#1Amherst
Nova Scotia · 10,072 peopleOverall D·#2,477 of 2,556
Strongest: walkability A, cost of living C+·lowest: safety D
Amherst, #1 on this list · Photo: Azure /Mark Seymour (CC BY-SA 3.0)Nova Scotia · 2026
Snowiest towns in Nova Scotia
The places after the leader belong to Cumberland County, Subdivision C (310 cm) and Cape Breton (281 cm). Halfway down the list sits Hatchet Lake, at 215 cm. At the other end is Antigonish, with 162 cm. Across Canada, the same list puts Amherst #137 of 2,538. Canada’s top 100 on this list includes no place in Nova Scotia. Amherst tops the list in Nova Scotia, at 310 cm.
Snowfall a year, 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station that measures snow How grades work
#1310 cm Snowfall a year
#2Cumberland County, Subdivision C
Nova Scotia · 6,040 peopleOverall D−·#2,504 of 2,556
Strongest: cost of living B−, hazard risk C+·lowest: health D
#3Cape Breton
Nova Scotia · 106,752 peopleOverall C+·#1,623 of 2,556
Strongest: safety A−, walkability B·lowest: jobs & income C−
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
#TownSnowfall a yearCanada rankWhat drives it
1Amherst10,072 people310 cm#137 of 2,538Strongest: walkability A, cost of living C+·lowest: safety D
2Cumberland County, Subdivision C6,040 people310 cm#138 of 2,538Strongest: cost of living B−, hazard risk C+·lowest: health D
3Cape Breton106,752 people281 cm#234 of 2,538Strongest: safety A−, walkability B·lowest: jobs & income C−
4Victoria County, Subdivision B4,258 people281 cm#235 of 2,538Strongest: cost of living B+, walkability B−·lowest: jobs & income D
5Inverness County, Subdivision A5,389 people281 cm#236 of 2,538Strongest: cost of living B+, hazard risk B−·lowest: walkability D
6Victoria County, Subdivision A2,746 people281 cm#237 of 2,538Strongest: cost of living B+, hazard risk B−·lowest: health D
8Annapolis County, Subdivision C5,694 people268 cm#284 of 2,538Strongest: hazard risk A−, cost of living C+·lowest: health D
9Annapolis County, Subdivision B5,086 people268 cm#285 of 2,538Strongest: hazard risk A−, walkability B+·lowest: jobs & income D
10Annapolis County, Subdivision D3,273 people268 cm#286 of 2,538Strongest: hazard risk A−, cost of living C+·lowest: health D
11Annapolis County, Subdivision A6,719 people268 cm#287 of 2,538Strongest: hazard risk A−, walkability B−·lowest: jobs & income D
12Kentville7,589 people232 cm#340 of 2,538Strongest: hazard risk A−, walkability B+·lowest: health C−
13Berwick2,631 people232 cm#341 of 2,538Strongest: walkability A, hazard risk A−·lowest: cost of living C−
14Windsor20,318 people232 cm#342 of 2,538Strongest: health B, hazard risk C+·lowest: jobs & income D
15Kings County, Subdivision C8,994 people232 cm#343 of 2,538Strongest: hazard risk A−, walkability B·lowest: health C−
16Kings County, Subdivision B12,661 people232 cm#344 of 2,538Strongest: hazard risk A−, safety C+·lowest: health C−
17Kings County, Subdivision D6,517 people232 cm#345 of 2,538Strongest: hazard risk A−, safety C+·lowest: health C−
18Cumberland County, Subdivision A3,401 people232 cm#346 of 2,538Strongest: cost of living B, hazard risk B−·lowest: jobs & income D−
19Fall River9,214 people215 cm#610 of 2,538Strongest: jobs & income A, health B·lowest: walkability C
20Cole Harbour21,627 people215 cm#611 of 2,538Strongest: jobs & income A−, walkability B+·lowest: cost of living C+
21Timberlea11,014 people215 cm#612 of 2,538Strongest: jobs & income A−, walkability B·lowest: safety C+
22Hammonds Plains13,844 people215 cm#613 of 2,538Strongest: jobs & income B+, cost of living B+·lowest: walkability C−
23Woodlawn20,925 people215 cm#614 of 2,538Strongest: walkability A−, health B+·lowest: cost of living C
24Upper Tantallon5,248 people215 cm#615 of 2,538Strongest: jobs & income A−, health B−·lowest: walkability C−
25Portland Estates10,164 people215 cm#616 of 2,538Strongest: jobs & income A, walkability B+·lowest: cost of living D
26Middle Sackville14,898 people215 cm#617 of 2,538Strongest: jobs & income B+, health B·lowest: cost of living C
27Bedford28,848 people215 cm#618 of 2,538Strongest: walkability A−, jobs & income A−·lowest: cost of living D
28Lower Sackville20,171 people215 cm#619 of 2,538Strongest: walkability A−, health B+·lowest: cost of living C−
29Westphal4,201 people215 cm#620 of 2,538Strongest: jobs & income B, health B·lowest: cost of living C+
30Eastern Passage10,745 people215 cm#621 of 2,538Strongest: walkability B+, health B·lowest: cost of living C+
31Beaver Bank9,157 people215 cm#622 of 2,538Strongest: jobs & income B+, health B·lowest: cost of living C+
32Westmount23,207 people215 cm#623 of 2,538Strongest: walkability A+, health B+·lowest: cost of living D−
33Lawrencetown3,509 people215 cm#624 of 2,538Strongest: jobs & income B+, health B·lowest: walkability D
35Windsor Park13,044 people215 cm#626 of 2,538Strongest: walkability A+, health B+·lowest: cost of living D
36Manor Park14,148 people215 cm#627 of 2,538Strongest: walkability A+, health B+·lowest: cost of living D
37Clayton Park West34,404 people215 cm#628 of 2,538Strongest: walkability A+, health B·lowest: cost of living D
38Mount Royale9,340 people215 cm#629 of 2,538Strongest: walkability A−, health B+·lowest: cost of living D
39North End19,733 people215 cm#630 of 2,538Strongest: walkability A+, health B+·lowest: cost of living D−
40South End22,012 people215 cm#631 of 2,538Strongest: walkability A, health B+·lowest: cost of living D
41Austinville28,021 people215 cm#632 of 2,538Strongest: walkability A+, health B+·lowest: cost of living D
42East Lawrencetown4,020 people215 cm#633 of 2,538Strongest: jobs & income B, health B−·lowest: walkability D
43Fairview16,296 people215 cm#634 of 2,538Strongest: walkability A+, health B+·lowest: cost of living D−
44Dutch Settlement6,234 people215 cm#635 of 2,538Strongest: jobs & income B, health B−·lowest: walkability C−
45Hatchet Lake9,930 people215 cm#636 of 2,538Strongest: health B−, hazard risk B−·lowest: walkability C−
46Lake Echo5,223 people215 cm#637 of 2,538Strongest: health B, hazard risk B−·lowest: walkability C−
47Harrietsfield6,786 people215 cm#638 of 2,538Strongest: health B, hazard risk B−·lowest: walkability C−
48Gaetz Brook4,473 people215 cm#639 of 2,538Strongest: health B, hazard risk B−·lowest: walkability D
49Musquodoboit Harbour2,719 people215 cm#640 of 2,538Strongest: health B, hazard risk B−·lowest: jobs & income D
50East Preston2,573 people215 cm#641 of 2,538Strongest: health B, hazard risk B−·lowest: jobs & income C−
51Head of St Margarets Bay2,885 people215 cm#642 of 2,538Strongest: health B−, hazard risk B−·lowest: walkability C−
53Meaghers Grant3,430 people215 cm#644 of 2,538Strongest: health B, hazard risk B−·lowest: jobs & income D
54Argyle8,216 people205 cm#669 of 2,538Strongest: cost of living A−, hazard risk B+·lowest: health D−
55Yarmouth10,637 people205 cm#670 of 2,538Strongest: hazard risk B+, cost of living B+·lowest: health D
56Barrington6,720 people205 cm#671 of 2,538Strongest: cost of living B+, jobs & income B−·lowest: hazard risk D−
59Shelburne4,542 people205 cm#674 of 2,538Strongest: hazard risk A−, cost of living C+·lowest: walkability D
61Westville3,731 people187 cm#770 of 2,538Strongest: hazard risk A, cost of living B·lowest: health D
62Stellarton4,251 people187 cm#771 of 2,538Strongest: hazard risk A+, walkability B+·lowest: safety C−
63Pictou County, Subdivision A6,575 people187 cm#772 of 2,538Strongest: hazard risk A, cost of living B+·lowest: health D
64Pictou County, Subdivision B6,482 people187 cm#773 of 2,538Strongest: hazard risk A+, cost of living B+·lowest: walkability D
65Colchester County, Subdivision A3,891 people187 cm#774 of 2,538Strongest: cost of living A−, hazard risk B−·lowest: health D−
66Springhill7,015 people187 cm#775 of 2,538Strongest: cost of living B+, walkability B−·lowest: jobs & income D
67Colchester County, Subdivision B21,578 people187 cm#776 of 2,538Strongest: hazard risk B−, safety C+·lowest: health D
68New Glasgow10,378 people187 cm#777 of 2,538Strongest: hazard risk A, walkability A−·lowest: safety D
70Colchester County, Subdivision C14,211 people187 cm#779 of 2,538Strongest: hazard risk B−, cost of living B−·lowest: health D
72Cumberland County, Subdivision D4,692 people187 cm#781 of 2,538Strongest: cost of living B−, walkability B−·lowest: health D
73Lunenburg2,523 people184 cm#884 of 2,538Strongest: walkability A, hazard risk A−·lowest: cost of living D
74Bridgewater9,989 people184 cm#885 of 2,538Strongest: walkability A−, hazard risk A−·lowest: cost of living C−
77Liverpool10,997 people184 cm#888 of 2,538Strongest: hazard risk A−, walkability C+·lowest: jobs & income D
78Antigonish County, Subdivision B6,486 people162 cm#985 of 2,538Strongest: hazard risk A, cost of living A−·lowest: health D
79Antigonish County, Subdivision A9,682 people162 cm#986 of 2,538Strongest: hazard risk A+, jobs & income A−·lowest: health C−
80Guysborough4,721 people162 cm#987 of 2,538Strongest: hazard risk A, cost of living A−·lowest: jobs & income D
81Port Hawkesbury3,442 people162 cm#988 of 2,538Strongest: hazard risk A+, walkability A·lowest: health C−
82Richmond County, Subdivision C3,444 people162 cm#989 of 2,538Strongest: hazard risk A, cost of living A−·lowest: health D
83Inverness5,138 people162 cm#990 of 2,538Strongest: cost of living B, walkability B·lowest: health D
84Pictou County, Subdivision C8,847 people162 cm#991 of 2,538Strongest: hazard risk A+, cost of living B+·lowest: health D
85Inverness County, Subdivision C3,314 people162 cm#992 of 2,538Strongest: hazard risk A, cost of living B−·lowest: health D
86Sheet Harbour3,334 people162 cm#993 of 2,538Strongest: health B, hazard risk B−·lowest: jobs & income D−
87Richmond County, Subdivision A4,305 people162 cm#994 of 2,538Strongest: hazard risk A, safety B−·lowest: jobs & income D
88Antigonish5,175 people162 cm#995 of 2,538Strongest: walkability A+, hazard risk A·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
Snowiest elsewhere
Photos: Amherst, Azure /Mark Seymour (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Cumberland County, Subdivision C, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson S… (Public domain) · Cape Breton, Abebenjoe (CC BY-SA 3.0), 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).