North ShorePrince Edward Island
Population 1,609: a town on Prince Edward Island. It belongs to the Charlottetown metropolitan area.
Is North Shore a good place to live?
North Shore’s strongest subject is jobs & income (A). Add safety to its strengths (A−). Walkability is its weak spot (D−). Its other grades sit near the middle: B for cost of living and B for health.
North Shore is graded subject by subject, but Canadian towns need 2,500 residents for an overall grade.
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.
How North Shore grades
Each subject compares North Shore with Canadian towns of 2,500 or more, ordered by how far it is from the middle. Towns in other countries are graded separately.
North Shore is graded subject by subject, but Canadian towns need 2,500 residents for an overall grade.
How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →
What makes North Shore stand out
The 3 things North Shore does most differently from other towns.
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in North Shore.
The car carries 98% of commuters in North Shore, more than in both Prince Edward Island’s towns and Canadian towns
Commutes averaged 22 min, lower than both Prince Edward Island’s towns (23 min) and Canadian towns (26 min).
How working residents got to work · census 2021
| Census 2021 | North Shore | Prince Edward Island | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car or van | 98% | 95% | 89% |
| Average trip | 22 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.
The nearest high school to North Shore is 87 km away
Young children have 67 km to the nearest elementary school, above both Prince Edward Island’s towns (56 km) and Canadian towns (0.5 km).
| School | Level | Students | System |
|---|---|---|---|
| L.M. Montgomery Elementary SchoolNearest elementary school, 0.8 kmElementary | Elementary | – | English public |
| Schools within 3 km | North Shore | Prince Edward Island | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nearest secondary school | 87 km | 76 km | 1.2 km |
| Nearest elementary school | 67 km | 56 km | 0.5 km |
Statistics Canada’s Open Database of Educational Facilities · The schools grade is given only where results are open; on Prince Edward Island, the province publishes no results school by school.
Hazard risk in North Shore is lower than in 86% of Canadian towns
Radon is lower than usual: 3.5% of tested homes in the survey area topped the guideline, against 6.6% for the typical town. Shaking is about as much of a worry in North Shore as in most places, at $0.021 a year per $1,000 of building value ($0.030 typical). The national inventory holds 2 flood maps for it, the newest from Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action - Government of Prince Edward Island.
Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³
| Hazards | North Shore | Prince Edward Island | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radon tests above the guideline | 3.5% | 3.5% | 6.6% |
| Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year | $0.021 | $0.020 | $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 Prince Edward Island Health Region
For safety, North Shore gets an A−
For violence alone, its police area’s index was 51, below Prince Edward Island’s towns (54) and Canadian towns (86) alike. Across its police area, there are 16.3 property incidents per 1,000 residents a year. North Shore shares its Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000 numbers with the rest of the Queens District detachment area.
Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year
| 2023–2025 | North Shore | Prince Edward Island | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crime per 1,000 | 16.3 | 19.4 | 31.2 |
| Violent Crime Severity Index | 51 | 54 | 86 |
| Crime Severity Index | 47 | 47 | 67 |
Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average
Fewer households are stretched by shelter costs in North Shore: 9% spend 30%+ of income, against 18% in the typical Canadian town
Source area for rent as a share of income and monthly rent for a two-bedroom: the Charlottetown metro area
83% of households own their home, about level with Prince Edward Island’s towns (86%) and above Canadian towns (74%). Rent took 17% of household income, below both Prince Edward Island’s towns (18%) and Canadian towns (20%).
What homes were worth · The median owner’s estimate at the 2021 census
| Census 2021 | North Shore | Prince Edward Island | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households spending 30%+ on shelter | 9% | 11% | 18% |
| Rent as a share of income | 17% | 18% | 20% |
| Households owning their home | 83% | 86% | 74% |
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.
North Shore is wetter than four in five Canadian towns: 1,136 mm of rain and snow a year
A normal July day peaks at 23.6°C, close to Prince Edward Island’s towns (23.7°C) and below Canadian towns (25.5°C). October is the wettest month, with 122 mm of rain and snow on average. Frost usually lifts by 17 May and returns around 18 October: 153 days without it. January is the snowiest month, with 73 cm on average.
Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Normals, 1991–2020 | North Shore | Prince Edward Island | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snowfall a year | 285 cm | 285 cm | 141 cm |
| July afternoon high | 23.6°C | 23.7°C | 25.5°C |
| Precipitation a year | 1,136 mm | 1,136 mm | 883 mm |
| January night low | −11.5°C | −11.4°C | −13.5°C |
Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Charlottetown (Airport))
Around North Shore, 51% of adults call their health very good or excellent
Closer to home, a hospital is 7.4 km from the average resident of North Shore, further than the usual 3.7 km. A baby born in the region can expect 81.2 years, 83.3 for a girl and 79.1 for a boy (2022/2024).
Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised
| Health | North Shore | Prince Edward Island | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very good or excellent health | 51% | 51% | 52% |
| Life expectancy at birth | 81.2 | 81.2 | 81.5 |
Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities · Data for health survey and life expectancy covers the Prince Edward Island health region
In North Shore, November normally means 7°C afternoons and freezing nights
Normal highs peak at 24°C in July; nights bottom out at −12°C in February. Looking ahead to December, expect highs near 1°C and lows near −6°C. Snow is normal by November, about 21 cm over the month. Expect about 110 mm of rain and snow over November.
Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Season | High | Low | Rain and snow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | −2°C | −10°C | 302 mm |
| Spring | 8°C | −1°C | 237 mm |
| Summer | 22°C | 13°C | 269 mm |
| Autumn | 13°C | 5°C | 327 mm |
ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Charlottetown (Airport)); the forecast is on the Weather page
Turnout in Malpeque reached 75% in 2021, above 99% of ridings
North Shore is a fire district by Statistics Canada’s count of municipalities.
Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada
No public library stands in North Shore: the closest, Robertson Library, is 11 km away
The next is Stratford Public Library (Stratford), 12 km away.
Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada
A younger town: only 15% of people in North Shore are 65 or over, fewer than in both Prince Edward Island’s towns and Canadian towns
3.8% of residents belong to a visible minority, above Prince Edward Island’s towns (3.4%) but below Canadian towns (15%). Children under 15 count for 17% of the people here.
Ages · Share of residents in each age group, Census 2021
Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over
Women and men · all residents
52.2% of North Shore’s residents are women
The 2021 census counted 770 women and 705 men here, where women make up 50.9% of Canada.
| North Shore | Prince Edward Island | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 17% | 17% | 16% |
| 15 to 64 | 68% | 63% | 64% |
| 65+ | 15% | 19% | 19% |
| No certificate, diploma or degree | 16% | 14% | 16% |
| Postsecondary qualification | 63% | 61% | 56% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; Prince Edward Island and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+
North Shore is 4.6 km from Prince Edward Island National Park
Protected areas cover 4% of the land within 10 km; for the typical Canadian town it is 2.3%. Within 10 km are 26 protected areas. A provincial park, Brudenell Provincial Park, lies 30 km away. For walks, 12 named routes run within 2 km, such as the Confederation Trail - Tignish to Elmira and Confederation Trail (all spurs).
Protected land · of the land within 10 km
| Outdoors | North Shore | Prince Edward Island | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public protected areas within 10 km | 11 | 7 | 4 |
| Protected land within 10 km | 4% | 4% | 2.3% |
Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches
Everything we know about North Shore
Car Life Museum and 6 more within 40 km
One place to visit is mapped within 5 km of North Shore; with it, the best known within 40 km.
National park · Parks CanadaPrince Edward Island National Park14 km northwest
ChurchSt. Dunstan's Roman Catholic Basilica12 km south
Museum · Parks CanadaGreen Gables House31 km west
CathedralSt. Peter's Cathedral12 km south
MuseumFarmers' Bank of Rustico21 km westPhotos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (5)
- Prince Edward Island National Park: Rick McCharles, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- St. Dunstan's Roman Catholic Basilica: SoftwareSimian (changes by Rabanus Flavus ), CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Green Gables House: JAKclapclap47, CC BY-SA 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
- St. Peter's Cathedral: Robert Cutts from Bristol, England, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Farmers' Bank of Rustico: Fralambert, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Famous people from around North Shore
2 notable people were born in North Shore; with them, the best known born in the towns around it.
Photo credits
Brian Tracy: Daniel Wikberg, CC BY 2.0 · Martha MacIsaac: Brian Solis, CC BY 4.0 · Brett Gallant: Krazytea, CC BY-SA 4.0
About North Shore
Town in Prince Edward Island
Every figure TownRatings gives for North Shore covers the municipality as Statistics Canada maps it, one census subdivision on Prince Edward Island.
Statistics Canada: population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155), Census of Population 2021, 2021 census boundaries.
- Population
- 1,609 (people, 2025 estimate)
- Province or territory
- Prince Edward Island
- Census division
- Queens
- Metro area
- Charlottetown
- Census subdivision
- 1102073
North Shore’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Statistics Canada
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Shore | 1,609 | — | — | B | A− | B |
| North Shore | 2,994 | 4.6 | A− | B− | A− | B− |
| Charlottetown | 48,118 | 10 | C+ | D | C | B |
| Crossroads | 2,366 | 10 | — | B | A− | B |
| East River, Part 1 | 2,657 | 11 | B+ | C+ | A− | B− |
| Stratford | 13,152 | 13 | B+ | C | B+ | B |
| Miltonvale Park | 1,279 | 14 | — | C | A− | B |
People: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about North Shore
What kind of homes are in North Shore?
89% of homes are single-detached houses, against 64% for the median of Canadian towns, and 0% are in apartment buildings of five storeys or more. A household averages 2.7 people; 21% are one person living alone.
Who are the people of North Shore?
Visible minorities are 4% of the population, where the middle of Canadian towns is 15%. Immigrants make up 5%, and Indigenous people 3%.
Has North Shore grown?
Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses it went from 1,406 to 1,475 residents (up 4.9%; Canadian towns’ median: 4.1%), and Statistics Canada now estimates 1,609.
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).