ChapaisQuebec

It is part of Nord-du-Québec, a census division. 1,392 residents make their home in this town in Quebec.

Photo: Vintotal · CC BY-SA 3.0

Population

1,392

people, 2025 estimate

Median age

40.4

years · Quebec’s towns: 44.8

Postsecondary

47%

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

Walk, cycle, transit

16%

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

Is Chapais a good place to live?

Homes are affordable (A+). Police record more crime here than in most towns (D). Natural hazards are less of a worry than in most Canadian towns (A). It also trails on health (C).

With fewer than 2,500 residents, Chapais gets subject grades but no overall one among Canadian towns.

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 Sûreté du Québec unit's figure for the whole MRC. 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.

StrongestA⁺Cost of living AWalkability AHazard riskWeakestDSafety

How Chapais grades

Each subject compares Chapais 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

With fewer than 2,500 residents, Chapais gets subject grades but no overall one among Canadian towns.

Cost of livingHomes are very affordable for local incomesA⁺Open →WalkabilityNear the top of the towns comparedAOpen →SafetyBased on crimes reported per residentDOpen →Hazard riskNatural hazards pose little risk hereAOpen →HealthWeaker than most of the towns comparedCOpen →Jobs & incomeGraded on incomes, poverty and employmentBOpen →

SchoolsThe schools grade is left out in Quebec, as the ministry publishes its success rates by school service centre, not school by school.–

How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →

What makes Chapais stand out

The 3 things Chapais does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Immigrants

Who lives here

1% are immigrants

For the middle of Canadian towns, 6%

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

Home value ÷ household income

Housing

1.6 times household income

The middle of Canadian towns: 4.7 times

Median owner’s estimate $125,000, Census 2021; income for 2020.

Cost of living

Better than 96%

of Canadian towns on cost of living

Its cost of living grade: A+.

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Chapais.

HousingCost of living A⁺

Rent takes less of local pay in Chapais than in Quebec’s towns or Canadian towns: 14% of household income

$125,000median home value, 2021A⁺Cost of living Grade

Shelter took 30% or more of income for 15% of households, between Quebec’s towns (13%) and Canadian towns (18%). The owner-occupied share of households is 76%.

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

Chapais$125,000

Quebec$300,000

Canadian towns$406,000

Census 2021	Chapais	Quebec	Canada
Rent as a share of income	14%	18%	20%
Households spending 30%+ on shelter	15%	13%	18%
Households owning their home	76%	70%	74%

$632

monthly rent for a two-bedroom

$720

median monthly shelter cost for owners, 2021

Full pageChapais’ cost of living pageOpen the full Cost of living page

Renting$632 a month · The median rent at the 2021 census Cost of living1.6 times household income · The median owner’s estimate, $125,000, against the median household income Owners and renters76% 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.

SafetySafety D

Violent crime weighs more where Chapais is policed than in Quebec’s towns or Canadian towns: a violent severity index of 265

129Crime Severity Index

Shared with the rest of Chapais-Chibougamau: Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000

Where it is policed, 41.5 violent incidents per 1,000 residents are recorded each year. Across the area its police cover, the Crime Severity Index averaged 129 over 2023–25, higher than both Quebec’s towns (56) and Canadian towns (67). The force’s area logs 23.3 thefts, break-ins and acts of damage per 1,000 residents a year.

Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year

2023114

2024129

2025143

2023–2025	Chapais	Quebec	Canada
Violent Crime Severity Index	265	88	86
Violent crime	41.5	12.4	12
Crime Severity Index	129	56	67
Property crime per 1,000	23.3	16.6	31.2

non-violent Crime Severity Index

64%

of incidents cleared, 2023–25

Full pageChapais’ safety reportOpen the full Safety report

Safety129 Crime Severity Index · The index weighs each crime Chapais’s police recorded by how serious it is.Questions“Is Chapais safe?”

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

Natural hazardsHazard risk A

Chapais faces fewer hazards than 88% of Canadian towns

Lowwildfire bandAHazard risk Grade

Area-wide: radon tests, counted over the Nord-du-Quebec health region

NRCan’s model puts the yearly earthquake loss at $0.012 per $1,000 of building value, below Quebec’s towns ($0.14) and close to Canadian towns ($0.030). Little of the land around Chapais has burned: 0.6% within 25 km since 1986, or 0.02% a year. In Health Canada’s survey, 5.8% of homes tested in Chapais’ area exceeded 200 Bq/m³, close to the typical 6.6%.

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

Chapais5.8%

Quebec’s towns8.2%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	Chapais	Quebec	Canada
Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year	$0.012	$0.14	$0.030
Radon tests above the guideline	5.8%	8.2%	6.6%

$0.012

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

Low

wildfire band

0.8 km

to the nearest land burned since 1986

Full pageChapais’ flood & hazards pageOpen the full Flood & hazards page

WildfireLow wildfire band · 0.6% of the land within 25 km burned since 1986 FloodNo flood study on record Earthquakes$0.012 a year per $1,000 · Canadian towns: $0.030 Radon5.8% 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

Climate

Summers stay cool in Chapais: July afternoons reach 22.9°C, below Quebec’s towns and Canadian towns

22.9°CJuly afternoons

Winter lows average −24.1°C in January, below both Quebec’s towns (−14.7°C) and Canadian towns (−13.5°C). A normal July brings 117 mm of precipitation, more than any other month. These figures are measured at Chapais, 10 km from the town.

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter−10.4°C

Spring5.6°C

Summer21.7°C

Autumn7.4°C

Normals, 1991–2020	Chapais	Quebec	Canada
January night low	−24.1°C	−14.7°C	−13.5°C
July afternoon high	22.9°C	26.5°C	25.5°C
Days with frost a year	215	161	159
Precipitation a year	1,080 mm	1,041 mm	883 mm

215

days with frost a year

157

days with precipitation a year

Full pageChapais’ climate pageOpen the full Climate page

The yearJuly highs 22.9°C, January lows −24.1°C Rain and snow1,080 mm a year · Canadian towns: 883 mm Weather station10 km to the station · Chapais

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

HealthHealth C

65% of adults around Chapais call their health very good or excellent, above the typical Canadian town’s 52%

65%very good or excellent healthCHealth Grade

Chronic conditions run at 19% of adults, age-standardised, above both Quebec’s towns (15%) and Canadian towns (17%). Smoking is commoner than in the province: 15% of adults, against 12% for Quebec. People in the region live to 78.1 on average: 78.5 for women and 77.6 for men in 2022/2024. Closer to home, a hospital is 38 km from the average resident of Chapais, and 100% live more than 30 km away. Chapais doesn’t get its own health survey and life expectancy figures; the ones here come from the Région du Nord-du-Québec.

Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised

Chapais65%

Quebec’s towns56%

Canadian towns52%

Health	Chapais	Quebec	Canada
Very good or excellent health	65%	56%	52%
Life expectancy at birth	78.1	82.5	81.5
Chronic conditions (average share)	19%	15%	17%
Smokers	15%	12%	12%

78.1

years of life expectancy, 2022/2024

38 km

from homes to a hospital, on average

15%

of adults smoke, age-standardised

38 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

Full pageChapais’ health pageOpen the full Health page

Health survey65% very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised Getting careA pharmacy 38 km away on average The wider areaLife expectancy: women 78.5, men 77.6 Conditions and habits19% with chronic conditions · adults, age-standardised

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

Work & commuteJobs & income B

Commuters in Chapais have a short way to work, 20 min on average, less than in both Quebec’s towns and Canadian towns

16%walk, cycle or take transit

77% of commuters took the car to work at the census.

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van77%

Walk16%

Census 2021	Chapais	Quebec	Canada
Average trip	20 min	27 min	26 min
Car or van	77%	90%	89%

$78,500

median household income, 2020

worked from home, May 2021

71%

of commuters work inside the municipality

Full pageChapais’ work & commute pageOpen the full Work & commute page

Unemployment5.6% unemployed · Of the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Getting to work16% walk, cycle or take transit Where people commute to130 commuters · The biggest flow out: to Chibougamau

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.

Who lives here

A town of families: 20% of people in Chapais are under 15, more than in both Quebec’s towns and Canadian towns

40.4median age

1% of residents belong to a visible minority, below Quebec’s towns (3.5%) and Canadian towns (15%) alike. Over-65s are 16% of the population.

ChapaisQuebecCanada

QuebecCanada

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

20%

Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over

No certificate, diploma or degree36%

Postsecondary qualification47%

Women and men · all residents

Women make up 47.3% of Chapais

770 men and 690 women lived here in 2021, against a share of women of 50.9% for Canada.

Who lives in Chapais
	Chapais	Quebec	Canada
Under 15	20%	17%	16%
15 to 64	64%	62%	64%
65+	16%	20%	19%
No certificate, diploma or degree	36%	19%	16%
Postsecondary qualification	47%	59%	56%

Full pageChapais’ Who lives here pageOpen the full Who lives here page

Ages40.4 median age · 16% are 65 or over Households645 households · 2.2 people per household Immigrants1% belong to a visible minority English and French25% speak both · 71% speak French but not English

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

Schools

Around Chapais, 1 elementary school and 1 secondary school: 2 schools in all

2schools within 3 km

School	Level	Students	System
École Saint-Dominique-SavioIn ChapaisElementary	Elementary	–	French public
École Le FilonIn ChapaisSecondary	Secondary	–	French public

0.6 km

to the nearest secondary school

Full pageChapais’ schools pageOpen the full Schools page

Every school2 schools within 3 km · 1 elementary school and 1 secondary school Language0 of 2 teach in English · 10% of schools in Quebec Questions“What schools are there in Chapais?”

Provincial school lists and results, 2025-26 · Why no schools grade in Quebec? The ministry publishes its success rates by school service centre, not school by school.

Weather

Expect November days around −1°C in Chapais, nights around −8°C

−1°Ca normal November afternoon

For today and the week ahead, the Weather page carries ECCC’s Chibougamau forecast. Expect about 96 mm of rain and snow over November.

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

November−1°C

December−8°C

January−13°C

February−10°C

Season	High	Low	Rain and snow
Winter	−10°C	−22°C	235 mm
Spring	6°C	−7°C	224 mm
Summer	22°C	9°C	322 mm
Autumn	7°C	−1°C	300 mm

−8°C

a normal November night

96 mm

of rain and snow in a normal November

Full pageChapais’ 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 (Chapais); the forecast is on the Weather page

Town hall

Per resident, Chapais spends more than 93% of Québec’s local municipalities

Jacques Fortin leads Chapais as mayor, alongside 6 councillors.

Full pageChapais’ town hall & politics pageOpen the full Town hall & politics page

Member of ParliamentMandy Gull-Masty council seats7

Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada

Library & civic lifeCivic life grade D

Bibliothèque de Chapais is Chapais’s public library

It stands 0.6 km from the centre of Chapais.

Full pageChapais’ library & civic life pageOpen the full Library & civic life page

The libraries1 Libraries Places to belong4.3 charities per 1,000 residents

Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada

Outdoors

The nearest provincial park to Chapais is Assinica National Park Reserve (Québec), 24 km away

1%of the land within 10 km protected

National parks are all over 100 km off. Protected areas cover 1% of the land within 10 km; for the typical Canadian town it is 2.3%. 02666R018 Biological Refuge (443 ha) is the biggest, 3.4 km from town. 2 areas within 10 km are protected for nature.

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

Chapais1%

Quebec’s towns4.9%

Canadian towns2.3%

Outdoors	Chapais	Quebec	Canada
Protected land within 10 km	1%	4.9%	2.3%
Public protected areas within 10 km	2	10	4

24 km

to Assinica National Park Reserve (Québec)

public protected areas within 10 km

Full pageChapais’ outdoors pageOpen the full Outdoors page

Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas02666R018 Biological Refuge National & provincial parks24 km to a provincial park · Assinica National Park Reserve (Québec)

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

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Chapais

15pages on Chapais

The big questions

SafetyDCrime Severity Index 129 Housing & costA⁺Homes 1.6 × income Property pricesSchools2 schools within 3 km HealthCLife expectancy 78.1 in its region Work & commuteB61% of adults in work Natural hazardsAWildfire band: low

Out and about

Outdoors1% of the land within 10 km protected AttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 23°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 40.4 HistoryTown hallFamous people

About Chapais

Town in Quebec

Every figure TownRatings gives for Chapais covers the municipality as Statistics Canada maps it, one census subdivision in Quebec.

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

Population: 1,392 (people, 2025 estimate)
Province or territory: Quebec
Census division: Nord-du-Québec
Census subdivision: 2499020

Questions about Chapais

Do people in Chapais speak French?

It is a French-speaking town: 70.7% know French alone, and 25% can talk in English too, against 8% for the median of Canadian towns.

Is Chapais growing?

No: the census counted 1,499 in 2016 and 1,468 in 2021, 2.1% fewer, against growth of 4.1% for the median of Canadian towns. The 2025 estimate is 1,392.

What kind of homes are in Chapais?

Mostly 69% single-detached houses (the median of Canadian towns: 64%), with 0% of homes in buildings of five or more storeys. Households hold 2.2 people on average, and 35% have just one.

Is Chapais a young town or an old one?

The typical resident is 40.4 (Canadian towns: 45.2), with seniors at 16% of the population and under-15s at 20%.

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).