BehchokòNorthwest Territories

A town of 2,017 in the Northwest Territories. Its population fell 7% from 2016 to 2021.

Photo: David Adamec · Public domain

Population

2,017

people, 2025 estimate

Median age

28.8

years · Canadian towns: 45.2

Postsecondary

28%

of residents 15 and over hold a postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree · Canadian towns: 56%

Walk, cycle, transit

22%

walk, cycle or take transit to work · Canadian towns: 8%

Is Behchokò a good place to live?

Homes are affordable (A+). It also does well on walkability (A−). Also worth knowing: its lowest grade is for safety (D−). Hazard risk is higher than most (D−). Health lags (D−).

An overall grade comes at 2,500 residents for Canadian towns; Behchokò has its subject grades alone.

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. Wildfire lowers this town's Hazard risk Grade: a high share of the land around it has burned in the last 40 years.

StrongestA⁺Cost of living A⁻WalkabilityWeakestD⁻Safety D⁻Hazard risk

What makes Behchokò stand out

The 3 things Behchokò does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Home value ÷ household income

Housing

1.7 times household income

Against 4.7 for the median of Canadian towns

Median owner’s estimate $200,000, Census 2021; income for 2020.

Immigrants

Who lives here

2% are immigrants

Midway across Canadian towns: 6%

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree

Education

28% have a postsecondary qualification

Canadian towns centre on 56%

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

How Behchokò grades

Each subject compares Behchokò 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 grading works

An overall grade comes at 2,500 residents for Canadian towns; Behchokò has its subject grades alone.

SafetyAmong the weakest of the towns comparedD⁻Open →Cost of livingGraded on home prices against local incomesA⁺Open →Hazard riskAmong the most exposed to natural hazardsD⁻Open →HealthIn the bottom fifth of the towns comparedD⁻Open →WalkabilityGraded on how easily people get around without a carA⁻Open →Jobs & incomeIncomes and work beat most townsB⁺Open →

SchoolsBecause the province publishes no results school by school, towns in the Northwest Territories aren’t graded on schools.–

How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Behchokò.

SafetySafety D⁻

The police who cover Behchokò record more serious crime than Canadian towns: a Crime Severity Index of 1,172

Its police area recorded 235.1 violent incidents per 1,000 residents a year, higher than Canadian towns (12). Property crime in the area its police cover: 636.9 per 1,000 people a year. Behchokò shares its Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000 numbers with the rest of the Behchoko detachment area.

1,172Crime Severity Index

Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year

2023999

20241,369

20251,147

2023–2025	Behchokò	Northwest Territories	Canada
Crime Severity Index	1,172	–	67
Violent Crime Severity Index	1,188	–	86
Violent crime	235.1	–	12
Property crime per 1,000	636.9	–	31.2

1,175

non-violent Crime Severity Index

32%

of incidents cleared, 2023–25

Full pageBehchokò’s safety reportOpen the full Safety report

Safety1,172 Crime Severity Index · The index weighs each crime Behchokò’s police recorded by how serious it is.Questions“Is Behchokò safe?”

Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average

HousingCost of living A⁺

Rent takes less of local pay in Behchokò than in Canadian towns: 11% of household income

Home ownership covers 48% of households. Shelter took 30% or more of income for 8% of households, lower than Canadian towns (18%).

$200,000median home value, 2021A⁺Cost of living Grade

What homes were worth · The median owner’s estimate at the 2021 census

Behchokò$200,000

Canadian towns$406,000

Census 2021	Behchokò	Northwest Territories	Canada
Households owning their home	48%	–	74%
Rent as a share of income	11%	–	20%
Households spending 30%+ on shelter	8%	–	18%

$800

monthly rent for a two-bedroom

$910

median monthly shelter cost for owners, 2021

Full pageBehchokò’s cost of living pageOpen the full Cost of living page

Renting$800 a month · The median rent at the 2021 census Cost of living1.7 times household income · The median owner’s estimate, $200,000, against the median household income Owners and renters48% own their home

Statistics Canada, Census 2021; CMHC Rental Market Survey via Statistics Canada · Values come from owners at the 2021 census and incomes from 2020, so they predate the later rise in rates.

Natural hazardsHazard risk D⁻

On hazards, Behchokò comes out behind almost every Canadian town

Radon is about average around Behchokò: 5.4% of tested homes in the survey area topped the guideline, against 6.6% for the typical town. Wildfire is the town’s dominant hazard: 45% of the land within 25 km has burned since 1986, 1.13% a year. Shaking is less of a worry than in most places, at $0.003 a year per $1,000 of building value ($0.030 typical).

Very highwildfire bandD⁻Hazard risk Grade

Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³

Behchokò5.4%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	Behchokò	Northwest Territories	Canada
Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year	$0.003	–	$0.030
Radon tests above the guideline	5.4%	–	6.6%

$0.003

expected earthquake loss a year per $1,000 of buildings

Very high

wildfire band

0.1 km

to the nearest land burned since 1986

Full pageBehchokò’s flood & hazards pageOpen the full Flood & hazards page

WildfireVery high wildfire band · 45% of the land within 25 km burned since 1986 FloodNo flood study on record Earthquakes$0.003 a year per $1,000 · Canadian towns: $0.030 Radon5.4% of tests above the guideline Be readyAlerts, FireSmart and radon tests

NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory

HealthHealth D⁻

On health, Behchokò falls short of 97% of Canadian towns

Shared with the rest of the Northwest Territories health region: health survey and life expectancy

On self-rated health the region tracks the province: 43% very good or excellent, 43% for the Northwest Territories. Smoking takes in a quarter of adults, age-standardised, higher than Canadian towns (12%). Lives in the region last 76.4 years on average (2022/2024): 79.4 for women, 73.9 for men. What sets Behchokò apart within its region is distance: 93 km to a hospital on average, over 30 km for 100% of residents.

43%very good or excellent healthD⁻Health Grade

Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised

Behchokò43%

Canadian towns52%

Health	Behchokò	Northwest Territories	Canada
Smokers	25%	–	12%
Life expectancy at birth	76.4	–	81.5
Very good or excellent health	43%	–	52%
Chronic conditions (average share)	17%	–	17%

76.4

years of life expectancy, 2022/2024

93 km

from homes to a hospital, on average

25%

of adults smoke, age-standardised

93 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

Full pageBehchokò’s health pageOpen the full Health page

Health survey43% very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised Getting careA pharmacy 93 km away on average The wider areaLife expectancy: women 79.4, men 73.9 Conditions and habits17% with chronic conditions · adults, age-standardised

Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities

Climate

Winter nights bite in Behchokò: January lows of −29.4°C, colder than Canadian towns

A normal year brings 294 mm of precipitation, below Canadian towns (883 mm). Behchokò sees July afternoons of 22.4°C on average. Most of the snow comes in November, about 37 cm. The most precipitation falls in August: 44 mm in a normal year.

22.4°CJuly afternoons

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter−18.5°C

Spring0.9°C

Summer20.2°C

Autumn0.8°C

Normals, 1991–2020	Behchokò	Northwest Territories	Canada
January night low	−29.4°C	–	−13.5°C
Days with frost a year	237	–	159
Precipitation a year	294 mm	–	883 mm
July afternoon high	22.4°C	–	25.5°C

155 cm

of snow a year

237

days with frost a year

days with precipitation a year

Full pageBehchokò’s climate pageOpen the full Climate page

The yearJuly highs 22.4°C, January lows −29.4°C Rain and snow294 mm a year · Canadian towns: 883 mm Snow155 cm of snow a year Weather station69 km to the station · Whati

Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Whati)

Who lives here

More of Behchokò’s residents have an Indigenous identity than in Canadian towns: 93%

One measure of family life: 27% of residents are under 15. Visible minorities make up 2.6% of the population, lower than Canadian towns (15%). The 65-and-over age group makes up 8.9% of residents.

28.8median age

BehchokòNorthwest TerritoriesCanada

Northwest TerritoriesCanada

Ages · Share of residents in each age group, Census 2021

27%

Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over

No certificate, diploma or degree51%

Postsecondary qualification28%

Women and men · all residents

47.3% of Behchokò’s residents are women

825 women and 920 men at the 2021 census; across Canada, women are 50.9%.

Who lives in Behchokò
	Behchokò	Northwest Territories	Canada
Under 15	27%	–	16%
15 to 64	63%	–	64%
65+	8.9%	–	19%
No certificate, diploma or degree	51%	–	16%
Postsecondary qualification	28%	–	56%

Full pageBehchokò’s Who lives here pageOpen the full Who lives here page

Immigrants2% are immigrants · 3% belong to a visible minority Ages28.8 median age · 9% are 65 or over Households460 households · 3.8 people per household English and French1% speak both · 0% speak French but not English

Statistics Canada, Census 2021; Northwest Territories and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+

Work & commuteJobs & income B⁺

The car carries only 66% of commuters in Behchokò, fewer than in Canadian towns

The average trip to work took 18 min, lower than Canadian towns (26 min).

22%walk, cycle or take transit

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van66%

Walk22%

Census 2021	Behchokò	Northwest Territories	Canada
Car or van	66%	–	89%
Average trip	18 min	–	26 min

$115,000

median household income, 2020

worked from home, May 2021

73%

of commuters work inside the municipality

Full pageBehchokò’s work & commute pageOpen the full Work & commute page

Getting to work22% walk, cycle or take transit Unemployment21% unemployed · Of the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Where people commute to40 commuters · The biggest flow out: to Region 6, Unorganized

Statistics Canada, Census 2021 (labour and commuting) · Counted in May 2021, under pandemic rules: fewer commutes and more people between jobs than in a normal year.

Weather

Behchokò in November: highs near −10°C, lows near −19°C

Hour-by-hour figures come from ECCC’s Whati forecast, on the Weather page. In November, the normal is 26 mm of rain and snow. Normal highs peak at 22°C in July; nights bottom out at −29°C in January.

−10°Ca normal November afternoon

Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

November−10°C

December−18°C

January−21°C

February−17°C

Season	High	Low	Rain and snow
Winter	−19°C	−28°C	41 mm
Spring	1°C	−13°C	42 mm
Summer	20°C	8°C	113 mm
Autumn	1°C	−7°C	98 mm

−19°C

a normal November night

26 mm

of rain and snow in a normal November

Full pageBehchokò’s weather pageOpen the full Weather page

Next 24 hoursTemperature and chance of rain, hour by hour The week aheadECCC’s days ahead, beside the normals The yearWarmest July, coldest January

ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Whati); the forecast is on the Weather page

Town hall

Behchokò sends Rebecca Alty (Liberal Party of Canada) to the Commons from Northwest Territories

In the census’s list of municipalities, Behchokò is a community government.

Full pageBehchokò’s town hall & politics pageOpen the full Town hall & politics page

Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada

Library & civic life

Edzo Public Library is Behchokò’s public library

From the centre of Behchokò, it is 5.6 km away.

Full pageBehchokò’s library & civic life pageOpen the full Library & civic life page

The libraries1 Libraries Places to belong0 charities per 1,000 residents

Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada

Outdoors

59% of the land within 10 km of Behchokò is protected

23% of the town lies within a protected area. Within 100 km there is no national park.

59%of the land within 10 km protected

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

Behchokò59%

Canadian towns2.3%

Outdoors	Behchokò	Northwest Territories	Canada
Protected land within 10 km	59%	–	2.3%
Public protected areas within 10 km	3	–	4

Full pageBehchokò’s outdoors pageOpen the full Outdoors page

Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas3 protected areas within 10 km · Tłı̨chǫ Wenek’e Cultural Heritage Zone

Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Behchokò

15pages on Behchokò

The big questions

SafetyD⁻Crime Severity Index 1,172 Housing & costA⁺Homes 1.7 × income Property pricesSchoolsHealthD⁻Life expectancy 76.4 in its region Work & commuteB⁺41% of adults in work Natural hazardsD⁻Wildfire band: very high

Out and about

Outdoors59% of the land within 10 km protected AttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 22°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 28.8 HistoryTown hallFamous people

Questions about Behchokò

What kind of homes are in Behchokò?

Single-detached houses make up 72% of the homes here, where Canadian towns sit at 64%; 0% are in high-rise apartments. 15% of households are one person, and the average is 3.8.

Has Behchokò grown?

No: the census counted 1,874 in 2016 and 1,746 in 2021, 6.8% fewer, against growth of 4.1% for the median of Canadian towns. The 2025 estimate is 2,017.

About Behchokò

Town in Northwest Territories

For Behchokò, TownRatings uses Statistics Canada’s census-subdivision boundary in the Northwest Territories, and every figure on its pages covers that whole area.

Statistics Canada: population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155), Census of Population 2021, 2021 census boundaries.

Population: 2,017 (people, 2025 estimate)
Province or territory: Northwest Territories
Census division: Region 3
Metro area: Territories (outside CAs, N.W.T.) / Territoires (à l'extérieur des AR, T.N.-O.)
Census subdivision: 6103031

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).