#1Guysborough
Nova Scotia · 4,721 peopleOverall C+·#1,612 of 2,556
Strongest: hazard risk A, cost of living A−·lowest: jobs & income D
Guysborough, #1 on this list · Photo: Dennis G. Jarvis (CC BY-SA 2.0)Nova Scotia · 2026
Towns with the oldest residents in Nova Scotia
Leading Nova Scotia on this list is Guysborough, at 58.4 years. The places after the leader belong to Cumberland County, Subdivision D (58.4 years) and Sheet Harbour (57.3 years). Halfway down the list sits Amherst, at 48.8 years. At the other end is North End, with 33.3 years. Across Canada, the same list puts Guysborough #43 of 2,589. Canada’s top 100 on this list includes 7 places in Nova Scotia.
Median age of residents, 2021 census (for a city’s neighbourhoods, estimated from five-year age groups) How grades work
#158.4 years Median age
#2Cumberland County, Subdivision D
Nova Scotia · 4,692 peopleOverall D−·#2,514 of 2,556
Strongest: cost of living B−, walkability B−·lowest: health D
#3Sheet Harbour
Nova Scotia · 3,334 peopleOverall D·#2,385 of 2,556
Strongest: health B, hazard risk B−·lowest: jobs & income 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
#TownMedian ageCanada rankWhat drives it
1Guysborough4,721 people58.4 years#43 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A, cost of living A−·lowest: jobs & income D
2Cumberland County, Subdivision D4,692 people58.4 years#49 of 2,589Strongest: cost of living B−, walkability B−·lowest: health D
3Sheet Harbour3,334 people57.3 years#74 of 2,589Strongest: health B, hazard risk B−·lowest: jobs & income D−
4Lunenburg2,523 people57.2 years#80 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A, hazard risk A−·lowest: cost of living D
5Cumberland County, Subdivision A3,401 people57.2 years#81 of 2,589Strongest: cost of living B, hazard risk B−·lowest: jobs & income D−
6Annapolis County, Subdivision A6,719 people57.2 years#82 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A−, walkability B−·lowest: jobs & income D
7Berwick2,631 people56.8 years#93 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A, hazard risk A−·lowest: cost of living C−
8Inverness County, Subdivision A5,389 people56.4 years#103 of 2,589Strongest: cost of living B+, hazard risk B−·lowest: walkability D
9Victoria County, Subdivision B4,258 people56 years#109 of 2,589Strongest: cost of living B+, walkability B−·lowest: jobs & income D
10Clare8,020 people56 years#111 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk B+, cost of living B·lowest: health D−
12Liverpool10,997 people55.6 years#124 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A−, walkability C+·lowest: jobs & income D
13Richmond County, Subdivision C3,444 people54.8 years#141 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A, cost of living A−·lowest: health D
14Inverness County, Subdivision C3,314 people54.8 years#147 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A, cost of living B−·lowest: health D
15Pictou County, Subdivision A6,575 people54.4 years#167 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A, cost of living B+·lowest: health D
16Meaghers Grant3,430 people54.4 years#168 of 2,589Strongest: health B, hazard risk B−·lowest: jobs & income D
17Richmond County, Subdivision A4,305 people54.4 years#170 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A, safety B−·lowest: jobs & income D
18Shelburne4,542 people54.4 years#172 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A−, cost of living C+·lowest: walkability D
19Annapolis County, Subdivision B5,086 people54.4 years#173 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A−, walkability B+·lowest: jobs & income D
20Inverness5,138 people54 years#186 of 2,589Strongest: cost of living B, walkability B·lowest: health D
21Lunenburg26,862 people53.6 years#204 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A−, safety B−·lowest: health D
22Digby7,528 people53.6 years#206 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk B+, cost of living C+·lowest: health D
23Pictou3,307 people53.2 years#217 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A+, walkability B+·lowest: safety D
24Victoria County, Subdivision A2,746 people52.8 years#236 of 2,589Strongest: cost of living B+, hazard risk B−·lowest: health D
25Kings County, Subdivision D6,517 people52.8 years#239 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A−, safety C+·lowest: health C−
26Cumberland County, Subdivision C6,040 people52.8 years#240 of 2,589Strongest: cost of living B−, hazard risk C+·lowest: health D
27Pictou County, Subdivision C8,847 people52 years#265 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A+, cost of living B+·lowest: health D
28Annapolis County, Subdivision D3,273 people52 years#271 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A−, cost of living C+·lowest: health D
29Portland Estates10,164 people51.9 years#274 of 2,589Strongest: jobs & income A, walkability B+·lowest: cost of living D
30Argyle8,216 people51.6 years#280 of 2,589Strongest: cost of living A−, hazard risk B+·lowest: health D−
31Pictou County, Subdivision B6,482 people51.6 years#290 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A+, cost of living B+·lowest: walkability D
32Bridgewater9,989 people51.6 years#291 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A−, hazard risk A−·lowest: cost of living C−
33Springhill7,015 people51.6 years#294 of 2,589Strongest: cost of living B+, walkability B−·lowest: jobs & income D
34Colchester County, Subdivision A3,891 people51.2 years#312 of 2,589Strongest: cost of living A−, hazard risk B−·lowest: health D−
35Musquodoboit Harbour2,719 people50.9 years#321 of 2,589Strongest: health B, hazard risk B−·lowest: jobs & income D
36Head of St Margarets Bay2,885 people50.8 years#342 of 2,589Strongest: health B−, hazard risk B−·lowest: walkability C−
37East Preston2,573 people50.7 years#346 of 2,589Strongest: health B, hazard risk B−·lowest: jobs & income C−
38Yarmouth10,637 people50.4 years#362 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk B+, cost of living B+·lowest: health D
39Cape Breton106,752 people50.4 years#363 of 2,589Strongest: safety A−, walkability B·lowest: jobs & income C−
40Barrington6,720 people50 years#390 of 2,589Strongest: cost of living B+, jobs & income B−·lowest: hazard risk D−
41Annapolis County, Subdivision C5,694 people50 years#392 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A−, cost of living C+·lowest: health D
42Windsor20,318 people48.8 years#468 of 2,589Strongest: health B, hazard risk C+·lowest: jobs & income D
43Kings County, Subdivision C8,994 people48.8 years#469 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A−, walkability B·lowest: health C−
44Colchester County, Subdivision B21,578 people48.8 years#470 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk B−, safety C+·lowest: health D
45Amherst10,072 people48.8 years#471 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A, cost of living C+·lowest: safety D
46Yarmouth7,129 people48.8 years#474 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A, hazard risk A−·lowest: safety D
47Antigonish County, Subdivision B6,486 people48 years#522 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A, cost of living A−·lowest: health D
48Hatchet Lake9,930 people47.8 years#545 of 2,589Strongest: health B−, hazard risk B−·lowest: walkability C−
49New Glasgow10,378 people47.6 years#564 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A, walkability A−·lowest: safety D
50Truro14,652 people47.6 years#565 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A, hazard risk B·lowest: health C−
51Antigonish County, Subdivision A9,682 people47.2 years#598 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A+, jobs & income A−·lowest: health C−
52Westville3,731 people47.2 years#603 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A, cost of living B·lowest: health D
53Stellarton4,251 people47.2 years#607 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A+, walkability B+·lowest: safety C−
54Kings County, Subdivision B12,661 people47.2 years#608 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A−, safety C+·lowest: health C−
55Colchester County, Subdivision C14,211 people47.2 years#610 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk B−, cost of living B−·lowest: health D
56Port Hawkesbury3,442 people46.8 years#635 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A+, walkability A·lowest: health C−
57Lawrencetown3,509 people46.5 years#668 of 2,589Strongest: jobs & income B+, health B·lowest: walkability D
58Hubley6,337 people46.4 years#684 of 2,589Strongest: jobs & income A−, health B−·lowest: walkability D
59Gaetz Brook4,473 people46.4 years#688 of 2,589Strongest: health B, hazard risk B−·lowest: walkability D
60Harrietsfield6,786 people46.2 years#702 of 2,589Strongest: health B, hazard risk B−·lowest: walkability C−
61Kentville7,589 people45.6 years#768 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A−, walkability B+·lowest: health C−
62Kingston24,574 people45.6 years#770 of 2,589Strongest: hazard risk A−, walkability B−·lowest: health D
63Dutch Settlement6,234 people45.4 years#787 of 2,589Strongest: jobs & income B, health B−·lowest: walkability C−
64Westphal4,201 people44.8 years#884 of 2,589Strongest: jobs & income B, health B·lowest: cost of living C+
65East Lawrencetown4,020 people44.4 years#959 of 2,589Strongest: jobs & income B, health B−·lowest: walkability D
67Woodlawn20,925 people43.7 years#1,046 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A−, health B+·lowest: cost of living C
68Lower Sackville20,171 people43.6 years#1,074 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A−, health B+·lowest: cost of living C−
69Lake Echo5,223 people43.6 years#1,083 of 2,589Strongest: health B, hazard risk B−·lowest: walkability C−
70Cole Harbour21,627 people43 years#1,155 of 2,589Strongest: jobs & income A−, walkability B+·lowest: cost of living C+
71Fall River9,214 people42.9 years#1,165 of 2,589Strongest: jobs & income A, health B·lowest: walkability C
72Hammonds Plains13,844 people42 years#1,323 of 2,589Strongest: jobs & income B+, cost of living B+·lowest: walkability C−
73Beaver Bank9,157 people42 years#1,330 of 2,589Strongest: jobs & income B+, health B·lowest: cost of living C+
74Antigonish5,175 people42 years#1,340 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A+, hazard risk A·lowest: cost of living D
75Upper Tantallon5,248 people41.4 years#1,408 of 2,589Strongest: jobs & income A−, health B−·lowest: walkability C−
76Bedford28,848 people41.3 years#1,417 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A−, jobs & income A−·lowest: cost of living D
77Manor Park14,148 people41.2 years#1,450 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A+, health B+·lowest: cost of living D
78Austinville28,021 people41 years#1,474 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A+, health B+·lowest: cost of living D
79Westmount23,207 people40.4 years#1,590 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A+, health B+·lowest: cost of living D−
80Middle Sackville14,898 people39.9 years#1,682 of 2,589Strongest: jobs & income B+, health B·lowest: cost of living C
81Clayton Park West34,404 people39.3 years#1,781 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A+, health B·lowest: cost of living D
82Mount Royale9,340 people39 years#1,833 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A−, health B+·lowest: cost of living D
83Timberlea11,014 people38.6 years#1,906 of 2,589Strongest: jobs & income A−, walkability B·lowest: safety C+
84Eastern Passage10,745 people38.2 years#1,977 of 2,589Strongest: walkability B+, health B·lowest: cost of living C+
85Fairview16,296 people36.1 years#2,249 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A+, health B+·lowest: cost of living D−
86Windsor Park13,044 people35.4 years#2,323 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A+, health B+·lowest: cost of living D
87South End22,012 people34.3 years#2,418 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A, health B+·lowest: cost of living D
88North End19,733 people33.3 years#2,486 of 2,589Strongest: walkability A+, health B+·lowest: cost of living 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
Oldest elsewhere
Photos: Guysborough, Dennis G. Jarvis (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Cumberland County, Subdivision D, halifaxfman (CC BY 3.0) · Sheet Harbour, 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).