WolfvilleNova Scotia
Population 5,587: a town in Nova Scotia. Its census division is Kings.
Is Wolfville a good place to live?
Wolfville grades low on several counts. Housing is expensive (D−). The town’s overall grade, D, puts it better than 6% of Canadian towns. Incomes are on the low side (D). Its standout strength is walkability (A−).
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. A university neighbourhood: graded, but left out of rankings (so many residents are students that income and jobs read as students' figures).
How Wolfville grades
Each subject compares Wolfville 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 →
What makes Wolfville stand out
The 3 things Wolfville does most differently from other towns.
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Wolfville.
Rent takes more of local pay in Wolfville than in Nova Scotia’s towns or Canadian towns: 26% of household income
29% of households spent 30% or more of their income on shelter, above Nova Scotia’s towns (13%) and Canadian towns (18%) alike. Owners put the median home at $400,000, above Nova Scotia’s towns ($250,000) and close to Canadian towns ($406,000).
What homes were worth · The median owner’s estimate at the 2021 census
| Census 2021 | Wolfville | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households spending 30%+ on shelter | 29% | 13% | 18% |
| Rent as a share of income | 26% | 21% | 20% |
| Median home value, 2021 | $400,000 | $250,000 | $406,000 |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; CMHC Rental Market Survey via Statistics Canada · The 2021 census asked owners what their home was worth; those values, and 2020 incomes, are what this compares.
Fewer commuters in Wolfville drive than in Nova Scotia’s towns or across Canadian towns: 78%
The average trip to work took 21 min, lower than both Nova Scotia’s towns (23 min) and Canadian towns (26 min).
How working residents got to work · census 2021
| Census 2021 | Wolfville | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car or van | 78% | 92% | 89% |
| Average trip | 21 min | 23 min | 26 min |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021 (labour and commuting) · The 2021 census was taken in May 2021, during COVID-19 restrictions: more people than usual worked from home or were off work.
Wolfville is on Canada’s flood inventory: 2 listed, led by Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture, Saint Mary’s University
Seismic risk in Wolfville sits near the middle: $0.016 of expected damage per $1,000 of buildings a year, the typical town $0.030. Radon around Wolfville is ordinary for Canada: 5.6% of tested homes over the guideline (6.6% typical). Little of the land around Wolfville has burned: 0.1% within 25 km since 1986, or 0.002% a year.
Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³
| Hazards | Wolfville | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radon tests above the guideline | 5.6% | 13% | 6.6% |
| Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year | $0.016 | $0.018 | $0.030 |
NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory · Radon tests: one figure for all of the Zone 2 health region
More smokers around Wolfville: 19% of adults, where the typical Canadian town has 12%
Measured across the Zone 1 - Western: health survey and life expectancy
In the health survey, 44% of adults in the region rated their health very good or excellent, lower than both Nova Scotia’s towns (49%) and Canadian towns (52%). Life expectancy in the region is 80.0 years (82.5 for women, 77.6 for men, 2022/2024). What sets Wolfville apart within its region is a short trip to hospital, 1.2 km for the average resident (3.7 km typical).
Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised
| Health | Wolfville | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smokers | 19% | 15% | 12% |
| Very good or excellent health | 44% | 49% | 52% |
| Chronic conditions (average share) | 20% | 20% | 17% |
| Life expectancy at birth | 80.0 | 80.0 | 81.5 |
Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities
July afternoons in Wolfville reach 25.9°C (Nova Scotia towns 23.1°C, Canadian towns 25.5°C)
Counting rain and snow alike, 1,216 mm falls in a year, below Nova Scotia’s towns (1,393 mm) but above Canadian towns (883 mm). January is the snowiest month, with 66 cm on average. Expect January lows of around −9.1°C in Wolfville. Between the last spring frost, 19 May, and the first in autumn, 1 October, lie 134 days.
Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Normals, 1991–2020 | Wolfville | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| July afternoon high | 25.9°C | 23.1°C | 25.5°C |
| Snowfall a year | 232 cm | 215 cm | 141 cm |
| Precipitation a year | 1,216 mm | 1,393 mm | 883 mm |
| January night low | −9.1°C | −8.9°C | −13.5°C |
Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Waterville Cambridge)
From Wolfville, Blomidon Provincial Park is the nearest provincial park (18 km)
Protected areas cover 0.5% of the land within 10 km, lower than both Nova Scotia’s towns (8.7%) and Canadian towns (2.3%). For a national park, Fundy National Park is 70 km away. 14 protected areas lie within 10 km. Kentville Migratory Bird Sanctuary (555 ha) is the biggest, 9.8 km from town.
Protected land · of the land within 10 km
| Outdoors | Wolfville | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protected land within 10 km | 0.5% | 8.7% | 2.3% |
| Public protected areas within 10 km | 2 | 23.5 | 4 |
Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches
Wolfville’s grade for safety: a C+
Its police area recorded 17.1 violent incidents per 1,000 residents a year, above Nova Scotia’s towns (14.5) and Canadian towns (12) alike. Property crime in its police area ran at 31.4 per 1,000 residents a year, lower than Nova Scotia’s towns (36.2) and near Canadian towns (31.2).
Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year
| 2023–2025 | Wolfville | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crime | 17.1 | 14.5 | 12 |
| Property crime per 1,000 | 31.4 | 36.2 | 31.2 |
Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average · Data for Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000 covers the Kings County detachment area
A normal November in Wolfville runs from 1°C to 9°C
About 15 cm of snow falls in a normal November. By December, a normal day reaches 3°C and a night falls to −5°C. Rain and snow over a typical November come to 125 mm. For today and the week ahead, the Weather page carries ECCC’s Kentville forecast.
Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Season | High | Low | Rain and snow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | 1°C | −8°C | 338 mm |
| Spring | 11°C | 0°C | 274 mm |
| Summer | 25°C | 13°C | 251 mm |
| Autumn | 15°C | 5°C | 353 mm |
ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Waterville Cambridge); the forecast is on the Weather page
Wolfville sends Kody Blois (Liberal Party of Canada) to the Commons from Kings—Hants
Statistics Canada lists Wolfville as a town.
Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada
Wolfville’s public library is Wolfville Memorial Library
The library is 1.1 km from the centre of Wolfville.
Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada
Children make up only 8.2% of Wolfville, fewer than in Nova Scotia’s towns and Canadian towns
Retirement age and beyond: 26% of residents are 65 or older. Immigrants make up 11% of residents, higher than both Nova Scotia’s towns (4.3%) and Canadian towns (6.4%).
Ages · Share of residents in each age group, Census 2021
Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over
Women and men · all residents
54.0% of Wolfville’s residents are women
By the 2021 count the town had 2,725 women and 2,325 men, while Canada has 50.9% women.
| Wolfville | Nova Scotia | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 8.2% | 14% | 16% |
| 15 to 64 | 65% | 62% | 64% |
| 65+ | 26% | 25% | 19% |
| No certificate, diploma or degree | 7.3% | 18% | 16% |
| Postsecondary qualification | 61% | 54% | 56% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; Nova Scotia and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+
The 4 schools of Wolfville: 3 elementary schools and 1 secondary school
From the town centre, high school starts 3.8 km away, lower than Nova Scotia’s towns (4.3 km) yet higher than Canadian towns (1.2 km).
| School | Level | Students | System |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wolfville SchoolIn WolfvilleElementary | Elementary | – | English public |
| Horton High SchoolNearest secondary school, 2 kmSecondary · Grades 9–RG | Secondary · Grades 9–RG | – | English public |
| Schools within 3 km | Wolfville | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nearest secondary school | 3.8 km | 4.3 km | 1.2 km |
Provincial school lists and results, 2025-26 · Ungraded on schools in Nova Scotia, because the province reports its assessments by regional centre, and that series stops in 2019–20.
Wolfville has 2 historic places on the registers, one in the top tier
Ladies' Seminary, begun in 1878, is the oldest by its record. On the list: a heritage railway station. Before 1961 is when 23% of the homes went up, below Nova Scotia’s towns (28%) but above Canadian towns (18%).
Historic places by designation · inside the town
Among them
| Heritage | Wolfville | Nova Scotia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homes built before 1961 | 23% | 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 Wolfville
Harvest Gallery and 6 more in and around Wolfville
Museums, historic sites, parks, gardens and days out in and near Wolfville, the best known first.
MuseumAcacia Grove / Prescott House1.3 km outside town, to the northwest
National historic site · Parks CanadaCommemorative Church2.3 km outside town, to the northeast
National historic siteGrand-Pré2.5 km outside town, to the northeastMuseumMuseumRandall House Museumin townMuseumMuseumBlack Smith Shop2.2 km outside town, to the northeastPhotos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (3)
- Acacia Grove / Prescott House: Verne Equinox, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Commemorative Church: Mykola Swarnyk, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Grand-Pré: Dr Wilson . User Semhur on the french , modified the original picture, CC BY 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
Famous people from Wolfville
12 notable people were born in Wolfville.
Photo credits
Ashley Mulgrave Gould: U.S. Senate. Office of Senate Curator.?, Public domain · William Pearly Oliver: Unknown author, Public domain
About Wolfville
Town in Nova Scotia
Wolfville 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
- 5,587 (people, 2025 estimate)
- Province or territory
- Nova Scotia
- Census division
- Kings
- Census subdivision
- 1207024
Wolfville’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Statistics Canada
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wolfville | 5,587 | — | D | D− | C+ | C− |
| Kings County, Subdivision D | 6,517 | 2.7 | D | C | C+ | C− |
| Kings County, Subdivision B | 12,661 | 8.9 | D | C | C+ | C− |
| Kings County, Subdivision C | 8,994 | 11 | D | C− | C+ | C− |
| Kentville | 7,589 | 11 | C− | C | C | C− |
People: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about Wolfville
Is Wolfville growing?
Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses it went from 4,195 to 5,057 residents (up 20.5%; Canadian towns’ median: 4.1%), and Statistics Canada now estimates 5,587.
What kind of homes are in Wolfville?
Single-detached houses make up 35% of the homes here, where Canadian towns sit at 64%; 0% are in high-rise apartments. 40% of households are one person, and the average is 2.
Who are the people of Wolfville?
13% of residents belong to a visible minority, against 15% for the median of Canadian towns; 4% have an Indigenous identity and 11% are immigrants.
Is Wolfville a young town or an old one?
The typical resident is 41.6 (Canadian towns: 45.2), with seniors at 26% of the population and under-15s at 8%.
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).