chronic conditions (average share) | 20% | 20% | 17% |
| Life expectancy at birth | 80.0 | 80.0 | 81.5 |
Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities · Health survey and life expectancy published for the Zone 1 - Western, not by town
Most of Lunenburg works elsewhere: the town has 0.5 jobs for each resident in work
The average trip to work took 25 min, above Nova Scotia’s towns (23 min) and close to Canadian towns (26 min).
How working residents got to work · census 2021
| Census 2021 | Lunenburg | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip | 25 min | 23 min | 26 min |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021 (labour and commuting) · These are May 2021 figures, gathered while COVID-19 kept many people home or out of work.
Flood mapping exists for Lunenburg: 1 on record, latest by Town of Mahone Bay
For earthquakes Lunenburg is middling, $0.022 a year per $1,000 against $0.030 for the typical town. About as many homes carry radon around Lunenburg as elsewhere, 6.2% over the guideline where the typical town has 6.6%. Little of the land around Lunenburg has burned: 0.1% within 25 km since 1986, or 0.002% a year.
Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³
| Hazards | Lunenburg | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radon tests above the guideline | 6.2% | 13% | 6.6% |
| Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year | $0.022 | $0.018 | $0.030 |
NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory · Data for radon tests covers the Zone 1 health region
Lunenburg is a town of owners: 90% of households own their home, above Nova Scotia’s towns and Canadian towns
10% of households spent 30% or more of their income on shelter, lower than both Nova Scotia’s towns (13%) and Canadian towns (18%). A year’s rent came to 20% of the median household income, close to both Nova Scotia’s towns (21%) and Canadian towns (20%).
What homes were worth · The median owner’s estimate at the 2021 census
| Census 2021 | Lunenburg | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households spending 30%+ on shelter | 10% | 13% | 18% |
| Households owning their home | 90% | 82% | 74% |
| Median home value, 2021 | $250,000 | $250,000 | $406,000 |
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.
Few Canadian towns get more rain and snow than Lunenburg: 1,561 mm a year
A normal January brings 50 cm of snow, the most of any month. For the wettest month, look to December: 163 mm on average. The warmest stretch brings July afternoons of 25.5°C, about level with Canadian towns (25.5°C) and above Nova Scotia’s towns (23.1°C). Between the last spring frost, 26 May, and the first in autumn, 28 September, lie 124 days.
Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Normals, 1991–2020 | Lunenburg | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Precipitation a year | 1,561 mm | 1,393 mm | 883 mm |
| July afternoon high | 25.5°C | 23.1°C | 25.5°C |
| Snowfall a year | 184 cm | 215 cm | 141 cm |
| Days with frost a year | 162 | 133 | 159 |
Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Bridgewater)
Lunenburg is older than 92% of Canadian towns: a median age of 53.6
1.5% of residents belong to a visible minority, below Nova Scotia’s towns (4%) and Canadian towns (15%) alike. Immigrants make up 5.7% 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
Women make up 50.0% of Lunenburg
By the 2021 count the town had 12,760 women and 12,785 men, while Canada has 50.9% women.
| Lunenburg | Nova Scotia | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 12% | 14% | 16% |
| 15 to 64 | 59% | 62% | 64% |
| 65+ | 29% | 25% | 19% |
| No certificate, diploma or degree | 21% | 18% | 16% |
| Postsecondary qualification | 53% | 54% | 56% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; Nova Scotia and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+
Within 22 km of Lunenburg: Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site
Named trails close by number 5, the Indian Path Common and Indian Path - Green Route among them. Within 10 km, the count of public protected areas is 34, higher than both Nova Scotia’s towns (23.5) and Canadian towns (4). For a swim, Bachman's Beach is the nearest of 33 beaches within 5 km.
Protected land · of the land within 10 km
| Outdoors | Lunenburg | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public protected areas within 10 km | 34 | 23.5 | 4 |
| Protected land within 10 km | 2.1% | 8.7% | 2.3% |
Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches
Lunenburg in November: highs near 9°C, lows near freezing
About 10 cm of snow falls in a normal November. By December, a normal day reaches 3°C and a night falls to −5°C. Precipitation in November averages 160 mm. Also worth knowing: for today and the week ahead, the Weather page carries ECCC’s Bridgewater forecast.
Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Season | High | Low | Rain and snow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | 1°C | −8°C | 413 mm |
| Spring | 11°C | 0°C | 402 mm |
| Summer | 24°C | 12°C | 299 mm |
| Autumn | 15°C | 4°C | 447 mm |
ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Bridgewater); the forecast is on the Weather page
South Shore—St. Margarets, which takes in Lunenburg, is held by Jessica Fancy-Landry (Liberal Party of Canada)
Of the 11 Commons seats from Nova Scotia, the Liberal Party of Canada holds 11.
Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada
No public library stands in Lunenburg: the closest, Margaret Hennigar Public Library, is 2.7 km away
Visits and loans aren’t published as open data in Nova Scotia, so this page has none for Lunenburg.
Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada
The 16 schools of Lunenburg: 9 elementary schools, 2 secondary schools and 5 schools for every grade
Of the 16, one teaches in French (6% of schools in Nova Scotia). Elementary school is 2.8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Tancook Elementary SchoolIn LunenburgElementary | Elementary | – | English public |
| Bluenose AcademyIn LunenburgAll grades | All grades | – | English public |
| Centre Scolaire de la Rive-Sud FrenchTeaches in FrenchAll grades | All grades | – | French public |
Schools by system · Schools within 3 km
| Schools within 3 km | Lunenburg | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| School boards | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Nearest elementary school | 2.8 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.
For safety, Lunenburg gets a B−
Area-wide: Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000, counted over the Lunenburg County detachment area
The violent index for its police area came to 77, below Nova Scotia’s towns (94) and Canadian towns (86) alike. Violence across its police area runs at 15.1 per 1,000 residents a year. Property crime in the area its police cover: 26.5 per 1,000 people a year.
Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year
| 2023–2025 | Lunenburg | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crime per 1,000 | 26.5 | 36.2 | 31.2 |
| Violent Crime Severity Index | 77 | 94 | 86 |
| Violent crime | 15.1 | 14.5 | 12 |
Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average
Lunenburg’s oldest designated place, Fort Sainte Marie de Grace, dates from 1632
The list takes in a Recognized Federal Heritage Building. The registers put 2 historic places inside its boundary, one of them of the highest rank. Before 1961 is when 32% of the homes went up, higher than both Nova Scotia’s towns (28%) and Canadian towns (18%).
Historic places by designation · inside the town
| Heritage | Lunenburg | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homes built before 1961 | 32% | 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 Lunenburg
Famous people from Lunenburg
6 notable people were born in Lunenburg.
Photo credits
Angus MacLennan: William James Topley, Public domain
Lunenburg’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Statistics Canada
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lunenburg | 26,862 | — | D | C | B− | D |
| Bridgewater | 9,989 | 2.6 | D | C− | C+ | C− |
| Mahone Bay | 1,200 | 11 | — | D− | B− | D |
| Lunenburg | 2,523 | 15 | C− | D | B− | C− |
People: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about Lunenburg
Who are the people of Lunenburg?
2% of residents belong to a visible minority, against 15% for the median of Canadian towns; 3% have an Indigenous identity and 6% are immigrants.
What kind of homes are in Lunenburg?
Single-detached houses make up 92% of the homes here, where Canadian towns sit at 64%; 0% are in high-rise apartments. 26% of households are one person, and the average is 2.2.
Is Lunenburg a young town or an old one?
The typical resident is 53.6 (Canadian towns: 45.2), with seniors at 29% of the population and under-15s at 12%.
Has Lunenburg grown?
It grew from 24,863 people in 2016 to 25,545 in 2021, up 2.7%; the median of Canadian towns grew 4.1%. StatCan’s 2025 estimate is 26,862.
About Lunenburg
Town in Nova Scotia
For Lunenburg, TownRatings uses Statistics Canada’s census-subdivision boundary in Nova Scotia, and every figure on its pages covers that whole area.
Statistics Canada: population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155), Census of Population 2021, 2021 census boundaries.
- Population
- 26,862 (people, 2025 estimate)
- Province or territory
- Nova Scotia
- Census subdivision
- 1206001
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).