Richmond County, Subdivision ANova Scotia
It is part of Richmond, a census division. Population 4,305: a town in Nova Scotia.
Is Richmond County, Subdivision A a good place to live?
The weak point is jobs & income (D). It lags on health as well (D). Homes were valued at a median $200,000 at the 2021 census, 3.3 times the typical household’s income. Floods and other hazards weigh less here (A). Put together, the subjects come to a D overall, better than nearly a tenth of Canadian towns. That places it #69 of 88 in Nova Scotia.
Figures: home values and income: Statistics Canada, Census 2021.
This town's rent is the 2021 census rent scaled to 2025 by its province's ratio of surveyed to census rents: no rental survey covers it, so its Cost Grade is less sure. Safety is the police detachment's figure, shared with the towns and countryside around it. No School Grade: this province doesn't publish comparable results school by school. Health is graded on the health region's survey figures and life expectancy, with the distance to hospital giving the town its own spread.
What makes Richmond County, Subdivision A stand out
The 3 things Richmond County, Subdivision A does most differently from other towns.
How Richmond County, Subdivision A grades
Each subject compares Richmond County, Subdivision A with Canadian towns of 2,500 or more, ordered by how far it is from the middle. Towns in other countries are graded separately.
How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Richmond County, Subdivision A.
Richmond County, Subdivision A is graded an A for hazard risk
Measured across the Zone 4 health region: radon tests
Province of Nova Scotia has mapped the flood hazard here: one study on the national inventory. In Health Canada’s survey, just 2% of homes tested in the area exceeded 200 Bq/m³ (6.6% typical). For earthquakes Richmond County, Subdivision A is middling, $0.017 a year per $1,000 against $0.030 for the typical town. Burn scars are few around Richmond County, Subdivision A, with 0.1% of the land within 25 km touched by fire since 1986 (0.002% a year).
Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³
| Hazards | Richmond County, Subdivision A | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radon tests above the guideline | 2% | 13% | 6.6% |
| Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year | $0.017 | $0.018 | $0.030 |
NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory
Households in Richmond County, Subdivision A earn less than those in 87% of Canadian towns
Commutes averaged 25 min, about level with Canadian towns (26 min) and above Nova Scotia’s towns (23 min).
How working residents got to work · census 2021
| Census 2021 | Richmond County, Subdivision A | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip | 25 min | 23 min | 26 min |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021 (labour and commuting) · Census day was in May 2021, mid-pandemic, so commuting and work figures carry the lockdowns’ mark.
Health in Richmond County, Subdivision A trails 87% of Canadian towns
In the health survey, nearly half of adults in the region rated their health very good or excellent, close to Nova Scotia’s towns (49%) and below Canadian towns (52%). A baby born in the region can expect 78.8 years, 80.9 for a girl and 76.6 for a boy (2022/2024). For Richmond County, Subdivision A itself the measure is access, and it lags: 17 km to the nearest hospital, where 3.7 km is typical. For health survey and life expectancy, the only official count covers all of the Zone 3 - Eastern, Richmond County, Subdivision A included.
Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised
| Health | Richmond County, Subdivision A | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions (average share) | 21% | 20% | 17% |
| Life expectancy at birth | 78.8 | 80.0 | 81.5 |
| Smokers | 15% | 15% | 12% |
| Very good or excellent health | 49% | 49% | 52% |
Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities
Richmond County, Subdivision A homes are worth 3.3 years of the median household’s pay, below the 4.7 of the typical Canadian town
Shelter took 30% or more of income for 13% of households, near Nova Scotia’s towns (13%) and lower than Canadian towns (18%). 78% of households are owner-occupiers.
What homes were worth · The median owner’s estimate at the 2021 census
| Census 2021 | Richmond County, Subdivision A | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value, 2021 | $200,000 | $250,000 | $406,000 |
| Households spending 30%+ on shelter | 13% | 13% | 18% |
| Households owning their home | 78% | 82% | 74% |
| Rent as a share of income | 22% | 21% | 20% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; CMHC Rental Market Survey via Statistics Canada · Home values are owners’ own estimates at the May 2021 census, and incomes are for 2020.
More of Richmond County, Subdivision A’s residents have an Indigenous identity than in Nova Scotia’s towns or Canadian towns: 9.1%
21% speak both English and French, above both Nova Scotia’s towns (9%) and Canadian towns (7.5%). Visible minorities make up 0.3% of the population, below Nova Scotia’s towns (4%) and Canadian towns (15%) alike.
Ages · Share of residents in each age group, Census 2021
Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over
Women and men · all residents
51.9% of Richmond County, Subdivision A’s residents are women
Women numbered 1,955 and men 1,810 in 2021, next to a 50.9% share of women for Canada.
| Richmond County, Subdivision A | Nova Scotia | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 12% | 14% | 16% |
| 15 to 64 | 56% | 62% | 64% |
| 65+ | 33% | 25% | 19% |
| No certificate, diploma or degree | 19% | 18% | 16% |
| Postsecondary qualification | 58% | 54% | 56% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; Nova Scotia and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+
Richmond County, Subdivision A and its edges hold 4 schools: 3 elementary schools and 1 secondary school
Measured from the centre, the closest high school lies 16 km off, above Nova Scotia’s towns (4.3 km) and Canadian towns (1.2 km) alike. Elementary school is 8.8 km away at the nearest, above Nova Scotia’s towns (1.9 km) and Canadian towns (0.5 km) alike.
| School | Level | Students | System |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Richmond Education CentreIn Richmond County, Subdivision AElementary | Elementary | – | English public |
| Strait Area Education and Recreation CentreNearest secondary school, 1.2 kmSecondary · Grades 9–RG | Secondary · Grades 9–RG | – | English public |
| Schools within 3 km | Richmond County, Subdivision A | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nearest secondary school | 16 km | 4.3 km | 1.2 km |
| Nearest elementary school | 8.8 km | 1.9 km | 0.5 km |
Provincial school lists and results, 2025-26 · Source note: the province reports its assessments by regional centre, and that series stops in 2019–20, so there’s no schools grade in Nova Scotia.
January nights in Richmond County, Subdivision A drop to −9.9°C (Nova Scotia towns −8.9°C, Canadian towns −13.5°C)
A normal winter brings 162 cm of snow, between Nova Scotia’s towns (215 cm) and Canadian towns (141 cm). July afternoons in Richmond County, Subdivision A average 23.2°C. Snow peaks in February: 44 cm in a normal year. October is the wettest month, with 134 mm of rain and snow on average.
Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Normals, 1991–2020 | Richmond County, Subdivision A | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Precipitation a year | 1,122 mm | 1,393 mm | 883 mm |
| July afternoon high | 23.2°C | 23.1°C | 25.5°C |
| Snowfall a year | 162 cm | 215 cm | 141 cm |
| January night low | −9.9°C | −8.9°C | −13.5°C |
Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Port Hawkesbury)
Within 10 km of Richmond County, Subdivision A: 110 public protected areas
Swimmers have 27 beaches within 5 km, Big Beach the nearest. The closest of Canada’s national parks is Cape Breton Highlands National Park, at 94 km. Out to 10 km from the town’s edge, 2.7% of the land is protected; 2.3% is typical for a Canadian town.
Protected land · of the land within 10 km
| Outdoors | Richmond County, Subdivision A | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public protected areas within 10 km | 110 | 23.5 | 4 |
| Protected land within 10 km | 2.7% | 8.7% | 2.3% |
Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches
A normal November in Richmond County, Subdivision A runs from freezing to 8°C
Expect about 130 mm of rain and snow over November. Next comes December, with normal highs of 2°C and lows of −4°C. The year peaks in August (24°C) and bottoms out in February (−11°C). The forecast on the Weather page is ECCC’s for St. Peter's.
Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Season | High | Low | Rain and snow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | −1°C | −8°C | 269 mm |
| Spring | 7°C | −2°C | 221 mm |
| Summer | 22°C | 12°C | 262 mm |
| Autumn | 13°C | 5°C | 370 mm |
ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Port Hawkesbury); the forecast is on the Weather page
Richmond County, Subdivision A’s MP is Jaime Battiste (Liberal Party of Canada), for Cape Breton—Canso—Antigonish
Locally, Richmond County, Subdivision A is run as a subdivision of county municipality.
Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada
Richmond County, Subdivision A has two public libraries, Eastern Counties Regional Library and St. Peter's Library
Without open library statistics in Nova Scotia, the page names Richmond County, Subdivision A’s libraries but shows no visits or loans.
Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada
Richmond County, Subdivision A is graded a B− for safety
Its police area recorded 19.3 violent incidents per 1,000 residents a year, above both Nova Scotia’s towns (14.5) and Canadian towns (12). For every 1,000 residents of its police area, 24.4 property crimes are reported each year.
Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year
| 2023–2025 | Richmond County, Subdivision A | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crime | 19.3 | 14.5 | 12 |
| Property crime per 1,000 | 24.4 | 36.2 | 31.2 |
Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average · Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000 published for the Richmond County detachment area, not by town
3 historic places in Richmond County, Subdivision A, one of them a top designation
Outside the boundary but close by, there is one more. Of the dated places, St. Peters Canal is the oldest, from 1854. Designations here include a Recognized Federal Heritage Building and a provincial or municipal listing.
Historic places by designation · inside the town
Among them
| Heritage | Richmond County, Subdivision A | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homes built before 1961 | 24% | 28% | 18% |
Canadian Register of Historic Places, Directory of Federal Heritage Designations, Québec’s Répertoire du patrimoine culturel, Wikidata; Census 2021 homes by period
Everything we know about Richmond County, Subdivision A
Famous people from Richmond County, Subdivision A
5 notable people were born in Richmond County, Subdivision A.
Photo credits
George William Kyte: Bain News Service, publisher, Public domain · Tom McCarthy: Unknown author, Public domain
Richmond County, Subdivision A’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Statistics Canada
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond County, Subdivision A | 4,305 | — | D | C | B− | D |
| Richmond County, Subdivision C | 3,444 | 15 | C | A− | B− | D |
| Richmond County, Subdivision B | 1,853 | 19 | — | B | B− | D |
People: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about Richmond County, Subdivision A
Who are the people of Richmond County, Subdivision A?
0% of residents belong to a visible minority, against 15% for the median of Canadian towns; 9% have an Indigenous identity and 4% are immigrants.
Do people in Richmond County, Subdivision A speak French?
English and French are both spoken by 21% of residents, where the median of Canadian towns is 8%. French alone: 0%.
Is Richmond County, Subdivision A a young town or an old one?
The median resident is 54.4 years old, against 45.2 for the median of Canadian towns. 12% are under 15 and 33% are 65 or over.
What kind of homes are in Richmond County, Subdivision A?
Mostly 85% single-detached houses (the median of Canadian towns: 64%), with 0% of homes in buildings of five or more storeys. Households hold 2.1 people on average, and 32% have just one.
About Richmond County, Subdivision A
Town in Nova Scotia
Richmond County, Subdivision A is a municipality in Nova Scotia, read by TownRatings as Statistics Canada draws it: one census subdivision, so its figures cover the whole municipality.
Statistics Canada: population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155), Census of Population 2021, 2021 census boundaries.
- Population
- 4,305 (people, 2025 estimate)
- Province or territory
- Nova Scotia
- Census division
- Richmond
- Census subdivision
- 1216006
Sources: Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021 · population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155) and 2021 census boundaries · Uniform Crime Reporting Survey 2023–25 (35-10-0026, 35-10-0183 to 35-10-0190) · CMHC rents as published by Statistics Canada (34-10-0133) · grades by TownRatings. 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).