#1Cape Breton
Nova Scotia · 106,752 peopleOverall C+·#1,623 of 2,556
Strongest: safety A−, walkability B·lowest: jobs & income C−
Cape Breton, #1 on this list · Photo: Abebenjoe (CC BY-SA 3.0)Nova Scotia · 2026
Safest towns in Nova Scotia
Argyle is second (B+) and Yarmouth third (B+). Of the 88 on the list, only one earns an A. The list ends with Amherst, at D. Cape Breton is #391 of 2,572 on the list for all of Canada. No place in Nova Scotia makes the national top 100 on this list. First place in Nova Scotia goes to Cape Breton, with A−.
Safety grade: the Crime Severity Index of the police force or detachment, 2023–2025 How grades work
#1A−Safety
#2Argyle
Nova Scotia · 8,216 peopleOverall B−·#1,468 of 2,556
Strongest: cost of living A−, hazard risk B+·lowest: health D−
#3Yarmouth
Nova Scotia · 10,637 peopleOverall C+·#1,525 of 2,556
Strongest: hazard risk B+, cost of living B+·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
#TownSafetyCanada rankWhat drives it
1Cape Breton106,752 peopleA−#391 of 2,572Strongest: safety A−, walkability B·lowest: jobs & income C−
4Guysborough4,721 peopleB+#649 of 2,572Strongest: hazard risk A, cost of living A−·lowest: jobs & income D
6Lunenburg2,523 peopleB−#997 of 2,572Strongest: walkability A, hazard risk A−·lowest: cost of living D
9Richmond County, Subdivision C3,444 peopleB−#1,012 of 2,572Strongest: hazard risk A, cost of living A−·lowest: health D
10Richmond County, Subdivision A4,305 peopleB−#1,017 of 2,572Strongest: hazard risk A, safety B−·lowest: jobs & income D
11Antigonish County, Subdivision B6,486 peopleB−#1,071 of 2,572Strongest: hazard risk A, cost of living A−·lowest: health D
12Antigonish County, Subdivision A9,682 peopleB−#1,072 of 2,572Strongest: hazard risk A+, jobs & income A−·lowest: health C−
13Port Hawkesbury3,442 peopleB−#1,349 of 2,572Strongest: hazard risk A+, walkability A·lowest: health C−
15Inverness County, Subdivision A5,389 peopleB−#1,355 of 2,572Strongest: cost of living B+, hazard risk B−·lowest: walkability D
16Inverness County, Subdivision C3,314 peopleB−#1,356 of 2,572Strongest: hazard risk A, cost of living B−·lowest: health D
18Cole Harbour21,627 peopleC+#1,404 of 2,572Strongest: jobs & income A−, walkability B+·lowest: cost of living C+
19Timberlea11,014 peopleC+#1,406 of 2,572Strongest: jobs & income A−, walkability B·lowest: safety C+
20Hammonds Plains13,844 peopleC+#1,408 of 2,572Strongest: jobs & income B+, cost of living B+·lowest: walkability C−
21Woodlawn20,925 peopleC+#1,421 of 2,572Strongest: walkability A−, health B+·lowest: cost of living C
22Upper Tantallon5,248 peopleC+#1,424 of 2,572Strongest: jobs & income A−, health B−·lowest: walkability C−
23Portland Estates10,164 peopleC+#1,426 of 2,572Strongest: jobs & income A, walkability B+·lowest: cost of living D
24Middle Sackville14,898 peopleC+#1,427 of 2,572Strongest: jobs & income B+, health B·lowest: cost of living C
25Bedford28,848 peopleC+#1,429 of 2,572Strongest: walkability A−, jobs & income A−·lowest: cost of living D
26Lower Sackville20,171 peopleC+#1,431 of 2,572Strongest: walkability A−, health B+·lowest: cost of living C−
27Westphal4,201 peopleC+#1,432 of 2,572Strongest: jobs & income B, health B·lowest: cost of living C+
28Eastern Passage10,745 peopleC+#1,434 of 2,572Strongest: walkability B+, health B·lowest: cost of living C+
29Beaver Bank9,157 peopleC+#1,435 of 2,572Strongest: jobs & income B+, health B·lowest: cost of living C+
30Westmount23,207 peopleC+#1,436 of 2,572Strongest: walkability A+, health B+·lowest: cost of living D−
31Lawrencetown3,509 peopleC+#1,440 of 2,572Strongest: jobs & income B+, health B·lowest: walkability D
33Windsor Park13,044 peopleC+#1,445 of 2,572Strongest: walkability A+, health B+·lowest: cost of living D
34Manor Park14,148 peopleC+#1,446 of 2,572Strongest: walkability A+, health B+·lowest: cost of living D
35Clayton Park West34,404 peopleC+#1,447 of 2,572Strongest: walkability A+, health B·lowest: cost of living D
36Mount Royale9,340 peopleC+#1,448 of 2,572Strongest: walkability A−, health B+·lowest: cost of living D
37North End19,733 peopleC+#1,449 of 2,572Strongest: walkability A+, health B+·lowest: cost of living D−
38South End22,012 peopleC+#1,451 of 2,572Strongest: walkability A, health B+·lowest: cost of living D
39Austinville28,021 peopleC+#1,452 of 2,572Strongest: walkability A+, health B+·lowest: cost of living D
40East Lawrencetown4,020 peopleC+#1,453 of 2,572Strongest: jobs & income B, health B−·lowest: walkability D
41Fairview16,296 peopleC+#1,454 of 2,572Strongest: walkability A+, health B+·lowest: cost of living D−
42Dutch Settlement6,234 peopleC+#1,456 of 2,572Strongest: jobs & income B, health B−·lowest: walkability C−
43Hatchet Lake9,930 peopleC+#1,457 of 2,572Strongest: health B−, hazard risk B−·lowest: walkability C−
45Harrietsfield6,786 peopleC+#1,459 of 2,572Strongest: health B, hazard risk B−·lowest: walkability C−
47Musquodoboit Harbour2,719 peopleC+#1,461 of 2,572Strongest: health B, hazard risk B−·lowest: jobs & income D
48East Preston2,573 peopleC+#1,462 of 2,572Strongest: health B, hazard risk B−·lowest: jobs & income C−
49Head of St Margarets Bay2,885 peopleC+#1,463 of 2,572Strongest: health B−, hazard risk B−·lowest: walkability C−
50Sheet Harbour3,334 peopleC+#1,464 of 2,572Strongest: health B, hazard risk B−·lowest: jobs & income D−
51Meaghers Grant3,430 peopleC+#1,465 of 2,572Strongest: health B, hazard risk B−·lowest: jobs & income D
52Berwick2,631 peopleC+#1,523 of 2,572Strongest: walkability A, hazard risk A−·lowest: cost of living C−
54Kings County, Subdivision C8,994 peopleC+#1,525 of 2,572Strongest: hazard risk A−, walkability B·lowest: health C−
55Kings County, Subdivision B12,661 peopleC+#1,526 of 2,572Strongest: hazard risk A−, safety C+·lowest: health C−
56Kings County, Subdivision D6,517 peopleC+#1,527 of 2,572Strongest: hazard risk A−, safety C+·lowest: health C−
57Colchester County, Subdivision A3,891 peopleC+#1,552 of 2,572Strongest: cost of living A−, hazard risk B−·lowest: health D−
58Colchester County, Subdivision B21,578 peopleC+#1,553 of 2,572Strongest: hazard risk B−, safety C+·lowest: health D
59Colchester County, Subdivision C14,211 peopleC+#1,554 of 2,572Strongest: hazard risk B−, cost of living B−·lowest: health D
60Barrington6,720 peopleC+#1,585 of 2,572Strongest: cost of living B+, jobs & income B−·lowest: hazard risk D−
61Bridgewater9,989 peopleC+#1,601 of 2,572Strongest: walkability A−, hazard risk A−·lowest: cost of living C−
63Liverpool10,997 peopleC+#1,628 of 2,572Strongest: hazard risk A−, walkability C+·lowest: jobs & income D
65Victoria County, Subdivision B4,258 peopleC#1,758 of 2,572Strongest: cost of living B+, walkability B−·lowest: jobs & income D
67Victoria County, Subdivision A2,746 peopleC#1,761 of 2,572Strongest: cost of living B+, hazard risk B−·lowest: health D
69Pictou County, Subdivision C8,847 peopleC#1,771 of 2,572Strongest: hazard risk A+, cost of living B+·lowest: health D
70Pictou County, Subdivision A6,575 peopleC#1,772 of 2,572Strongest: hazard risk A, cost of living B+·lowest: health D
71Pictou County, Subdivision B6,482 peopleC#1,773 of 2,572Strongest: hazard risk A+, cost of living B+·lowest: walkability D
72Shelburne4,542 peopleC#1,774 of 2,572Strongest: hazard risk A−, cost of living C+·lowest: walkability D
73Springhill7,015 peopleC−#1,902 of 2,572Strongest: cost of living B+, walkability B−·lowest: jobs & income D
75Cumberland County, Subdivision C6,040 peopleC−#1,904 of 2,572Strongest: cost of living B−, hazard risk C+·lowest: health D
76Cumberland County, Subdivision A3,401 peopleC−#1,905 of 2,572Strongest: cost of living B, hazard risk B−·lowest: jobs & income D−
77Cumberland County, Subdivision D4,692 peopleC−#1,907 of 2,572Strongest: cost of living B−, walkability B−·lowest: health D
78Annapolis County, Subdivision C5,694 peopleC−#1,921 of 2,572Strongest: hazard risk A−, cost of living C+·lowest: health D
79Annapolis County, Subdivision B5,086 peopleC−#1,922 of 2,572Strongest: hazard risk A−, walkability B+·lowest: jobs & income D
80Annapolis County, Subdivision D3,273 peopleC−#1,923 of 2,572Strongest: hazard risk A−, cost of living C+·lowest: health D
81Annapolis County, Subdivision A6,719 peopleC−#1,924 of 2,572Strongest: hazard risk A−, walkability B−·lowest: jobs & income D
82Antigonish5,175 peopleC−#2,224 of 2,572Strongest: walkability A+, hazard risk A·lowest: cost of living D
83Stellarton4,251 peopleC−#2,277 of 2,572Strongest: hazard risk A+, walkability B+·lowest: safety C−
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
Safest elsewhere
Photos: Cape Breton, Abebenjoe (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Argyle, André Carrotflower (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Yarmouth, Andrew Thomas from Shrewsbury, UK (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).