Grande-Rivière, QC, Canada - panoramio (2)

Grande-RivièreQuebec

The town, home to 3,318 people, lies in Quebec. Its census division is Le Rocher-Percé.

2 places within 19 kmMap →

Photo: busand2003 · CC BY 3.0

Population

3,318

people, 2025 estimate

Median age

55.6

years · Quebec’s towns: 44.8

Postsecondary

39%

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

Walk, cycle, transit

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

TownGrade

B⁻

#1,499 of 2,556

Is Grande-Rivière a good place to live?

What it saves you on housing, it gives back elsewhere. Incomes are on the low side (C). Overall, Grande-Rivière earns a B−: better than 45% of Canadian towns, and #366 of 499 in Quebec. Its strongest subject is cost of living (A−).

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

What makes Grande-Rivière stand out

The 3 things Grande-Rivière does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Immigrants

Who lives here

2% are immigrants

For the middle of Canadian towns, 6%

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

Home value ÷ household income

Housing

2.5 times household income

The middle of Canadian towns: 4.7 times

Median owner’s estimate $150,000, Census 2021; income for 2020.

Walk, cycle or transit to work

Getting around

4% walk, cycle or take transit

Half of Canadian towns are above 8%, half below

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

How Grande-Rivière grades

Each subject compares Grande-Rivière 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

Cost of livingBased on what homes cost against what households earnA⁻Open →Jobs & incomeIncomes and work trail most townsCOpen →Hazard riskWeaker than most of the towns comparedCOpen →HealthGraded on how healthy residents areC⁺Open →WalkabilityMost errands need a carC⁺Open →SafetyGraded on crime per residentC⁺Open →

SchoolsWith no open results to compare (the ministry publishes its success rates by school service centre, not school by school), there’s no schools grade in Quebec.–

How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Grande-Rivière.

HousingCost of living A⁻

Home ownership in Grande-Rivière, 64%, runs below Quebec’s towns and Canadian towns

A year’s rent came to 16% of the median household income, below both Quebec’s towns (18%) and Canadian towns (20%). 13% of households spent 30% or more of their income on shelter, about level with Quebec’s towns (13%) and below Canadian towns (18%).

$150,000median home value, 2021A⁻Cost of living Grade

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

Grande-Rivière$150,000

Quebec$300,000

Canadian towns$406,000

Census 2021	Grande-Rivière	Quebec	Canada
Rent as a share of income	16%	18%	20%
Households owning their home	64%	70%	74%
Households spending 30%+ on shelter	13%	13%	18%

$560

monthly rent for a two-bedroom

$675

median monthly shelter cost for owners, 2021

Full pageGrande-Rivière’s cost of living pageOpen the full Cost of living page

Owners and renters64% own their home Cost of living2.5 times household income · The median owner’s estimate, $150,000, against the median household income Renting$560 a month · The median rent at the 2021 census

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.

Climate

Summers stay cool in Grande-Rivière: July afternoons reach 23.5°C, below Quebec’s towns and Canadian towns

In January the thermometer sinks to −16.7°C overnight, below both Quebec’s towns (−14.7°C) and Canadian towns (−13.5°C). Between the last spring frost, 4 June, and the first in autumn, 17 September, lie 104 days. The most precipitation falls in October: 130 mm in a normal year. Snow peaks in January: 80 cm in a normal year.

23.5°CJuly afternoons

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter−4.1°C

Spring6.9°C

Summer22.1°C

Autumn11.3°C

Normals, 1991–2020	Grande-Rivière	Quebec	Canada
Snowfall a year	385 cm	217 cm	141 cm
July afternoon high	23.5°C	26.5°C	25.5°C
Days with frost a year	200	161	159
Precipitation a year	1,161 mm	1,041 mm	883 mm

385 cm

of snow a year

200

days with frost a year

104

frost-free days, 4 Jun to 17 Sep

123

days with precipitation a year

Full pageGrande-Rivière’s climate pageOpen the full Climate page

The yearJuly highs 23.5°C, January lows −16.7°C Rain and snow1,161 mm a year · Canadian towns: 883 mm Snow385 cm of snow a year Weather station43 km to the station · Gaspé

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

Work & commuteJobs & income C

Commuters in Grande-Rivière have a short way to work, 17 min on average, less than in Quebec’s towns and Canadian towns

4%walk, cycle or take transit

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van94%

Walk4%

Census 2021	Grande-Rivière	Quebec	Canada
Average trip	17 min	27 min	26 min

$60,400

median household income, 2020

worked from home, May 2021

44%

of commuters work inside the municipality

Full pageGrande-Rivière’s work & commute pageOpen the full Work & commute page

Unemployment12% unemployed · Of the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Getting to work4% walk, cycle or take transit Where people commute to315 commuters · The biggest flow out: to Chandler

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.

Natural hazardsHazard risk C

Radon is Grande-Rivière’s main hazard: 25% of tested homes in its area top Health Canada’s guideline

NRCan’s model puts the yearly earthquake loss at $0.015 per $1,000 of building value, about level with Canadian towns ($0.030) and below Quebec’s towns ($0.14). No one has filed a flood map for Grande-Rivière on the national inventory. For radon tests, the only official count covers all of the Gaspesie - Iles-de-la-Madeleine health region, Grande-Rivière included.

Lowwildfire bandCHazard risk Grade

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

Grande-Rivière25%

Quebec’s towns8.2%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	Grande-Rivière	Quebec	Canada
Radon tests above the guideline	25%	8.2%	6.6%
Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year	$0.015	$0.14	$0.030

$0.015

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

Low

wildfire band

Full pageGrande-Rivière’s flood & hazards pageOpen the full Flood & hazards page

Radon25% of tests above the guideline WildfireLow wildfire band · No land burned within 25 km since 1986 FloodNo flood study on record Earthquakes$0.015 a year per $1,000 · Canadian towns: $0.030 Be readyAlerts, FireSmart and radon tests

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

Who lives here

Grande-Rivière skews older, with 30% of residents 65 or over, more than Quebec’s towns or Canadian towns

Both official languages: 14% of residents, lower than Quebec’s towns (44%) yet higher than Canadian towns (7.5%). 11% of residents are children under 15.

55.6median age

Grande-RivièreQuebecCanada

QuebecCanada

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

30%

Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over

No certificate, diploma or degree38%

Postsecondary qualification39%

Women and men · all residents

Women make up 51.4% of Grande-Rivière

Census 2021 put women at 1,740 and men at 1,645; women are 50.9% of Canada.

Who lives in Grande-Rivière
	Grande-Rivière	Quebec	Canada
Under 15	11%	17%	16%
15 to 64	59%	62%	64%
65+	30%	20%	19%
No certificate, diploma or degree	38%	19%	16%
Postsecondary qualification	39%	59%	56%

Full pageGrande-Rivière’s Who lives here pageOpen the full Who lives here page

Ages55.6 median age · 30% are 65 or over Households1,640 households · 2.1 people per household Immigrants2% belong to a visible minority English and French14% speak both · 86% speak French but not English

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

HealthHealth C⁺

More smokers around Grande-Rivière: 18% of adults, where the typical Canadian town has 12%

Shared with the rest of the Région de la Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine: health survey and life expectancy

A baby born in the region can expect 79.9 years, 81.6 for a girl and 78.2 for a boy (2022/2024). Across the region, 56% of adults say their health is very good or excellent, much as in Quebec (57%). Residents have 13 km to cover to reach a hospital, above both Quebec’s towns (5.3 km) and Canadian towns (3.7 km).

56%very good or excellent healthC⁺Health Grade

Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised

Grande-Rivière56%

Quebec’s towns56%

Canadian towns52%

Health	Grande-Rivière	Quebec	Canada
Smokers	18%	12%	12%
Life expectancy at birth	79.9	82.5	81.5
Chronic conditions (average share)	18%	15%	17%
Very good or excellent health	56%	56%	52%

79.9

years of life expectancy, 2022/2024

13 km

from homes to a hospital, on average

18%

of adults smoke, age-standardised

2.8 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

Full pageGrande-Rivière’s health pageOpen the full Health page

Health survey56% very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised Getting care13 km to a hospital · A pharmacy 2.8 km away on average The wider areaLife expectancy: women 81.6, men 78.2 Conditions and habits18% with chronic conditions · adults, age-standardised

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

SafetySafety C⁺

The force covering Grande-Rivière records more serious violence than Quebec’s towns or Canadian towns, at 135

Where it is policed, 23.9 violent incidents per 1,000 residents are recorded each year. Property crime in its police area ran at 10 per 1,000 residents a year, lower than both Quebec’s towns (16.6) and Canadian towns (31.2). Grande-Rivière shares its Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000 numbers with the rest of Rocher-Percé MRC.

69Crime Severity Index

Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year

202361

202477

202570

2023–2025	Grande-Rivière	Quebec	Canada
Violent crime	23.9	12.4	12
Violent Crime Severity Index	135	88	86
Property crime per 1,000	10	16.6	31.2
Crime Severity Index	69	56	67

non-violent Crime Severity Index

69%

of incidents cleared, 2023–25

Full pageGrande-Rivière’s safety reportOpen the full Safety report

Safety69 Crime Severity Index · The index weighs each crime Grande-Rivière’s police recorded by how serious it is.Questions“Is Grande-Rivière safe?”

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

Weather

Expect November days around 4°C in Grande-Rivière, nights around −4°C

Then December: −2°C by day, −11°C at night. Snow is normal by November, about 32 cm over the month. Expect about 105 mm of rain and snow over November. Over the year, July is warmest at 24°C by day and January coldest at −17°C by night.

4°Ca normal November afternoon

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

November4°C

December−2°C

January−6°C

February−5°C

Season	High	Low	Rain and snow
Winter	−4°C	−15°C	281 mm
Spring	7°C	−4°C	284 mm
Summer	22°C	9°C	270 mm
Autumn	11°C	1°C	326 mm

−4°C

a normal November night

105 mm

of rain and snow in a normal November

Full pageGrande-Rivière’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 (Gaspé); the forecast is on the Weather page

Town hall

Gino Cyr heads the council of Grande-Rivière as mayor

For federal votes, Grande-Rivière belongs to Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, its riding (a federal electoral district, which elects one MP); Alexis Deschênes (Bloc Québécois) holds it.

Full pageGrande-Rivière’s town hall & politics pageOpen the full Town hall & politics page

Who runs itCity council seats7

Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada

Library & civic lifeCivic life grade C⁻

Grande-Rivière has one public library, Bibliothèque municipale de Grande-Rivière

The library is 2.5 km from the centre of Grande-Rivière.

Full pageGrande-Rivière’s library & civic life pageOpen the full Library & civic life page

The libraries1 Libraries Places to belong1.2 charities per 1,000 residents

Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada

Outdoors

Forillon National Park lies 39 km beyond Grande-Rivière’s edge

The nearest provincial park, Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé National Park (Québec), is 22 km away. The largest named area nearby is Grande-Rivière Ecological Reserve, 18,400 ha, 2.1 km away. 4.9% of the land and water within 10 km is protected (the typical Canadian town: 2.3%). 9 protected areas lie within 10 km.

4.9%of the land within 10 km protected

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

Grande-Rivière4.9%

Quebec’s towns4.9%

Canadian towns2.3%

Outdoors	Grande-Rivière	Quebec	Canada
Protected land within 10 km	4.9%	4.9%	2.3%
Public protected areas within 10 km	8	10	4

39 km

to Forillon National Park

22 km

to Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé National Park (Québec)

beach within 5 km

Full pageGrande-Rivière’s outdoors pageOpen the full Outdoors page

Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas9 protected areas within 10 km · Grande-Rivière Ecological Reserve National & provincial parks39 km to a national park · Forillon National Park

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

Schools

The 6 schools of Grande-Rivière: 4 elementary schools and 2 secondary schools

From the middle of town, the first elementary school is 2.2 km off, above both Quebec’s towns (0.5 km) and Canadian towns (0.5 km). Secondary school means a trip of 2.3 km at the nearest, above Quebec’s towns (1.2 km) and Canadian towns (1.2 km) alike.

6schools within 3 km

School	Level	Students	System
École Bon-Pasteur (Couvent du Bon-Pasteur (008))In Grande-RivièreElementary	Elementary	–	French public
École des pêches et de l'aquaculture du QuébecIn Grande-RivièreSecondary	Secondary	–	Other

See all 6 schools →

Schools by system · Schools within 3 km

French public5

Other1

Schools within 3 km	Grande-Rivière	Quebec	Canada
Nearest elementary school	2.2 km	0.5 km	0.5 km
Nearest secondary school	2.3 km	1.2 km	1.2 km

2.2 km

to the nearest elementary school

Full pageGrande-Rivière’s schools pageOpen the full Schools page

Every school6 schools within 3 km · 4 elementary schools and 2 secondary schools Language0 of 6 teach in English · 10% of schools in Quebec Questions“What schools are there in Grande-Rivière?”

Provincial school lists and results, 2025-26 · Schools grade in Quebec: none (the ministry publishes its success rates by school service centre, not school by school).

History

Canada’s registers list 1 historic place in Grande-Rivière

Before 1961 is when 31% of the homes went up, higher than both Quebec’s towns (21%) and Canadian towns (18%).

1historic place

Historic places by designation · inside the town

Highest designations0

Other federal designations0

Provincial and local listings1

Among them

Church of Our Lady of the Great River 1893

1893

oldest construction date on the record

31%

of homes built before 1961 · Canadian towns 18%

Heritage	Grande-Rivière	Quebec	Canada
Homes built before 1961	31%	21%	18%

Full pageGrande-Rivière’s history pageOpen the full History page

On the registersOne historic place inside the town Older homes31% built before 1961 · Canadian towns: 18%Questions“How many historic places does Grande-Rivière have?”

Canadian Register of Historic Places, Directory of Federal Heritage Designations, Québec’s Répertoire du patrimoine culturel, Wikidata; Census 2021 homes by period

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Grande-Rivière

15pages on Grande-Rivière

The big questions

SafetyC⁺Crime Severity Index 69 Housing & costA⁻Homes 2.5 × income Property pricesSchools6 schools within 3 km HealthC⁺Life expectancy 79.9 in its region Work & commuteC44% of adults in work Natural hazardsCWildfire band: low

Out and about

Outdoors4.9% of the land within 10 km protected AttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 24°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 55.6 HistoryOne place on the heritage registers Town hallFamous people

Famous people from Grande-Rivière

4 notable people were born in Grande-Rivière.

See all 4 →

Michel Le MoignanCanadian politician · 1919–2000

Louis-Zéphirin JoncasCanadian politician · 1846–1903

Anne-Marie DayCanadian politician · born 1954

André BeaudinCanadian politician · born 1942

Photo credits

Michel Le Moignan: Not credited by the source website, Public domain · Louis-Zéphirin Joncas: Jules-Isaïe Benoît, Public domain

Grande-Rivière’s neighbours

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

Sainte-Thérèse-de-GaspéChandlerGrande-Rivière

How the neighbours grade

Town	People	km	Overall	Cost	Safety	Health
Grande-Rivière	3,318	—	B⁻	A⁻	C⁺	C⁺
Sainte-Thérèse-de-Gaspé	1,009	7.4	—	A⁺	C⁺	C
Chandler	7,323	16	B	A⁻	C⁺	B⁻

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

Questions about Grande-Rivière

Do people in Grande-Rivière speak French?

French is the common language here.

What kind of homes are in Grande-Rivière?

A household averages 2.1 people; 37% are one person living alone.

Is Grande-Rivière growing?

It went from 3,408 people in 2016 to 3,384 in 2021, down 0.7%, while the median of Canadian towns grew 4.1%. StatCan’s 2025 estimate is 3,318.

About Grande-Rivière

Town in Quebec

Statistics Canada treats Grande-Rivière 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: 3,318 (people, 2025 estimate)
Province or territory: Quebec
Census division: Le Rocher-Percé
Census subdivision: 2402015

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).