Saint-Jean-sur-RichelieuQuebec
Some 100,806 people live in this town, in Quebec. Statistics Canada counts it in the Montréal metro area.
Is Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu a good place to live?
Mostly strong, with a single weak spot. Its strongest is health (A). It is strong on walkability as well (A−). The catch is cost of living (C−). All told, that adds up to a B overall and a rank of #279 of 499 in Quebec. That leaves it better than nearly two thirds of Canadian towns.
Rents here are the metro area's average, shared by every town and neighbourhood in 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 Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu grades
Each subject compares Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu 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 →
What makes Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu stand out
The 3 things Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu does most differently from other towns.
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu is graded an A for health
Source area for health survey and life expectancy: the Région de la Montérégie
On self-rated health the region tracks the province: 55% very good or excellent, 57% for Quebec. Smoking is rarer than in the province: just over one in ten adults, against 12% for Quebec. Arthritis, diabetes and high blood pressure affect 15% of the region’s adults on average, about level with Quebec’s towns (15%) and below Canadian towns (17%). Women in the region live to 84.2 and men to 80.8, 82.5 years taken together (2022/2024).
Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised
| Health | Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu | Quebec | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions (average share) | 15% | 15% | 17% |
| Very good or excellent health | 55% | 56% | 52% |
| Smokers | 11% | 12% | 12% |
| Life expectancy at birth | 82.5 | 82.5 | 81.5 |
Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities
Measured against local pay, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu costs more to live in than 85% of Canadian towns
The rent as a share of income and monthly rent for a two-bedroom numbers here cover the Montréal metro area
A year’s rent came to 22% of the median household income, higher than both Quebec’s towns (18%) and Canadian towns (20%). 15% of households spent 30% or more of their income on shelter, above Quebec’s towns (13%) but below Canadian towns (18%).
What homes were worth · The median owner’s estimate at the 2021 census
| Census 2021 | Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu | Quebec | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent as a share of income | 22% | 18% | 20% |
| Households spending 30%+ on shelter | 15% | 13% | 18% |
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.
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu is on Canada’s flood inventory: 2 listed, led by Gouvernement du Québec
The expected yearly loss to earthquakes is $0.19 for each $1,000 of buildings, above both Quebec’s towns ($0.14) and Canadian towns ($0.030). In Health Canada’s survey, 8.2% of homes tested in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu’s area exceeded 200 Bq/m³, close to the typical 6.6%.
Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³
| Hazards | Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu | Quebec | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year | $0.19 | $0.14 | $0.030 |
| Radon tests above the guideline | 8.2% | 8.2% | 6.6% |
NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory · Radon tests: the Monteregie health region
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu is graded a B+ for safety
Thefts, break-ins and damage came to 14.3 per 1,000 residents a year, lower than both Quebec’s towns (16.6) and Canadian towns (31.2). Violence reaches 10.7 per 1,000 residents a year.
Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year
| 2023–2025 | Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu | Quebec | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crime per 1,000 | 14.3 | 16.6 | 31.2 |
| Violent crime | 10.7 | 12.4 | 12 |
Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average
More of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu’s 15-to-64s are in work than in 76% of Canadian towns
The average trip to work took 25 min, about level with Canadian towns (26 min) and below Quebec’s towns (27 min). The car carried 92% of commuters at the census.
How working residents got to work · census 2021
| Census 2021 | Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu | Quebec | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip | 25 min | 27 min | 26 min |
| Car or van | 92% | 90% | 89% |
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.
More rain and snow fall on Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu than on 74% of Canadian towns: 1,041 mm a year
A normal July day peaks at 26.6°C, about level with Quebec’s towns (26.5°C) and above Canadian towns (25.5°C). For the wettest month, look to October: 103 mm on average. January is the snowiest month, with 52 cm on average.
Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Normals, 1991–2020 | Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu | Quebec | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snowfall a year | 217 cm | 217 cm | 141 cm |
| July afternoon high | 26.6°C | 26.5°C | 25.5°C |
| Days with frost a year | 149 | 161 | 159 |
| Precipitation a year | 1,041 mm | 1,041 mm | 883 mm |
Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (L'Acadie)
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu in November: highs near 6°C, lows near −2°C
November normally sees 84 mm of precipitation. Snow is normal by November, about 16 cm over the month. By December, a normal day reaches −1°C and a night falls to −9°C. Normal highs peak at 27°C in July; nights bottom out at −14°C in January.
Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Season | High | Low | Rain and snow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | −3°C | −12°C | 243 mm |
| Spring | 11°C | 1°C | 253 mm |
| Summer | 25°C | 14°C | 268 mm |
| Autumn | 14°C | 4°C | 277 mm |
ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (L'Acadie); the forecast is on the Weather page
Council seats in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu are spread thin, 7,750 residents each, more than in 99% of Quebec municipalities
For the National Assembly of Québec, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu spreads over 2 ridings: Iberville and Saint-Jean.
Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu public library logs 6.3 visits per person served, more than four in five Quebec’s town libraries
From 3 branches, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu public library serves 100,396 people.
Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada
Mont-Saint-Bruno National Park (Québec) is 14 km from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu
9.6 km out lies the largest, Bassin de la Prairie (Grand Herbier) Water Fowl Gathering Area, at 903 ha. Protected areas cover 1.1% of the land within 10 km; for the typical Canadian town it is 2.3%. Within 100 km there is no national park. The 10 km around town hold 18 protected areas.
Protected land · of the land within 10 km
| Outdoors | Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu | Quebec | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protected land within 10 km | 1.1% | 4.9% | 2.3% |
| Public protected areas within 10 km | 2 | 10 | 4 |
Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches
Common-law couples: 29% of residents 15 and over in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu
Both official languages: 44% of residents, near Quebec’s towns (44%) and higher than Canadian towns (7.5%). People 65 and over make up 22% of the town. 17% of residents are children under 15.
Ages · Share of residents in each age group, Census 2021
Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over
Women and men · all residents
50.8% of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu’s residents are women
48,115 men and 49,755 women lived here in 2021, against a share of women of 50.9% for Canada.
| Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu | Quebec | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 17% | 17% | 16% |
| 15 to 64 | 62% | 62% | 64% |
| 65+ | 22% | 20% | 19% |
| No certificate, diploma or degree | 20% | 19% | 16% |
| Postsecondary qualification | 56% | 59% | 56% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; Quebec and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+
In and around Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, 32 schools: 21 elementary schools, 9 secondary schools and 2 schools for every grade
In English: one of the 32 schools, where in Quebec the share is 10%.
| School | Level | Students | System |
|---|---|---|---|
| École Aux-Quatre-VentsIn Saint-Jean-sur-RichelieuElementary | Elementary | – | French public |
| École Docteur-Alexis-Bouthillier (Pavillon l'Escale)In Saint-Jean-sur-RichelieuSecondary | Secondary | – | French public |
| École Saint-Johns EnglishTeaches in EnglishAll grades | All grades | – | English public |
Schools by system · Schools within 3 km
| Schools within 3 km | Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu | Quebec | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| School boards | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Provincial school lists and results, 2025-26 · Ungraded on schools in Quebec, because the ministry publishes its success rates by school service centre, not school by school.
Back to 1748 in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, with Fort Saint-Jean
On the list: 6 Recognized Federal Heritage Buildings, 4 municipal citations and a heritage railway station. Canada’s heritage registers list 23 historic places inside the town, 12 with the highest designation. 18% of its homes were built before 1961, lower than Quebec’s towns (21%) and near Canadian towns (18%).
Historic places by designation · inside the town
Among them
| Heritage | Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu | Quebec | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homes built before 1961 | 18% | 21% | 18% |
Canadian Register of Historic Places, Directory of Federal Heritage Designations, Québec’s Répertoire du patrimoine culturel, Wikidata; Census 2021 homes by period
Everything we know about Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu
Cathedral of Saint-Jean-l'Évangéliste and 9 more in and around Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu
The best-known places to visit in and around Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu come first; the full list is on the Attractions page.
CathedralCathedral of Saint-Jean-l'Évangélistein town
MuseumFort Saint-Jeanin town
MuseumMusée du Haut-Richelieuin town
FortFort Sainte Thérèse1.6 km outside town, to the northFortFort Sainte-Thérèse (Nouvelle France)600 m outside town, to the northFortFortRoyal Military College Saint-Jeanin townPhotos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (5)
- Cathedral of Saint-Jean-l'Évangéliste: Pierre5018, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Fort Saint-Jean: Victoriaedwards, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Musée du Haut-Richelieu: Yource, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Fort Sainte Thérèse: Fralambert, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Fort Sainte-Thérèse (Nouvelle France): Fralambert, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Famous people from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu
101 notable people were born in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.
Photo credits
Jacques Villeneuve: Rhonda Liberman, CC BY 2.0 · Gilles Villeneuve: ideogibs, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Kevin Owens: Kevin Paul, CC BY 4.0 · Patrice Désilets: Gamerscore Blog, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Honoré Mercier: Jules-Ernest Livernois, Public domain · Marie-Léonie Paradis: Centre Marie-Léonie Paradis, Public domain
About Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu
Town in Quebec
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu is a municipality in Quebec, read by TownRatings as Statistics Canada draws it: one census subdivision, so its figures cover the whole municipality.
Statistics Canada: population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155), Census of Population 2021, 2021 census boundaries.
- Population
- 100,806 (people, 2025 estimate)
- Province or territory
- Quebec
- Census division
- Le Haut-Richelieu
- Metro area
- Montréal
- Census subdivision
- 2456083
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Statistics Canada
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu | 100,806 | — | B | C− | B+ | A |
| Mont-Saint-Grégoire | 3,158 | 9 | A− | B+ | B− | A |
| Sainte-Anne-de-Sabrevois | 2,307 | 12 | — | C+ | B− | A− |
| Richelieu | 6,048 | 13 | B | C− | B | A |
| Chambly | 31,870 | 13 | A+ | B− | A | A− |
| Saint-Jacques-le-Mineur | 1,907 | 13 | — | B | C− | A− |
| Carignan | 12,618 | 14 | A | B | A | A− |
People: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu
Do people in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu speak French?
Almost everyone does. 44% are bilingual, where the median of Canadian towns is 8%, and 55.5% speak French and no English.
Who are the people of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu?
At the 2021 census, 4% were immigrants and 4% belonged to a visible minority (Canadian towns’ median: 15%). 2% identify as First Nations, Métis or Inuit.
What kind of homes are in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu?
Mostly 50% 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 34% have just one.
Is Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu growing?
Yes: the census counted 95,114 in 2016 and 97,873 in 2021, a rise of 2.9%, against 4.1% for the median of Canadian towns. The 2025 estimate is 100,806.
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).