DonnaconaQuebec
7,785 people call this town in Quebec home. It lies in Portneuf.
Is Donnacona a good place to live?
Strong in places, weak in others. Residents are healthier than most (A). Police record less crime here than in most towns (A−). Natural hazards weigh more here (C). The typical owner put their home at $230,000 in 2021: 3.4 years of the median household’s income. Put together, the subjects come to an A− overall, ranking #189 of 499 in Quebec. Set against the rest, it does better than just over four fifths of Canadian towns. Elsewhere it is close to typical: C+ for jobs & income and B for walkability.
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 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.
What makes Donnacona stand out
The 3 things Donnacona does most differently from other towns.
How Donnacona grades
Each subject compares Donnacona 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 Donnacona.
Donnacona’s grade for health: an A
Smokers make up 9.6% of the region’s adults, below Quebec’s towns (12%) and Canadian towns (12%) alike. Lives in the region last 82.9 years on average (2022/2024): 84.7 for women, 81.1 for men. Closer to home, a hospital is 24 km from the average resident of Donnacona, further than the usual 3.7 km. In the health survey, 62% of adults in the region rate their health very good or excellent, more than Quebec’s 57%. Figures for health survey and life expectancy are published for the Région de la Capitale-Nationale as a whole, not for Donnacona alone.
Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised
| Health | Donnacona | Quebec | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very good or excellent health | 62% | 56% | 52% |
| Chronic conditions (average share) | 14% | 15% | 17% |
| Smokers | 9.6% | 12% | 12% |
| Life expectancy at birth | 82.9 | 82.5 | 81.5 |
Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities
Donnacona’s grade for safety: an A−
Across the area its police cover, the Crime Severity Index averaged 45 over 2023–25, below Quebec’s towns (56) and Canadian towns (67) alike. Thefts, break-ins and damage add up to 10.9 per 1,000 residents a year where it is policed. Violence across its police area runs at 9.8 per 1,000 residents a year.
Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year
| 2023–2025 | Donnacona | Quebec | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crime per 1,000 | 10.9 | 16.6 | 31.2 |
| Crime Severity Index | 45 | 56 | 67 |
| Violent Crime Severity Index | 72 | 88 | 86 |
| Violent crime | 9.8 | 12.4 | 12 |
Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average · Area behind the Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000 figures: Portneuf MRC
Donnacona’s hazards at a glance: a low wildfire record and 8.8% of area homes over the radon guideline
Earthquakes add more: NRCan’s model puts building losses at $0.11 a year per $1,000 of value, against $0.030 for the typical town. No flood study for Donnacona is on the national inventory.
Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³
| Hazards | Donnacona | Quebec | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year | $0.11 | $0.14 | $0.030 |
| Radon tests above the guideline | 8.8% | 8.2% | 6.6% |
NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory · Radon tests published for the Capitale-Nationale health region, not by town
More rain and snow fall on Donnacona than on 87% of Canadian towns: 1,173 mm a year
The frost-free season runs from 10 May to 5 October, 148 days. Rain and snow peak in July, at 119 mm. Some 253 cm of snow falls in a typical year, above both Quebec’s towns (217 cm) and Canadian towns (141 cm). A July afternoon in Donnacona typically reaches 25.0°C.
Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Normals, 1991–2020 | Donnacona | Quebec | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snowfall a year | 253 cm | 217 cm | 141 cm |
| Precipitation a year | 1,173 mm | 1,041 mm | 883 mm |
| July afternoon high | 25.0°C | 26.5°C | 25.5°C |
| January night low | −16.7°C | −14.7°C | −13.5°C |
Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Québec Jean Lesage (Airport))
Donnacona has more protected land around it than nearly 9 in 10 Canadian towns
Protected areas open to the public, within 10 km of the town: 22, higher than both Quebec’s towns (10) and Canadian towns (4). The largest named area nearby is Cap-Santé (ouest) Water Fowl Gathering Area, 682 ha, 3.4 km away. The nearest provincial park, Jacques-Cartier National Park (Québec), is 51 km away. A drive of 79 km reaches La Mauricie National Park, the nearest national park.
Protected land · of the land within 10 km
| Outdoors | Donnacona | Quebec | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protected land within 10 km | 9.6% | 4.9% | 2.3% |
| Public protected areas within 10 km | 22 | 10 | 4 |
Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches
Households in Donnacona earn less than those in 73% of Canadian towns
The commute to work averages 24 min. The car took 95% of commuters, above Quebec’s towns (90%) and Canadian towns (89%) alike.
How working residents got to work · census 2021
| Census 2021 | Donnacona | Quebec | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car or van | 95% | 90% | 89% |
| Average trip | 24 min | 27 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.
A normal November in Donnacona runs from −4°C to 4°C
Rain and snow over a typical November come to 91 mm. Next comes December, with normal highs of −3°C and lows of −11°C. Snowfall in a normal November: 19 cm. The forecast on the Weather page is ECCC’s for Donnacona.
Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Season | High | Low | Rain and snow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | −5°C | −15°C | 249 mm |
| Spring | 9°C | −2°C | 264 mm |
| Summer | 24°C | 13°C | 342 mm |
| Autumn | 11°C | 2°C | 318 mm |
ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Québec Jean Lesage (Airport)); the forecast is on the Weather page
More of Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier voted in 2021 than in most ridings: 69%, ahead of 89%
Jean-Claude Léveillée leads Donnacona as mayor, alongside 6 councillors.
Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada
Bibliotheque Municipale De Donnacona logs 1.2 visits per person served, fewer than 89% of Quebec’s town libraries
A single building, Bibliotheque Municipale De Donnacona, serves 7,850 people.
Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada
Only 13% of households in Donnacona spend 30% or more of their income on shelter, against 18% in the typical Canadian town
Rent took 17% of household income, about level with Quebec’s towns (18%) and below Canadian towns (20%). 65% of households are owner-occupiers.
What homes were worth · The median owner’s estimate at the 2021 census
| Census 2021 | Donnacona | Quebec | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households owning their home | 65% | 70% | 74% |
| Median home value, 2021 | $230,000 | $300,000 | $406,000 |
| Households spending 30%+ on shelter | 13% | 13% | 18% |
| Rent as a share of income | 17% | 18% | 20% |
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.
29% of Donnacona’s residents speak English and French (Quebec’s towns: 44%; Canadian towns: 7.5%)
A quarter of residents are 65 or over, higher than both Quebec’s towns (20%) and Canadian towns (19%). Under 15: 17% of residents.
Ages · Share of residents in each age group, Census 2021
Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over
Women and men · all residents
Women make up 50.2% of Donnacona
The 2021 census counted 3,735 women and 3,700 men here, where women make up 50.9% of Canada.
| Donnacona | Quebec | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 17% | 17% | 16% |
| 15 to 64 | 58% | 62% | 64% |
| 65+ | 25% | 20% | 19% |
| No certificate, diploma or degree | 15% | 19% | 16% |
| Postsecondary qualification | 61% | 59% | 56% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; Quebec and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+
The 8 schools of Donnacona: 7 elementary schools and 1 secondary school
Of the 8, one teaches in English (10% of schools in Quebec). Boards running schools in the area: 2, close to Quebec’s towns (2) and below Canadian towns (3).
| School | Level | Students | System |
|---|---|---|---|
| École de la Saumonière (Saumonière, pavillon Jacques-Cartier, de la)In DonnaconaElementary | Elementary | – | French public |
| École secondaire de DonnaconaIn DonnaconaSecondary | Secondary | – | French public |
| École primaire de Portneuf EnglishTeaches in EnglishElementary | Elementary | – | English public |
Schools by system · Schools within 3 km
| Schools within 3 km | Donnacona | Quebec | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| School boards | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Provincial school lists and results, 2025-26 · In Quebec, no schools grade. The ministry publishes its success rates by school service centre, not school by school.
Ferme Langlois Et Fils (Chez Médé) - Cannery Économusée and 12 more within 40 km
One place to visit is mapped within 5 km of Donnacona; with it, the best known within 40 km.
AttractionChemin du Roy7.9 km west
GardenJoly de Lotbinière Estate9.8 km southwest
WaterfallChaudière Falls34 km northeast
Aquarium · SépaqAquarium du Québec35 km northeast
GardenRoger-Van den Hende botanical garden35 km northeastPhotos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (5)
- Chemin du Roy: Azumanga1, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Joly de Lotbinière Estate: Fralambert, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Chaudière Falls: Eric Fortin, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Aquarium du Québec: Josyan Pierson, CC BY 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
- Roger-Van den Hende botanical garden: Cephas, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Everything we know about Donnacona
Famous people from Donnacona
8 notable people were born in Donnacona.
Photo credits
Georges-Hébert Germain: Groov3, CC BY-SA 4.0
Donnacona’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Statistics Canada
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donnacona | 7,785 | — | A− | B− | A− | A |
| Cap-Santé | 3,885 | 5.2 | A+ | A | A− | A |
| Sainte-Croix | 2,612 | 6.6 | A− | B− | A− | B+ |
| Pont-Rouge | 11,339 | 8.9 | A+ | B+ | A− | A |
| Neuville | 4,579 | 11 | A | B+ | A− | A |
| Saint-Basile | 2,918 | 12 | A | A− | A− | A+ |
| Saint-Antoine-de-Tilly | 1,747 | 13 | — | B− | A− | B+ |
People: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about Donnacona
Do people in Donnacona speak French?
French is the common language here.
What kind of homes are in Donnacona?
56% 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 2.1 people; 37% are one person living alone.
Has Donnacona grown?
It grew from 7,200 people in 2016 to 7,436 in 2021, up 3.3%; the median of Canadian towns grew 4.1%. StatCan’s 2025 estimate is 7,785.
How old are the people of Donnacona?
17% are under 15 and 25% are 65 or over.
About Donnacona
Town in Quebec
TownRatings counts Donnacona as Statistics Canada does, as one municipality in Quebec; the census, crime and housing figures all follow that boundary.
Statistics Canada: population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155), Census of Population 2021, 2021 census boundaries.
- Population
- 7,785 (people, 2025 estimate)
- Province or territory
- Quebec
- Census division
- Portneuf
- Census subdivision
- 2434025
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).