Val-des-BoisQuebec

The town, home to 1,001 people, lies in Quebec. Its population rose 6% from 2016 to 2021.

Photo: P199 · CC BY-SA 3.0

Population

1,001

people, 2025 estimate

Median age

59.6

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%

Is Val-des-Bois a good place to live?

The local economy is weaker than most (D−). Cost of living is weaker too (D). Its other grades sit near the middle: B− for safety, C+ for health and B− for walkability. Hazard risk is weaker too (C−).

With fewer than 2,500 residents, Val-des-Bois gets subject grades but no overall one among Canadian towns.

Rents here are the metro area's average, shared by every town and neighbourhood in it. 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.

WeakestD⁻Jobs & income DCost of living

How Val-des-Bois grades

Each subject compares Val-des-Bois 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, Val-des-Bois gets subject grades but no overall one among Canadian towns.

Jobs & incomeBased on what households earn, poverty and workD⁻Open →Cost of livingHomes are among the least affordable for local incomesDOpen →Hazard riskNear the bottom of the towns comparedC⁻Open →HealthClose to the middle of the towns comparedC⁺Open →SafetyBased on crimes reported per residentB⁻Open →WalkabilityAbout average among the 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 Val-des-Bois stand out

The 3 things Val-des-Bois does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Jobs & income

Behind 99%

of Canadian towns on jobs & income

Its jobs & income grade: D−.

Residents 65 and over

Who lives here

33% are 65 or over

For the middle of Canadian towns, 19%

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

Median household income, 2020

Income

$54,800 median household income

The median of Canadian towns: $81,000

Statistics Canada, Census 2021: household income in 2020.

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Val-des-Bois.

Work & commuteJobs & income D⁻

Commuters in Val-des-Bois travel further than in Quebec’s towns or Canadian towns, 34 min on average

9%walk, cycle or take transit

91% of commuters drove, close to both Quebec’s towns (90%) and Canadian towns (89%).

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van91%

Walk9%

Census 2021	Val-des-Bois	Quebec	Canada
Average trip	34 min	27 min	26 min
Car or van	91%	90%	89%

$54,800

median household income, 2020

19%

worked from home, May 2021

29%

of commuters work inside the municipality

Full pageVal-des-Bois’ work & commute pageOpen the full Work & commute page

Unemployment14% unemployed · Of the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Getting to work9% walk, cycle or take transit Where people commute to105 commuters · The biggest flow out: to Gatineau

Statistics Canada, Census 2021 (labour and commuting) · Census day was in May 2021, mid-pandemic, so commuting and work figures carry the lockdowns’ mark.

HousingCost of living D

Renting in Val-des-Bois eats 31% of household income, more than in Quebec’s towns and across Canadian towns

$270,000median home value, 2021DCost of living Grade

14% of households spent 30% or more of their income on shelter, between Quebec’s towns (13%) and Canadian towns (18%). Households that own their home make up 82%. For rent as a share of income and monthly rent for a two-bedroom, the only official count covers all of the Ottawa-Gatineau metro area, Val-des-Bois included.

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

Val-des-Bois$270,000

Quebec$300,000

Canadian towns$406,000

Census 2021	Val-des-Bois	Quebec	Canada
Rent as a share of income	31%	18%	20%
Households owning their home	82%	70%	74%
Households spending 30%+ on shelter	14%	13%	18%
Median home value, 2021	$270,000	$300,000	$406,000

$1,451

monthly rent for a two-bedroom

$710

median monthly shelter cost for owners, 2021

Full pageVal-des-Bois’ cost of living pageOpen the full Cost of living page

Renting$1,451 a month · A two-bedroom apartment, CMHC’s survey Cost of living4.8 times household income · The median owner’s estimate, $270,000, against the median household income Owners and renters82% own their home

Statistics Canada, Census 2021; CMHC Rental Market Survey via Statistics Canada · Home values are owners’ own estimates at the May 2021 census, and incomes are for 2020.

Natural hazardsHazard risk C⁻

Wildfire low, radon 13%: how Val-des-Bois stands on hazards

Lowwildfire bandC⁻Hazard risk Grade

Radon tests for the Outaouais health region

Seismic risk runs high: $0.075 of expected damage per $1,000 of buildings a year, the typical town $0.030. Fire seldom reaches Val-des-Bois: since 1986, 0.1% of the land within 25 km has burned (0.001% a year). No one has filed a flood map for Val-des-Bois on the national inventory.

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

Val-des-Bois13%

Quebec’s towns8.2%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	Val-des-Bois	Quebec	Canada
Radon tests above the guideline	13%	8.2%	6.6%
Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year	$0.075	$0.14	$0.030

$0.075

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

Low

wildfire band

5.6 km

to the nearest land burned since 1986

Full pageVal-des-Bois’ flood & hazards pageOpen the full Flood & hazards page

Radon13% of tests above the guideline WildfireLow wildfire band · 0.1% of the land within 25 km burned since 1986 FloodNo flood study on record Earthquakes$0.075 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

More people in Val-des-Bois speak English and French than in Quebec’s towns or Canadian towns: 55%

59.6median age

5.4% of residents have an Indigenous identity, above Quebec’s towns (1.5%) and Canadian towns (2.8%) alike.

Val-des-BoisQuebecCanada

QuebecCanada

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

33%

Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over

No certificate, diploma or degree35%

Postsecondary qualification39%

Women and men · all residents

Women make up 47.3% of Val-des-Bois

435 women and 485 men at the 2021 census; across Canada, women are 50.9%.

Who lives in Val-des-Bois
	Val-des-Bois	Quebec	Canada
Under 15	7.6%	17%	16%
15 to 64	59%	62%	64%
65+	33%	20%	19%
No certificate, diploma or degree	35%	19%	16%
Postsecondary qualification	39%	59%	56%

Full pageVal-des-Bois’ Who lives here pageOpen the full Who lives here page

English and French55% speak both · 42% speak French but not English Ages59.6 median age · 33% are 65 or over Households495 households · 1.9 people per household Immigrants0% belong to a visible minority

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

Outdoors

Within 10 km of Val-des-Bois: 25 public protected areas

7.1%of the land within 10 km protected

Within 10 km of the town, 7.1% of the land is protected, against 2.3% around a typical Canadian town. The largest is Proposed Mont-Sainte-Marie Biodiversity Reserve: 13,679 ha, 8.4 km from the edge of town. For a provincial park, Plaisance National Park (Québec) lies 31 km off. There is no national park within 100 km of the town.

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

Val-des-Bois7.1%

Quebec’s towns4.9%

Canadian towns2.3%

Outdoors	Val-des-Bois	Quebec	Canada
Public protected areas within 10 km	25	10	4
Protected land within 10 km	7.1%	4.9%	2.3%

31 km

to Plaisance National Park (Québec)

beaches within 5 km

public protected areas within 10 km

Full pageVal-des-Bois’ outdoors pageOpen the full Outdoors page

Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas25 protected areas within 10 km · Proposed Mont-Sainte-Marie Biodiversity Reserve National & provincial parks31 km to a provincial park · Plaisance National Park (Québec)

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

Climate

Midwinter lows in Val-des-Bois sink below those of 78% of Canadian towns

26.2°CJuly afternoons

Frost usually lifts by 26 May and returns around 22 September: 119 days without it. Frosty days number 179 in a normal year, above both Quebec’s towns (161) and Canadian towns (159). Snow peaks in January: 47 cm in a normal year. Also worth knowing: a normal October brings 96 mm of precipitation, more than any other month.

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter−3.7°C

Spring10.7°C

Summer25.0°C

Autumn12.7°C

Normals, 1991–2020	Val-des-Bois	Quebec	Canada
Days with frost a year	179	161	159
Snowfall a year	180 cm	217 cm	141 cm
January night low	−16.5°C	−14.7°C	−13.5°C
July afternoon high	26.2°C	26.5°C	25.5°C

180 cm

of snow a year

179

days with frost a year

119

frost-free days, 26 May to 22 Sep

141

days with precipitation a year

Full pageVal-des-Bois’ climate pageOpen the full Climate page

The yearJuly highs 26.2°C, January lows −16.5°C Rain and snow939 mm a year · Canadian towns: 883 mm Snow180 cm of snow a year Weather station38 km to the station · Angers

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

HealthHealth C⁺

Val-des-Bois sits a long way from hospital care: 32 km for the average resident

55%very good or excellent healthC⁺Health Grade

On self-rated health the region tracks the province: 55% very good or excellent, 57% for Quebec. The region has more smokers than Quebec, 17% of adults to 12%. Lives here run to 80.7 years on average, below Quebec’s towns (82.5) and Canadian towns (81.5) alike. Val-des-Bois doesn’t get its own health survey and life expectancy figures; the ones here come from the Région de l'Outaouais.

Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised

Val-des-Bois55%

Quebec’s towns56%

Canadian towns52%

Health	Val-des-Bois	Quebec	Canada
Smokers	17%	12%	12%
Life expectancy at birth	80.7	82.5	81.5
Chronic conditions (average share)	15%	15%	17%
Very good or excellent health	55%	56%	52%

80.7

years of life expectancy, 2022/2024

32 km

from homes to a hospital, on average

17%

of adults smoke, age-standardised

23 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

Full pageVal-des-Bois’ health pageOpen the full Health page

Getting care32 km to a hospital · A pharmacy 23 km away on average Health survey55% very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised The wider areaLife expectancy: women 82.2, men 79.1 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

Weather

What November brings in Val-des-Bois: −4°C at night, 5°C by day

5°Ca normal November afternoon

Precipitation in November averages 72 mm. Looking ahead to December, expect highs near −2°C and lows near −11°C. A typical November adds 16 cm of snow. Over the year, July is warmest at 26°C by day and January coldest at −17°C by night.

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

November5°C

December−2°C

January−6°C

February−3°C

Season	High	Low	Rain and snow
Winter	−4°C	−14°C	208 mm
Spring	11°C	−1°C	216 mm
Summer	25°C	12°C	261 mm
Autumn	13°C	2°C	255 mm

−4°C

a normal November night

72 mm

of rain and snow in a normal November

Full pageVal-des-Bois’ 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 (Angers); the forecast is on the Weather page

Library & civic lifeCivic life grade C

The nearest public library to Val-des-Bois is Bibliothèque De Notre-Dame-De-La-Salette, 14 km away

After it comes Bibliothèque de Poltimore (Val-des-Monts), 15 km away.

Full pageVal-des-Bois’ library & civic life pageOpen the full Library & civic life page

Places to belong3 charities per 1,000 residents

Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada

SafetySafety B⁻

Val-des-Bois earns a B− for safety

62Crime Severity Index

Measured across Papineau MRC: Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000

Its police area recorded 17.5 violent incidents per 1,000 residents a year, higher than both Quebec’s towns (12.4) and Canadian towns (12). Thefts, break-ins and damage add up to 13.9 per 1,000 residents a year where it is policed.

Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year

202356

202466

202563

2023–2025	Val-des-Bois	Quebec	Canada
Property crime per 1,000	13.9	16.6	31.2
Violent crime	17.5	12.4	12
Violent Crime Severity Index	107	88	86

non-violent Crime Severity Index

60%

of incidents cleared, 2023–25

Full pageVal-des-Bois’ safety reportOpen the full Safety report

Safety62 Crime Severity Index · The index weighs each crime Val-des-Bois’s police recorded by how serious it is.Questions“Is Val-des-Bois safe?”

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

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Val-des-Bois

15pages on Val-des-Bois

The big questions

SafetyB⁻Crime Severity Index 62 Housing & costDHomes 4.8 × income Property pricesSchoolsHealthC⁺Life expectancy 80.7 in its region Work & commuteD⁻39% of adults in work Natural hazardsC⁻Wildfire band: low

Out and about

Outdoors7.1% of the land within 10 km protected AttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 26°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 59.6 HistoryTown hallFamous people

About Val-des-Bois

Town in Quebec

For Val-des-Bois, TownRatings uses Statistics Canada’s census-subdivision boundary in Quebec, and every figure on its pages covers that whole area.

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

Population: 1,001 (people, 2025 estimate)
Province or territory: Quebec
Census division: Papineau
Metro area: Ottawa - Gatineau (partie du Québec / Quebec part)
Census subdivision: 2480140

Questions about Val-des-Bois

Do people in Val-des-Bois speak French?

It is a French-speaking town: 41.8% know French alone, and 55% can talk in English too, against 8% for the median of Canadian towns.

Who are the people of Val-des-Bois?

Visible minorities are 0% of the population, where the middle of Canadian towns is 15%. Immigrants make up 0%, and Indigenous people 5%.

What kind of homes are in Val-des-Bois?

Mostly 90% single-detached houses (the median of Canadian towns: 64%), with 0% of homes in buildings of five or more storeys. Households hold 1.9 people on average, and 40% have just one.

How old are the people of Val-des-Bois?

The typical resident is 59.6 (Canadian towns: 45.2), with seniors at 33% of the population and under-15s at 8%.

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).