#1Clare
Nova Scotia · 8,020 peopleOverall D·#2,424 of 2,556
Strongest: hazard risk B+, cost of living B·lowest: health D−
Clare, #1 on this list · Photo: Sophilosophie (CC BY-SA 4.0)Nova Scotia · 2026
Most bilingual towns in Nova Scotia
Nationally, Clare ranks #64 of 2,589. A single place in Nova Scotia reaches the top 100 for all of Canada. Nowhere in Nova Scotia does better on this list than Clare, at 68.5%. Argyle is second (56.7%) and Richmond County, Subdivision C third (55.7%). The middle of the list is Lower Sackville, with 8.8%. The list ends with Westville, at 2.4%.
Share of residents who can hold a conversation in both English and French, 2021 census How grades work
#168.5% English and French
#2Argyle
Nova Scotia · 8,216 peopleOverall B−·#1,468 of 2,556
Strongest: cost of living A−, hazard risk B+·lowest: health D−
#3Richmond County, Subdivision C
Nova Scotia · 3,444 peopleOverall C·#1,838 of 2,556
Strongest: hazard risk A, cost of living A−·lowest: health 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
#TownEnglish and FrenchCanada rankWhat drives it
3Richmond County, Subdivision C3,444 people55.7%#182 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A, cost of living A−·lowest: health D
4Inverness County, Subdivision A5,389 people43.9%#323 of 2,589Strongest: cost of living B+, hazard risk B−·lowest: walkability D
5Richmond County, Subdivision A4,305 people20.5%#661 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A, safety B−·lowest: jobs & income D
6Yarmouth10,637 people17.1%#724 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk B+, cost of living B+·lowest: health D
7North End19,733 people16.8%#734 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A+, health B+·lowest: cost of living D−
8Hammonds Plains13,844 people16.5%#741 of 2,589Strongest: jobs & income B+, cost of living B+·lowest: walkability C−
9Upper Tantallon5,248 people16.2%#752 of 2,589Strongest: jobs & income A−, health B−·lowest: walkability C−
11Fall River9,214 people14.9%#787 of 2,589Strongest: jobs & income A, health B·lowest: walkability C
12Timberlea11,014 people14.8%#788 of 2,589Strongest: jobs & income A−, walkability B·lowest: safety C+
13Westmount23,207 people14.7%#791 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A+, health B+·lowest: cost of living D−
14South End22,012 people14.2%#799 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A, health B+·lowest: cost of living D
16East Lawrencetown4,020 people13.4%#827 of 2,589Strongest: jobs & income B, health B−·lowest: walkability D
17Bedford28,848 people13.2%#837 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A−, jobs & income A−·lowest: cost of living D
18Windsor Park13,044 people13.2%#841 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A+, health B+·lowest: cost of living D
19Head of St Margarets Bay2,885 people12.8%#864 of 2,589Strongest: health B−, hazard risk B−·lowest: walkability C−
20Cole Harbour21,627 people12.6%#869 of 2,589Strongest: jobs & income A−, walkability B+·lowest: cost of living C+
21Woodlawn20,925 people12.6%#870 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A−, health B+·lowest: cost of living C
22Eastern Passage10,745 people12.6%#871 of 2,589Strongest: walkability B+, health B·lowest: cost of living C+
23Antigonish County, Subdivision B6,486 people12.5%#878 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A, cost of living A−·lowest: health D
24Portland Estates10,164 people12.2%#890 of 2,589Strongest: jobs & income A, walkability B+·lowest: cost of living D
25Kentville7,589 people12.2%#891 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A−, walkability B+·lowest: health C−
26Lawrencetown3,509 people11.9%#904 of 2,589Strongest: jobs & income B+, health B·lowest: walkability D
27Westphal4,201 people11.5%#917 of 2,589Strongest: jobs & income B, health B·lowest: cost of living C+
28Clayton Park West34,404 people11.5%#918 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A+, health B·lowest: cost of living D
29Lunenburg2,523 people11.3%#928 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A, hazard risk A−·lowest: cost of living D
30Manor Park14,148 people10.9%#948 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A+, health B+·lowest: cost of living D
31Austinville28,021 people10.6%#964 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A+, health B+·lowest: cost of living D
33Antigonish County, Subdivision A9,682 people10.5%#970 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A+, jobs & income A−·lowest: health C−
34Port Hawkesbury3,442 people10.5%#971 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A+, walkability A·lowest: health C−
35Antigonish5,175 people10.4%#980 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A+, hazard risk A·lowest: cost of living D
36Fairview16,296 people10.1%#1,002 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A+, health B+·lowest: cost of living D−
37Mount Royale9,340 people9.9%#1,019 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A−, health B+·lowest: cost of living D
39Musquodoboit Harbour2,719 people9.2%#1,070 of 2,589Strongest: health B, hazard risk B−·lowest: jobs & income D
40Hatchet Lake9,930 people9.1%#1,077 of 2,589Strongest: health B−, hazard risk B−·lowest: walkability C−
41Harrietsfield6,786 people9.1%#1,078 of 2,589Strongest: health B, hazard risk B−·lowest: walkability C−
42Gaetz Brook4,473 people9.1%#1,080 of 2,589Strongest: health B, hazard risk B−·lowest: walkability D
43Dutch Settlement6,234 people9.0%#1,092 of 2,589Strongest: jobs & income B, health B−·lowest: walkability C−
44Middle Sackville14,898 people8.9%#1,103 of 2,589Strongest: jobs & income B+, health B·lowest: cost of living C
45Lower Sackville20,171 people8.8%#1,107 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A−, health B+·lowest: cost of living C−
46Beaver Bank9,157 people8.5%#1,154 of 2,589Strongest: jobs & income B+, health B·lowest: cost of living C+
47Kingston24,574 people8.4%#1,169 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A−, walkability B−·lowest: health D
48Annapolis County, Subdivision D3,273 people7.9%#1,230 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A−, cost of living C+·lowest: health D
49Bridgewater9,989 people7.8%#1,246 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A−, hazard risk A−·lowest: cost of living C−
50Inverness County, Subdivision C3,314 people7.5%#1,300 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A, cost of living B−·lowest: health D
51Kings County, Subdivision C8,994 people7.3%#1,342 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A−, walkability B·lowest: health C−
53Annapolis County, Subdivision C5,694 people7.1%#1,379 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A−, cost of living C+·lowest: health D
54Amherst10,072 people6.9%#1,419 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A, cost of living C+·lowest: safety D
55Annapolis County, Subdivision A6,719 people6.7%#1,464 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A−, walkability B−·lowest: jobs & income D
57Colchester County, Subdivision B21,578 people6.3%#1,565 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk B−, safety C+·lowest: health D
58Kings County, Subdivision D6,517 people6.2%#1,591 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A−, safety C+·lowest: health C−
60Berwick2,631 people6.0%#1,643 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A, hazard risk A−·lowest: cost of living C−
61Barrington6,720 people6.0%#1,644 of 2,589Strongest: cost of living B+, jobs & income B−·lowest: hazard risk D−
62Kings County, Subdivision B12,661 people6.0%#1,648 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A−, safety C+·lowest: health C−
63East Preston2,573 people5.8%#1,708 of 2,589Strongest: health B, hazard risk B−·lowest: jobs & income C−
64Annapolis County, Subdivision B5,086 people5.8%#1,709 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A−, walkability B+·lowest: jobs & income D
65Pictou County, Subdivision A6,575 people5.6%#1,759 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A, cost of living B+·lowest: health D
66New Glasgow10,378 people5.6%#1,764 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A, walkability A−·lowest: safety D
68Windsor20,318 people5.2%#1,868 of 2,589Strongest: health B, hazard risk C+·lowest: jobs & income D
70Meaghers Grant3,430 people4.9%#1,975 of 2,589Strongest: health B, hazard risk B−·lowest: jobs & income D
71Colchester County, Subdivision C14,211 people4.9%#1,977 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk B−, cost of living B−·lowest: health D
72Liverpool10,997 people4.7%#2,035 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A−, walkability C+·lowest: jobs & income D
73Cumberland County, Subdivision C6,040 people4.6%#2,066 of 2,589Strongest: cost of living B−, hazard risk C+·lowest: health D
74Stellarton4,251 people4.5%#2,099 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A+, walkability B+·lowest: safety C−
75Cape Breton106,752 people4.3%#2,152 of 2,589Strongest: safety A−, walkability B·lowest: jobs & income C−
76Shelburne4,542 people4.2%#2,192 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A−, cost of living C+·lowest: walkability D
77Cumberland County, Subdivision A3,401 people4.1%#2,218 of 2,589Strongest: cost of living B, hazard risk B−·lowest: jobs & income D−
78Victoria County, Subdivision B4,258 people4.0%#2,241 of 2,589Strongest: cost of living B+, walkability B−·lowest: jobs & income D
79Pictou County, Subdivision C8,847 people3.8%#2,303 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A+, cost of living B+·lowest: health D
80Colchester County, Subdivision A3,891 people3.7%#2,325 of 2,589Strongest: cost of living A−, hazard risk B−·lowest: health D−
81Cumberland County, Subdivision D4,692 people3.7%#2,327 of 2,589Strongest: cost of living B−, walkability B−·lowest: health D
82Sheet Harbour3,334 people3.5%#2,353 of 2,589Strongest: health B, hazard risk B−·lowest: jobs & income D−
83Inverness5,138 people3.4%#2,363 of 2,589Strongest: cost of living B, walkability B·lowest: health D
84Springhill7,015 people3.4%#2,369 of 2,589Strongest: cost of living B+, walkability B−·lowest: jobs & income D
85Pictou County, Subdivision B6,482 people3.3%#2,388 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A+, cost of living B+·lowest: walkability D
86Guysborough4,721 people3.2%#2,397 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A, cost of living A−·lowest: jobs & income D
87Victoria County, Subdivision A2,746 people3.2%#2,403 of 2,589Strongest: cost of living B+, hazard risk B−·lowest: health D
88Westville3,731 people2.4%#2,500 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A, cost of living B·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
Most bilingual elsewhere
Photos: Clare, Sophilosophie (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Argyle, André Carrotflower (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Richmond County, Subdivision C, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson S… (Public domain), 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).