#1Shannon
Quebec · 7,088 peopleOverall A+·#1 of 2,556
Strongest: health A+, jobs & income A+·lowest: hazard risk C
Shannon, #1 on this list · Photo: Roncanada (CC BY 4.0)Canada · 2026
Best small towns in Canada
Lac-Beauport is second at A+, and Boischatel third at A+. In all, 320 towns on this list earn an A. The bottom of the list is Clear Hills, with D−. The ten best are scattered across 3 provinces and territories. Shannon, Quebec, tops the list at A+.
Overall grade, the ranked towns under 10,000 How grades work
#1A+Overall
#2Lac-Beauport
Quebec · 8,524 peopleOverall A+·#2 of 2,556
Strongest: health A+, safety A+·lowest: walkability C
#3Boischatel
Quebec · 9,250 peopleOverall A+·#3 of 2,556
Strongest: health A+, jobs & income A+·lowest: hazard risk C
The top 100 of 1,524
Ranked by its measure (Overall), best first; each town’s overall grade and national rank sit beside it.
100 towns
#TownOverallGrade · national rankWhat drives it
1ShannonQuebec · 7,088 peopleA+A+#1 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A+, jobs & income A+·lowest: hazard risk C
2Lac-BeauportQuebec · 8,524 peopleA+A+#2 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A+, safety A+·lowest: walkability C
3BoischatelQuebec · 9,250 peopleA+A+#3 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A+, jobs & income A+·lowest: hazard risk C
4Saint-ElzéarQuebec · 2,842 peopleA+A+#4 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, cost of living A·lowest: hazard risk C−
5LorneManitoba · 3,022 peopleA+A+#5 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A+, safety A+·lowest: health B−
6Saint-Alexandre-de-KamouraskaQuebec · 2,509 peopleA+A+#6 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, jobs & income A·lowest: hazard risk D
7Sainte-Catherine-de-la-Jacques-CartierQuebec · 9,830 peopleA+A+#7 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, health A+·lowest: hazard risk C
8Saint-BernardQuebec · 2,680 peopleA+A+#9 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, safety A·lowest: hazard risk D
9Saint-BrunoQuebec · 2,935 peopleA+A+#11 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, health A·lowest: hazard risk C+
10CarpOntario · 5,621 peopleA+A+#12 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, schools A+·lowest: hazard risk C+
11Sainte-Brigitte-de-LavalQuebec · 9,084 peopleA+A+#17 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, health A+·lowest: walkability D
12Old Ottawa SouthOntario · 6,704 peopleA+A+#18 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A+·lowest: hazard risk C+
13Saint-BonifaceQuebec · 5,405 peopleA+A+#19 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, health A−·lowest: walkability C
14Saint-Charles-de-BellechasseQuebec · 2,739 peopleA+A+#21 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A, jobs & income A−·lowest: hazard risk D
15Saint-MauriceQuebec · 3,804 peopleA+A+#24 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, safety A·lowest: walkability C−
16Saint-AnselmeQuebec · 4,534 peopleA+A+#26 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, safety A·lowest: hazard risk D
17Island Park-Wellington VillageOntario · 5,486 peopleA+A+#27 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, jobs & income A+·lowest: hazard risk C+
18NeepawaManitoba · 6,328 peopleA+A+#28 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, cost of living A·lowest: health B−
19Saint-Éphrem-de-BeauceQuebec · 2,575 peopleA+A+#29 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A+, jobs & income A·lowest: hazard risk C−
20RosetownSaskatchewan · 2,600 peopleA+A+#31 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, cost of living A·lowest: hazard risk B
21OutlookSaskatchewan · 2,629 peopleA+A+#33 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, safety A−·lowest: hazard risk B
22HatleyQuebec · 2,512 peopleA+A+#34 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, health A·lowest: walkability C−
23Upper Mount RoyalAlberta · 2,758 peopleA+A+#35 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, walkability A+·lowest: safety B−
24CorkeryOntario · 3,822 peopleA+A+#39 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, schools A+·lowest: walkability D
25Saint-Joseph-de-BeauceQuebec · 5,339 peopleA+A+#41 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, jobs & income A·lowest: hazard risk C−
26Labrador CityNewfoundland and Labrador · 7,965 peopleA+A+#44 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, cost of living A+·lowest: hazard risk D−
27ManotickOntario · 8,770 peopleA+A+#48 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, schools A·lowest: hazard risk C+
28Saint-HonoréQuebec · 6,984 peopleA+A+#50 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, health A·lowest: walkability C
29Garrison WoodsAlberta · 3,138 peopleA+A+#52 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, health A+·lowest: safety B−
30Crystal Bay - Lakeview ParkOntario · 6,059 peopleA+A+#53 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, health A·lowest: cost of living C
31BeaverbrookOntario · 6,762 peopleA+A+#54 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, schools A+·lowest: cost of living C−
32Cap-SantéQuebec · 3,885 peopleA+A+#55 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income A·lowest: walkability D
33BeaucevilleQuebec · 6,228 peopleA+A+#57 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, cost of living A−·lowest: hazard risk C−
34Saint-Alphonse-de-GranbyQuebec · 3,545 peopleA+A+#58 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, health A·lowest: walkability C−
35DunrobinOntario · 5,724 peopleA+A+#59 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, schools A+·lowest: walkability D
36PlessisvilleQuebec · 2,718 peopleA+A+#62 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, cost of living A·lowest: walkability C+
37Saint-Anaclet-de-LessardQuebec · 3,018 peopleA+A+#63 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, cost of living A·lowest: walkability D
38Saint-LiboireQuebec · 3,123 peopleA+A+#65 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, health A−·lowest: hazard risk C
39Saint-Christophe-d'ArthabaskaQuebec · 3,307 peopleA+A+#67 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, health A·lowest: walkability D
40Saint-PascalQuebec · 3,516 peopleA+A+#69 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, walkability A−·lowest: hazard risk D
41AltadoreAlberta · 7,675 peopleA+A+#71 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living C+
42Saint-Étienne-des-GrèsQuebec · 4,675 peopleA+A+#72 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, health A−·lowest: walkability C
43Saint-AntoninQuebec · 4,633 peopleA+A+#77 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, cost of living A·lowest: hazard risk D
44ScottQuebec · 2,938 peopleA+A+#78 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, safety A·lowest: hazard risk D
45Saint-ProsperQuebec · 4,042 peopleA+A+#80 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, cost of living A·lowest: hazard risk C−
46Elbow ParkAlberta · 4,120 peopleA+A+#81 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A+, jobs & income A·lowest: safety B−
47PrincevilleQuebec · 6,400 peopleA+A+#83 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A−, walkability A−·lowest: safety B
48HébertvilleQuebec · 2,588 peopleA+A+#86 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, health A·lowest: walkability C+
49ComptonQuebec · 3,351 peopleA+A+#89 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income A−·lowest: cost of living B−
50Saint-MartinQuebec · 2,687 peopleA+A+#91 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, safety B+·lowest: hazard risk C
51Sainte-ClaireQuebec · 3,724 peopleA+A+#92 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A, cost of living A−·lowest: hazard risk C−
52Cougar RidgeAlberta · 7,101 peopleAA#96 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, schools A·lowest: safety B−
53NormandinQuebec · 3,065 peopleAA#99 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A+, walkability A−·lowest: safety C+
54Queenswood HeightsOntario · 8,998 peopleAA#100 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, walkability A·lowest: cost of living C−
55WatervilleQuebec · 2,643 peopleAA#102 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, safety A−·lowest: walkability B
56Bowen IslandBritish Columbia · 4,501 peopleAA#103 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: schools A+, safety A+·lowest: cost of living D−
57Collectivité NouvelleQuebec · 3,587 peopleAA#104 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income A·lowest: hazard risk C−
58Aspen WoodsAlberta · 9,606 peopleAA#105 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: schools A+, health A·lowest: jobs & income B−
59ChelseaQuebec · 8,998 peopleAA#108 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, jobs & income A·lowest: hazard risk C−
60NeuvilleQuebec · 4,579 peopleAA#109 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income A·lowest: hazard risk C−
61Saint-François-Xavier-de-BromptonQuebec · 2,650 peopleAA#110 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, health A·lowest: walkability C−
62Notre-Dame-du-Mont-CarmelQuebec · 6,613 peopleAA#112 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, safety A·lowest: walkability C−
63L'Ange-GardienQuebec · 4,106 peopleAA#113 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A+, jobs & income A·lowest: hazard risk C
64Queensway Terrace NorthOntario · 3,160 peopleAA#114 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, walkability A+·lowest: cost of living D
65LorraineQuebec · 9,721 peopleAA#115 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A+, safety B+·lowest: hazard risk D
66Havre-Saint-PierreQuebec · 3,389 peopleAA#118 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A+, walkability A+·lowest: safety C−
67NicoletQuebec · 8,737 peopleAA#119 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income A−·lowest: safety B
68Métabetchouan--Lac-à-la-CroixQuebec · 4,230 peopleAA#120 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A+, cost of living A·lowest: jobs & income C+
69Saint-Jean-Port-JoliQuebec · 3,330 peopleAA#122 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, safety A−·lowest: hazard risk D
70L'IsletQuebec · 3,874 peopleAA#123 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, safety A−·lowest: hazard risk D
71ClermontQuebec · 3,117 peopleAA#124 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A+, cost of living A·lowest: hazard risk D
72RichmondOntario · 9,526 peopleAA#126 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: schools A, safety A·lowest: cost of living C
73DufferinManitoba · 2,587 peopleAA#128 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, jobs & income A+·lowest: walkability C
74Fossambault-sur-le-LacQuebec · 2,505 peopleAA#132 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, health A+·lowest: walkability D−
75Saint-IsidoreQuebec · 3,550 peopleAA#134 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A, cost of living A−·lowest: hazard risk D
76Saint-AmbroiseQuebec · 4,262 peopleAA#137 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A+, health A−·lowest: walkability C+
77Saint-BasileQuebec · 2,918 peopleAA#139 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A+, safety A−·lowest: hazard risk C
78Saint-AgapitQuebec · 4,817 peopleAA#141 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A−, cost of living A−·lowest: hazard risk D
79WarwickQuebec · 4,939 peopleAA#142 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A−, cost of living A−·lowest: safety B
80CoaticookQuebec · 9,027 peopleAA#143 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A+, safety A−·lowest: cost of living C+
81Strathcona ParkAlberta · 8,680 peopleAA#144 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: schools A+, health A+·lowest: safety B−
82BeaumontQuebec · 3,188 peopleAA#145 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, safety A·lowest: hazard risk D
83Ascot CornerQuebec · 3,725 peopleAA#146 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, health A·lowest: walkability D
84Saint-Denis-de-BromptonQuebec · 5,249 peopleAA#149 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, health A·lowest: walkability D
85StokeQuebec · 3,272 peopleAA#150 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income A−·lowest: walkability D
86PembinaManitoba · 2,502 peopleAA#152 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, cost of living A·lowest: jobs & income C+
87Saint-Jean-BaptisteQuebec · 3,332 peopleAA#153 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A, health A−·lowest: hazard risk C
88Blackburn HamletOntario · 7,606 peopleAA#156 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, safety A+·lowest: cost of living D
89CumberlandOntario · 6,139 peopleAA#157 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, schools A·lowest: walkability C−
90WindsorQuebec · 5,368 peopleAA#158 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A−, walkability A−·lowest: jobs & income B−
91KinburnOntario · 2,639 peopleAA#161 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living C
92Otterburn ParkQuebec · 9,460 peopleAA#162 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A, jobs & income A−·lowest: hazard risk C
93Kingsway SouthOntario · 8,935 peopleAA#165 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, schools A·lowest: cost of living C+
94VarsOntario · 2,767 peopleAA#167 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, schools A+·lowest: cost of living C
95La PocatièreQuebec · 4,206 peopleAA#168 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A·lowest: hazard risk D
96VerchèresQuebec · 5,819 peopleAA#171 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A, walkability A·lowest: hazard risk C
97OrfordQuebec · 5,698 peopleAA#174 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, safety A−·lowest: walkability D
98Lac-EtcheminQuebec · 4,089 peopleAA#175 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, cost of living A−·lowest: hazard risk C−
99Saint-Lambert-de-LauzonQuebec · 7,551 peopleAA#177 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, safety A·lowest: hazard risk D
100Saint-Gabriel-de-ValcartierQuebec · 3,400 peopleAA#180 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, health A+·lowest: walkability D
Method
How this list is made
Overall grade, the ranked towns under 10,000. Towns of 2,500 or more in Canada are listed by it, best first; a tie goes to the town with the better overall rank. How grades work
Rankings
More lists across Canada
Best places to liveBest big townsBest small townsMost affordableSafestHealthiestJobs & incomeMost walkableLowest hazard riskCivic lifeHighest incomesFastest-growingMost historicMost bilingualYoungestOldestMildest wintersColdest wintersWarmest summersCoolest summersFewest frostsLeast snowSnowiestDriestWettest
Province by province
Best places to live, province by province
Photos: Shannon, Roncanada (CC BY 4.0) · Lac-Beauport, Gabriel Picard (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Boischatel, Gilbertus (CC BY 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources: TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranking Canadian towns against each other only, run #73 of 10 November 2026. 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).