#1Argyle
Nova Scotia · 8,216 peopleOverall B−·#1,468 of 2,556
Strongest: cost of living A−, hazard risk B+·lowest: health D−
Argyle, #1 on this list · Photo: André Carrotflower (CC BY-SA 2.0)Nova Scotia · 2026
Towns with the mildest winters in Nova Scotia
Yarmouth takes second place with -3°C (27°F); Barrington is third with -3°C (27°F). At the halfway mark stands Kings County, Subdivision B, at -5°C (23°F). Last comes Cumberland County, Subdivision C, at -7°C (20°F). Nationally, Argyle ranks #188 of 2,589. Not one of Nova Scotia’s places reaches the top 100 for all of Canada. Nowhere in Nova Scotia does better on this list than Argyle, at -3°C (27°F).
Average January temperature, 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station How grades work
#1-3°C (27°F) January average
#2Yarmouth
Nova Scotia · 10,637 peopleOverall C+·#1,525 of 2,556
Strongest: hazard risk B+, cost of living B+·lowest: health D
#3Barrington
Nova Scotia · 6,720 peopleOverall C−·#2,297 of 2,556
Strongest: cost of living B+, jobs & income B−·lowest: hazard risk D−
All 88, ranked in Nova Scotia
Best first in Nova Scotia; beside each place, its rank on the same list for all of Canada.
88 places
#TownJanuary averageCanada rankWhat drives it
1Argyle8,216 people-3°C (27°F)#188 of 2,589Strongest: cost of living A−, hazard risk B+·lowest: health D−
2Yarmouth10,637 people-3°C (27°F)#189 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk B+, cost of living B+·lowest: health D
3Barrington6,720 people-3°C (27°F)#197 of 2,589Strongest: cost of living B+, jobs & income B−·lowest: hazard risk D−
4Clare8,020 people-3°C (27°F)#198 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk B+, cost of living B·lowest: health D−
5Yarmouth7,129 people-3°C (27°F)#202 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A, hazard risk A−·lowest: safety D
6Guysborough4,721 people-3°C (27°F)#206 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A, cost of living A−·lowest: jobs & income D
7Richmond County, Subdivision C3,444 people-3°C (27°F)#207 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A, cost of living A−·lowest: health D
8Sheet Harbour3,334 people-3°C (27°F)#209 of 2,589Strongest: health B, hazard risk B−·lowest: jobs & income D−
9Shelburne4,542 people-3°C (27°F)#218 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A−, cost of living C+·lowest: walkability D
10Liverpool10,997 people-3°C (27°F)#219 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A−, walkability C+·lowest: jobs & income D
11Inverness County, Subdivision A5,389 people-4°C (25°F)#426 of 2,589Strongest: cost of living B+, hazard risk B−·lowest: walkability D
12Cole Harbour21,627 people-4°C (25°F)#428 of 2,589Strongest: jobs & income A−, walkability B+·lowest: cost of living C+
13Timberlea11,014 people-4°C (25°F)#429 of 2,589Strongest: jobs & income A−, walkability B·lowest: safety C+
14Hammonds Plains13,844 people-4°C (25°F)#430 of 2,589Strongest: jobs & income B+, cost of living B+·lowest: walkability C−
15Woodlawn20,925 people-4°C (25°F)#431 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A−, health B+·lowest: cost of living C
16Upper Tantallon5,248 people-4°C (25°F)#432 of 2,589Strongest: jobs & income A−, health B−·lowest: walkability C−
17Portland Estates10,164 people-4°C (25°F)#433 of 2,589Strongest: jobs & income A, walkability B+·lowest: cost of living D
18Bedford28,848 people-4°C (25°F)#434 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A−, jobs & income A−·lowest: cost of living D
19Westphal4,201 people-4°C (25°F)#435 of 2,589Strongest: jobs & income B, health B·lowest: cost of living C+
20Eastern Passage10,745 people-4°C (25°F)#438 of 2,589Strongest: walkability B+, health B·lowest: cost of living C+
21Westmount23,207 people-4°C (25°F)#440 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A+, health B+·lowest: cost of living D−
22Lawrencetown3,509 people-4°C (25°F)#442 of 2,589Strongest: jobs & income B+, health B·lowest: walkability D
23Hubley6,337 people-4°C (25°F)#444 of 2,589Strongest: jobs & income A−, health B−·lowest: walkability D
24Windsor Park13,044 people-4°C (25°F)#445 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A+, health B+·lowest: cost of living D
25Manor Park14,148 people-4°C (25°F)#446 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A+, health B+·lowest: cost of living D
26Clayton Park West34,404 people-4°C (25°F)#447 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A+, health B·lowest: cost of living D
27Mount Royale9,340 people-4°C (25°F)#448 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A−, health B+·lowest: cost of living D
28North End19,733 people-4°C (25°F)#449 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A+, health B+·lowest: cost of living D−
29South End22,012 people-4°C (25°F)#450 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A, health B+·lowest: cost of living D
30Austinville28,021 people-4°C (25°F)#451 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A+, health B+·lowest: cost of living D
31East Lawrencetown4,020 people-4°C (25°F)#452 of 2,589Strongest: jobs & income B, health B−·lowest: walkability D
32Fairview16,296 people-4°C (25°F)#453 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A+, health B+·lowest: cost of living D−
33Hatchet Lake9,930 people-4°C (25°F)#454 of 2,589Strongest: health B−, hazard risk B−·lowest: walkability C−
34Lake Echo5,223 people-4°C (25°F)#455 of 2,589Strongest: health B, hazard risk B−·lowest: walkability C−
35Harrietsfield6,786 people-4°C (25°F)#456 of 2,589Strongest: health B, hazard risk B−·lowest: walkability C−
36Gaetz Brook4,473 people-4°C (25°F)#457 of 2,589Strongest: health B, hazard risk B−·lowest: walkability D
37Musquodoboit Harbour2,719 people-4°C (25°F)#458 of 2,589Strongest: health B, hazard risk B−·lowest: jobs & income D
38East Preston2,573 people-4°C (25°F)#459 of 2,589Strongest: health B, hazard risk B−·lowest: jobs & income C−
39Head of St Margarets Bay2,885 people-4°C (25°F)#460 of 2,589Strongest: health B−, hazard risk B−·lowest: walkability C−
40Victoria County, Subdivision A2,746 people-4°C (24°F)#470 of 2,589Strongest: cost of living B+, hazard risk B−·lowest: health D
41Kentville7,589 people-5°C (23°F)#488 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A−, walkability B+·lowest: health C−
42Berwick2,631 people-5°C (23°F)#489 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A, hazard risk A−·lowest: cost of living C−
43Windsor20,318 people-5°C (23°F)#490 of 2,589Strongest: health B, hazard risk C+·lowest: jobs & income D
44Kings County, Subdivision C8,994 people-5°C (23°F)#491 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A−, walkability B·lowest: health C−
45Kings County, Subdivision B12,661 people-5°C (23°F)#492 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A−, safety C+·lowest: health C−
46Kings County, Subdivision D6,517 people-5°C (23°F)#493 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A−, safety C+·lowest: health C−
47Cape Breton106,752 people-5°C (23°F)#618 of 2,589Strongest: safety A−, walkability B·lowest: jobs & income C−
48Victoria County, Subdivision B4,258 people-5°C (23°F)#640 of 2,589Strongest: cost of living B+, walkability B−·lowest: jobs & income D
49Kingston24,574 people-5°C (23°F)#649 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A−, walkability B−·lowest: health D
50Annapolis County, Subdivision C5,694 people-5°C (23°F)#653 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A−, cost of living C+·lowest: health D
51Annapolis County, Subdivision B5,086 people-5°C (23°F)#655 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A−, walkability B+·lowest: jobs & income D
52Annapolis County, Subdivision D3,273 people-5°C (23°F)#656 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A−, cost of living C+·lowest: health D
53Annapolis County, Subdivision A6,719 people-5°C (23°F)#657 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A−, walkability B−·lowest: jobs & income D
54Digby7,528 people-5°C (23°F)#658 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk B+, cost of living C+·lowest: health D
55Westville3,731 people-5°C (23°F)#659 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A, cost of living B·lowest: health D
56Stellarton4,251 people-5°C (23°F)#660 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A+, walkability B+·lowest: safety C−
57Pictou County, Subdivision C8,847 people-5°C (23°F)#661 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A+, cost of living B+·lowest: health D
58Pictou County, Subdivision A6,575 people-5°C (23°F)#662 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A, cost of living B+·lowest: health D
59Pictou County, Subdivision B6,482 people-5°C (23°F)#663 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A+, cost of living B+·lowest: walkability D
60New Glasgow10,378 people-5°C (23°F)#664 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A, walkability A−·lowest: safety D
61Pictou3,307 people-5°C (23°F)#665 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A+, walkability B+·lowest: safety D
62Lunenburg2,523 people-5°C (23°F)#666 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A, hazard risk A−·lowest: cost of living D
63Bridgewater9,989 people-5°C (23°F)#667 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A−, hazard risk A−·lowest: cost of living C−
64Lunenburg26,862 people-5°C (23°F)#668 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A−, safety B−·lowest: health D
65Chester11,740 people-5°C (23°F)#669 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A−, safety B−·lowest: health D−
66Fall River9,214 people-6°C (22°F)#771 of 2,589Strongest: jobs & income A, health B·lowest: walkability C
67Middle Sackville14,898 people-6°C (22°F)#772 of 2,589Strongest: jobs & income B+, health B·lowest: cost of living C
68Lower Sackville20,171 people-6°C (22°F)#773 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A−, health B+·lowest: cost of living C−
69Beaver Bank9,157 people-6°C (22°F)#774 of 2,589Strongest: jobs & income B+, health B·lowest: cost of living C+
70Antigonish County, Subdivision B6,486 people-6°C (22°F)#775 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A, cost of living A−·lowest: health D
71Antigonish County, Subdivision A9,682 people-6°C (22°F)#776 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A+, jobs & income A−·lowest: health C−
72Dutch Settlement6,234 people-6°C (22°F)#777 of 2,589Strongest: jobs & income B, health B−·lowest: walkability C−
74Meaghers Grant3,430 people-6°C (22°F)#779 of 2,589Strongest: health B, hazard risk B−·lowest: jobs & income D
75Antigonish5,175 people-6°C (22°F)#780 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A+, hazard risk A·lowest: cost of living D
76Port Hawkesbury3,442 people-6°C (22°F)#781 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A+, walkability A·lowest: health C−
77Inverness5,138 people-6°C (22°F)#782 of 2,589Strongest: cost of living B, walkability B·lowest: health D
78Inverness County, Subdivision C3,314 people-6°C (22°F)#784 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A, cost of living B−·lowest: health D
79Richmond County, Subdivision A4,305 people-6°C (22°F)#785 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A, safety B−·lowest: jobs & income D
80Cumberland County, Subdivision A3,401 people-6°C (22°F)#786 of 2,589Strongest: cost of living B, hazard risk B−·lowest: jobs & income D−
81Colchester County, Subdivision C14,211 people-6°C (21°F)#927 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk B−, cost of living B−·lowest: health D
82Cumberland County, Subdivision D4,692 people-6°C (20°F)#944 of 2,589Strongest: cost of living B−, walkability B−·lowest: health D
83Colchester County, Subdivision A3,891 people-7°C (20°F)#949 of 2,589Strongest: cost of living A−, hazard risk B−·lowest: health D−
84Colchester County, Subdivision B21,578 people-7°C (20°F)#950 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk B−, safety C+·lowest: health D
85Truro14,652 people-7°C (20°F)#951 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A, hazard risk B·lowest: health C−
86Springhill7,015 people-7°C (20°F)#970 of 2,589Strongest: cost of living B+, walkability B−·lowest: jobs & income D
87Amherst10,072 people-7°C (20°F)#972 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A, cost of living C+·lowest: safety D
88Cumberland County, Subdivision C6,040 people-7°C (20°F)#973 of 2,589Strongest: cost of living B−, hazard risk C+·lowest: health D
Rankings
More lists for Nova Scotia
All listsBest places to liveBest small townsMost affordableSafestHealthiestJobs & incomeMost walkableLowest hazard riskCivic lifeHighest incomesFastest-growingMost historicMost bilingualYoungestOldestMildest wintersColdest wintersWarmest summersCoolest summersFewest frostsLeast snowSnowiestDriestWettest
Province by province
Mildest winters elsewhere
Photos: Argyle, André Carrotflower (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Yarmouth, Andrew Thomas from Shrewsbury, UK (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Barrington, Dennis G. Jarvis (CC BY-SA 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources: TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranking Canadian towns against each other only, run #73 of 10 November 2026. 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).