FermontQuebec

Between 2016 and 2021, its population shrank by 9%. This town in Quebec has a population of 2,129.

1 place within 19 kmMap →

Photo: Élie Gagnon · CC BY-SA 3.0

Population

2,129

people, 2025 estimate

Median age

years · Quebec’s towns: 44.8

Postsecondary

72%

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

Walk, cycle, transit

23%

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

Is Fermont a good place to live?

Fermont’s best grade is for cost of living (A+). The local economy does well (A+). Safety is its weak spot (D). Natural hazards weigh more here (D−).

Canadian towns get an overall grade from 2,500 residents, so Fermont has subject grades only.

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. Crime here is counted against the people who live here, but many visitors or second-home owners add to it, so the rate per resident runs higher than residents' own risk. 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. Walkability leaves out transit here: in a mining or oil town the census counts the work buses to the sites as public transit.

StrongestA⁺Cost of living A⁺Jobs & income AWalkabilityWeakestD⁻Hazard risk DSafety

How Fermont grades

Each subject compares Fermont 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

Canadian towns get an overall grade from 2,500 residents, so Fermont has subject grades only.

Cost of livingGraded on home prices against local incomesA⁺Open →Jobs & incomeIncomes and work are among the strongest comparedA⁺Open →Hazard riskIn the bottom fifth of the towns comparedD⁻Open →WalkabilityGraded on how easily people get around without a carAOpen →SafetyCrime runs among the highest comparedDOpen →HealthAhead of most towns comparedB⁺Open →

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 Fermont stand out

The 3 things Fermont does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Home value ÷ household income

Housing

0.3 times household income

The middle of Canadian towns: 4.7 times

Median owner’s estimate $50,000, Census 2021; income for 2020.

Residents 65 and over

Who lives here

Only 4% are 65 or over

Next to 19%, the median among Canadian towns

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

Unemployment rate, Census 2021

Work

2% unemployment

The median of Canadian towns: 10%

81% of residents 15 and over were in work, May 2021.

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Fermont.

HousingCost of living A⁺

Renting in Fermont costs 5% of household income, less than in Quebec’s towns or Canadian towns

$50,000median home value, 2021A⁺Cost of living Grade

59% of households own their home, lower than both Quebec’s towns (70%) and Canadian towns (74%).

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

Fermont$50,000

Quebec$300,000

Canadian towns$406,000

Census 2021	Fermont	Quebec	Canada
Rent as a share of income	5%	18%	20%
Households spending 30%+ on shelter	0%	13%	18%
Households owning their home	59%	70%	74%

$468

monthly rent for a two-bedroom

$765

median monthly shelter cost for owners, 2021

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

Renting$468 a month · The median rent at the 2021 census Cost of living0.3 times household income · The median owner’s estimate, $50,000, against the median household income Owners and renters59% 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.

Work & commuteJobs & income A⁺

Commuters in Fermont have a short way to work, 19 min on average, less than in Quebec’s towns and Canadian towns

23%walk, cycle or take transit

76% of commuters drove, below Quebec’s towns (90%) and Canadian towns (89%) alike.

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van76%

Public transit13%

Walk10%

Bicycle1%

Census 2021	Fermont	Quebec	Canada
Average trip	19 min	27 min	26 min
Car or van	76%	90%	89%

$172,000

median household income, 2020

worked from home, May 2021

95%

of commuters work inside the municipality

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

Unemployment2.4% unemployed · Of the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Getting to work23% walk, cycle or take transit Where people commute to35 commuters · The biggest flow out: to Port-Cartier

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.

Natural hazardsHazard risk D⁻

Fermont faces more hazards than 95% of Canadian towns

Highwildfire bandD⁻Hazard risk Grade

Fire is a regular visitor: just over a tenth of the land within 25 km of Fermont has burned since 1986 (0.29% a year). Radon around Fermont is ordinary for Canada: 4.7% of tested homes over the guideline (6.6% typical). The expected yearly loss to earthquakes is $0.005 for each $1,000 of buildings, below Quebec’s towns ($0.14) and close to Canadian towns ($0.030).

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

Fermont4.7%

Quebec’s towns8.2%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	Fermont	Quebec	Canada
Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year	$0.005	$0.14	$0.030
Radon tests above the guideline	4.7%	8.2%	6.6%

$0.005

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

High

wildfire band

2.1 km

to the nearest land burned since 1986

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

WildfireHigh wildfire band · 12% of the land within 25 km burned since 1986 FloodNo flood study on record Earthquakes$0.005 a year per $1,000 · Canadian towns: $0.030 Radon4.7% 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 · Radon tests: one figure for all of the Cote-Nord health region

Climate

Summers stay cool in Fermont: July afternoons reach 19.6°C, below Quebec’s towns and Canadian towns

19.6°CJuly afternoons

Gardeners get 97 frost-free days, from 7 June to 13 September. January nights fall to −27.1°C on average, below Quebec’s towns (−14.7°C) and Canadian towns (−13.5°C) alike. A normal November brings 80 cm of snow, the most of any month. August is the wettest month, with 120 mm of rain and snow on average.

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter−13.9°C

Spring1.4°C

Summer18.2°C

Autumn4.4°C

Normals, 1991–2020	Fermont	Quebec	Canada
July afternoon high	19.6°C	26.5°C	25.5°C
January night low	−27.1°C	−14.7°C	−13.5°C
Snowfall a year	459 cm	217 cm	141 cm
Days with frost a year	231	161	159

459 cm

of snow a year

231

days with frost a year

frost-free days, 7 Jun to 13 Sep

144

days with precipitation a year

Full pageFermont’s climate pageOpen the full Climate page

The yearJuly highs 19.6°C, January lows −27.1°C Rain and snow860 mm a year · Canadian towns: 883 mm Snow459 cm of snow a year Weather station21 km to the station · Wabush

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

SafetySafety D

The force covering Fermont records more serious violence than Quebec’s towns or Canadian towns, at 265

128Crime Severity Index

Area-wide: Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000, counted over Caniapiscau MRC

Violence across its police area runs at 53.6 per 1,000 residents a year. The index for the force that serves it came to 128, above both Quebec’s towns (56) and Canadian towns (67). Its police area records 24 property incidents per 1,000 residents a year.

Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year

202393

2024130

2025161

2023–2025	Fermont	Quebec	Canada
Violent Crime Severity Index	265	88	86
Violent crime	53.6	12.4	12
Crime Severity Index	128	56	67
Property crime per 1,000	24	16.6	31.2

non-violent Crime Severity Index

63%

of incidents cleared, 2023–25

Full pageFermont’s safety reportOpen the full Safety report

Safety128 Crime Severity Index · The index weighs each crime Fermont’s police recorded by how serious it is.Questions“Is Fermont safe?”

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

HealthHealth B⁺

More adults feel healthy around Fermont: 61% say very good or excellent (52% for the typical Canadian town)

61%very good or excellent healthB⁺Health Grade

Source area for health survey and life expectancy: the Région de la Côte-Nord

A hospital lies 0.3 km from the typical home, below both Quebec’s towns (5.3 km) and Canadian towns (3.7 km). Lives in the region last 79.4 years on average (2022/2024): 82.1 for women, 77.0 for men. At 15%, the share of adults who smoke tops the 12% for Quebec.

Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised

Fermont61%

Quebec’s towns56%

Canadian towns52%

Health	Fermont	Quebec	Canada
Very good or excellent health	61%	56%	52%
Life expectancy at birth	79.4	82.5	81.5
Smokers	15%	12%	12%
Chronic conditions (average share)	15%	15%	17%

79.4

years of life expectancy, 2022/2024

0.3 km

from homes to a hospital, on average

15%

of adults smoke, age-standardised

0.5 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

Full pageFermont’s health pageOpen the full Health page

Health survey61% very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised Getting care0.3 km to a hospital · A pharmacy 0.5 km away on average The wider areaLife expectancy: women 82.1, men 77.0 Conditions and habits15% with chronic conditions · adults, age-standardised

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

Who lives here

34% of Fermont’s residents speak English and French (Quebec’s towns: 44%; Canadian towns: 7.5%)

34median age

4.2% of residents have an Indigenous identity, higher than both Quebec’s towns (1.5%) and Canadian towns (2.8%). Immigrants make up 3.5% of residents, above Quebec’s towns (2.6%) but below Canadian towns (6.4%).

FermontQuebecCanada

QuebecCanada

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

24%

Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over

No certificate, diploma or degree9%

Postsecondary qualification72%

Women and men · all residents

45.6% of Fermont’s residents are women

Here the census found 1,225 men and 1,025 women; the figure for women across Canada is 50.9%.

Who lives in Fermont
	Fermont	Quebec	Canada
Under 15	24%	17%	16%
15 to 64	73%	62%	64%
65+	3.8%	20%	19%
No certificate, diploma or degree	8.6%	19%	16%
Postsecondary qualification	72%	59%	56%

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

English and French34% speak both · 66% speak French but not English Ages34 median age · 4% are 65 or over Households975 households · 2.3 people per household Immigrants4% belong to a visible minority

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

Weather

Expect November days around −4°C in Fermont, nights around −11°C

−4°Ca normal November afternoon

ECCC’s forecast for Fermont is on the Weather page, hour by hour. Expect about 72 mm of rain and snow over November. The month after, December, normally sees −11°C afternoons and −21°C nights.

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

November−4°C

December−11°C

January−16°C

February−14°C

Season	High	Low	Rain and snow
Winter	−14°C	−25°C	139 mm
Spring	1°C	−11°C	155 mm
Summer	18°C	7°C	322 mm
Autumn	4°C	−4°C	244 mm

−11°C

a normal November night

72 mm

of rain and snow in a normal November

Full pageFermont’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 (Wabush); the forecast is on the Weather page

Town hall

Patrick Lacerte is mayor of Fermont

The Liberal Party of Canada has 44 of the 78 MPs elected in Quebec.

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

Member of ParliamentMarilène Gill Provincial legislatureDuplessis

Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada

Library & civic lifeCivic life grade C⁻

Fermont public library logs 1.8 visits per person served, fewer than 75% of Quebec’s town libraries

Fermont public library serves 2,154 people from a single building.

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

The libraries1 Libraries Places to belong1.9 charities per 1,000 residents

Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada

Outdoors

More of the land around Fermont is protected than around 9 in 10 Canadian towns

19%of the land within 10 km protected

0.6 km from town is Duley Lake Provincial Park, the nearest provincial park. No national park lies within 100 km. Within 5 km are 3 beaches; Plage du lac Carheil is the nearest.

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

Fermont19%

Quebec’s towns4.9%

Canadian towns2.3%

Outdoors	Fermont	Quebec	Canada
Protected land within 10 km	19%	4.9%	2.3%
Public protected areas within 10 km	3	10	4

0.6 km

to Duley Lake Provincial Park

beaches within 5 km

public protected areas within 10 km

Full pageFermont’s outdoors pageOpen the full Outdoors page

Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas3 protected areas within 10 km · Proposed rivière Moisie Aquatic Reserve National & provincial parks0.6 km to a provincial park · Duley Lake Provincial Park

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

Schools

One of the 3 schools around Fermont teaches in English

3schools within 3 km

Within 3 km of Fermont are 2 elementary schools and 1 secondary school.

School	Level	Students	System
École de Fermont EnglishIn FermontElementary	Elementary	–	English public
Polyvalente Horizon-BlancIn FermontSecondary	Secondary	–	French public

See all 3 schools →

Schools by system · Schools within 3 km

French public2

English public1

Schools within 3 km	Fermont	Quebec	Canada
School boards	2	2	3

0.3 km

to the nearest secondary school

Full pageFermont’s schools pageOpen the full Schools page

Language1 of 3 teach in English · 10% of schools in Quebec Every school3 schools within 3 km · 2 elementary schools and 1 secondary school The boards2 school boards · Centre de services scolaire du Fer Questions“What schools are there in Fermont?”

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.

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Fermont

15pages on Fermont

The big questions

SafetyDCrime Severity Index 128 Housing & costA⁺Homes 0.3 × income Property pricesSchools3 schools within 3 km HealthB⁺Life expectancy 79.4 in its region Work & commuteA⁺81% of adults in work Natural hazardsD⁻Wildfire band: high

Out and about

Outdoors19% of the land within 10 km protected AttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 20°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 34 HistoryTown hallFamous people

About Fermont

Town in Quebec

Statistics Canada treats Fermont as a single census subdivision in Quebec, and TownRatings keeps to that line.

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

Population: 2,129 (people, 2025 estimate)
Province or territory: Quebec
Census division: Sept-Rivières--Caniapiscau
Census subdivision: 2497035

Fermont’s neighbours

The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Statistics Canada

WabushFermont

How the neighbours grade

Town	People	km	Overall	Cost	Safety	Health
Fermont	2,129	—	—	A⁺	D	B⁺
Wabush Newfoundland and Labrador	2,105	19	—	A⁺	A⁺	C

People: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. Distances: centre to centre.

Questions about Fermont

Do people in Fermont speak French?

It is a French-speaking town: 66.3% know French alone, and 34% can talk in English too, against 8% for the median of Canadian towns.

Has Fermont grown?

No: the census counted 2,474 in 2016 and 2,256 in 2021, 8.8% fewer, against growth of 4.1% for the median of Canadian towns. The 2025 estimate is 2,129.

Who are the people of Fermont?

Visible minorities are 4% of the population, where the middle of Canadian towns is 15%. Immigrants make up 4%, and Indigenous people 4%.

How old are the people of Fermont?

The median resident is 34 years old, against 45.2 for the median of Canadian towns. 24% are under 15 and 4% are 65 or over.

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).