#1Swan Valley West
Manitoba · 2,702 peopleOverall B−·#1,353 of 2,556
Strongest: cost of living A, jobs & income A·lowest: safety D
Swan Valley West, #1 on this list · Photo: Svhartje (CC BY-SA 3.0)Canada · 2026
Towns with the most civic life in Canada
The first ten places are spread over 2 provinces and territories. Leading the list is Swan Valley West, Manitoba, at A+. The next two places belong to Swan River, A+, and Killarney, A+. 426 towns on the list grade in the A range. Last place on the list falls to Sainte-Sophie, at D−.
Civic life grade: library visits per resident, registered charities per 1,000 residents and the province’s volunteering rate How grades work
#1A+Civic life
#2Swan River
Manitoba · 4,048 peopleOverall C·#1,948 of 2,556
Strongest: walkability A, cost of living B·lowest: safety D−
#3Killarney
Manitoba · 3,708 peopleOverall B+·#749 of 2,556
Strongest: walkability A, cost of living A−·lowest: safety C
The top 100 of 2,582
Ranked by its measure (Civic life), best first; each town’s overall grade and national rank sit beside it.
100 towns
#TownCivic lifeGrade · national rankWhat drives it
1Swan Valley WestManitoba · 2,702 peopleA+B−#1,353 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, jobs & income A·lowest: safety D
2Swan RiverManitoba · 4,048 peopleA+C#1,948 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, cost of living B·lowest: safety D−
3KillarneyManitoba · 3,708 peopleA+B+#749 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, cost of living A−·lowest: safety C
4Three RiversPrince Edward Island · 9,322 peopleA+C#1,965 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, health B·lowest: jobs & income D
5LorneManitoba · 3,022 peopleA+A+#5 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A+, safety A+·lowest: health B−
6PembinaManitoba · 2,502 peopleA+A#152 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, cost of living A·lowest: jobs & income C+
7RussellManitoba · 2,715 peopleA+B+#646 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, walkability A·lowest: safety D
8RoblinManitoba · 3,184 peopleA+C+#1,621 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income B+, cost of living B+·lowest: safety D
9VirdenManitoba · 3,322 peopleA+B#1,071 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, jobs & income A·lowest: safety C−
10Wallace-WoodworthManitoba · 2,983 peopleA+Strongest: jobs & income A, cost of living A·lowest: health C
11NeepawaManitoba · 6,328 peopleA+A+#28 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, cost of living A·lowest: health B−
12MinnedosaManitoba · 2,859 peopleA+B−#1,460 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B+, walkability B·lowest: safety C
13WinklerManitoba · 16,156 peopleA+B#975 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A−, jobs & income B+·lowest: cost of living C−
14Portage la PrairieManitoba · 14,738 peopleA+C−#2,084 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, jobs & income B·lowest: safety D
15DauphinManitoba · 8,587 peopleA+C#1,923 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, cost of living B−·lowest: safety D−
16MordenManitoba · 11,578 peopleA+B−#1,341 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income B+, walkability B+·lowest: cost of living C
17CharlottetownPrince Edward Island · 48,118 peopleA+C+#1,723 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk A·lowest: cost of living D
18Bifrost-RivertonManitoba · 3,518 peopleA+D#2,333 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B, walkability B·lowest: safety D−
19GimliManitoba · 6,914 peopleA+D#2,485 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability B, hazard risk B·lowest: safety D
20North NorfolkManitoba · 4,084 peopleA+B+#836 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A−, walkability B·lowest: jobs & income C+
21WestLake-GladstoneManitoba · 3,604 peopleA+B#1,129 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A−, walkability B+·lowest: jobs & income C−
22SteinbachManitoba · 21,671 peopleA+B−#1,371 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A−, walkability A−·lowest: safety C−
23DufferinManitoba · 2,587 peopleA+A#128 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, jobs & income A+·lowest: walkability C
24StanleyManitoba · 9,929 peopleA+A−#354 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, jobs & income A·lowest: walkability C−
25AltonaManitoba · 4,989 peopleA+B+#675 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, jobs & income B+·lowest: cost of living B−
26MorrisManitoba · 3,550 peopleA+B−#1,246 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A−, cost of living B+·lowest: safety C
27Flin Flon (Part)Manitoba · 4,732 peopleA+B−#1,483 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A+, walkability A·lowest: hazard risk D−
28RhinelandManitoba · 6,819 peopleA+C+#1,511 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income B, walkability B·lowest: safety C
29The PasManitoba · 5,634 peopleA+C+#1,522 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A+, walkability A·lowest: safety D−
30CarmanManitoba · 3,547 peopleA+C+#1,661 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, jobs & income B·lowest: cost of living C
31SelkirkManitoba · 11,570 peopleA+D−#2,501 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk B·lowest: safety D
32StonewallManitoba · 5,443 peopleA+B+#651 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, jobs & income A−·lowest: health C
33WoodlandsManitoba · 4,057 peopleA+C#2,005 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A−, hazard risk B·lowest: health D
34Stony MountainManitoba · 9,180 peopleA+C−#2,187 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A−, hazard risk B·lowest: health C−
35GuysboroughNova Scotia · 4,721 peopleA+C+#1,612 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, cost of living A−·lowest: jobs & income D
36O'LearyPrince Edward Island · 2,878 peopleA+Strongest: cost of living A, hazard risk A−·lowest: walkability D
37Kensington, Part 1Prince Edward Island · 3,357 peopleA+Strongest: jobs & income A, hazard risk A−·lowest: walkability D
38YarmouthNova Scotia · 10,637 peopleAC+#1,525 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk B+, cost of living B+·lowest: health D
39GreyManitoba · 2,655 peopleAA#187 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, cost of living A−·lowest: health C+
40Portage la PrairieManitoba · 7,359 peopleAC#1,775 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B, jobs & income B−·lowest: walkability D
41Flagstaff CountyAlberta · 3,724 peopleAB#948 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, jobs & income A−·lowest: safety C−
42StettlerAlberta · 6,035 peopleAB#1,121 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, jobs & income A−·lowest: safety C−
43Stettler County No. 6Alberta · 5,966 peopleAB−#1,204 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A−, schools A−·lowest: walkability C−
44Wainwright No. 61Alberta · 4,576 peopleAB−#1,355 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, schools B+·lowest: hazard risk D−
45TaberAlberta · 10,175 peopleAB−#1,258 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A−, hazard risk B·lowest: safety C
46Port HawkesburyNova Scotia · 3,442 peopleAC+#1,667 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A+, walkability A·lowest: health C−
47InvernessNova Scotia · 5,138 peopleAC#1,902 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B, walkability B·lowest: health D
48Inverness County, Subdivision ANova Scotia · 5,389 peopleAC−#2,201 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B+, hazard risk B−·lowest: walkability D
49Inverness County, Subdivision CNova Scotia · 3,314 peopleAD#2,371 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, cost of living B−·lowest: health D
50TruroNova Scotia · 14,652 peopleAD#2,488 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk B·lowest: health C−
51New GlasgowNova Scotia · 10,378 peopleAD#2,451 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, walkability A−·lowest: safety D
52AmherstNova Scotia · 10,072 peopleAD#2,477 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, cost of living C+·lowest: safety D
53Victoria County, Subdivision BNova Scotia · 4,258 peopleAC−#2,194 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B+, walkability B−·lowest: jobs & income D
54Victoria County, Subdivision ANova Scotia · 2,746 peopleAD#2,391 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B+, hazard risk B−·lowest: health D
55SpringhillNova Scotia · 7,015 peopleAD#2,421 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B+, walkability B−·lowest: jobs & income D
56Cumberland County, Subdivision CNova Scotia · 6,040 peopleAD−#2,504 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B−, hazard risk C+·lowest: health D
57Cumberland County, Subdivision ANova Scotia · 3,401 peopleAD−#2,509 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B, hazard risk B−·lowest: jobs & income D−
58Cumberland County, Subdivision DNova Scotia · 4,692 peopleAD−#2,514 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B−, walkability B−·lowest: health D
59ThompsonManitoba · 12,917 peopleAC+#1,590 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, jobs & income A−·lowest: safety D−
60LiverpoolNova Scotia · 10,997 peopleAD−#2,527 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A−, walkability C+·lowest: jobs & income D
61ClareNova Scotia · 8,020 peopleAD#2,424 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk B+, cost of living B·lowest: health D−
62DigbyNova Scotia · 7,528 peopleAD−#2,550 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk B+, cost of living C+·lowest: health D
63VictoriaBritish Columbia · 103,888 peopleAB−#1,507 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D−
64Rocky Mountain HouseAlberta · 8,144 peopleAC−#2,200 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A−, walkability B·lowest: safety D
65CanmoreAlberta · 17,341 peopleAA#250 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D−
66Annapolis County, Subdivision CNova Scotia · 5,694 peopleAD#2,497 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A−, cost of living C+·lowest: health D
67Annapolis County, Subdivision BNova Scotia · 5,086 peopleAD−#2,521 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A−, walkability B+·lowest: jobs & income D
68Annapolis County, Subdivision DNova Scotia · 3,273 peopleAD−#2,545 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A−, cost of living C+·lowest: health D
69Annapolis County, Subdivision ANova Scotia · 6,719 peopleAD−#2,546 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A−, walkability B−·lowest: jobs & income D
70Smoky Lake CountyAlberta · 4,043 peopleAC#1,980 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: schools A, hazard risk A−·lowest: safety D
71St. Paul County No. 19Alberta · 6,462 peopleAD−#2,529 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, jobs & income B+·lowest: safety D−
72WestvilleNova Scotia · 3,731 peopleAC−#2,256 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, cost of living B·lowest: health D
73StellartonNova Scotia · 4,251 peopleAD#2,331 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A+, walkability B+·lowest: safety C−
74Pictou County, Subdivision CNova Scotia · 8,847 peopleAD#2,343 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A+, cost of living B+·lowest: health D
75Pictou County, Subdivision ANova Scotia · 6,575 peopleAD#2,367 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, cost of living B+·lowest: health D
76Pictou County, Subdivision BNova Scotia · 6,482 peopleAD#2,370 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A+, cost of living B+·lowest: walkability D
77PictouNova Scotia · 3,307 peopleAD#2,456 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A+, walkability B+·lowest: safety D
78NelsonBritish Columbia · 12,126 peopleAB#933 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, schools A·lowest: cost of living D−
79SmithersBritish Columbia · 5,627 peopleAB−#1,419 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, walkability A+·lowest: safety D
80BarringtonNova Scotia · 6,720 peopleAC−#2,297 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B+, jobs & income B−·lowest: hazard risk D−
81ShelburneNova Scotia · 4,542 peopleAD−#2,519 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A−, cost of living C+·lowest: walkability D
82CardstonAlberta · 3,863 peopleAC#1,803 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability B+, jobs & income B+·lowest: safety C−
83ClaresholmAlberta · 4,242 peopleAC+#1,538 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A+, walkability A−·lowest: safety C
84Williams LakeBritish Columbia · 11,462 peopleAD−#2,510 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, jobs & income B+·lowest: hazard risk D−
85ArgyleNova Scotia · 8,216 peopleAB−#1,468 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A−, hazard risk B+·lowest: health D−
86YarmouthNova Scotia · 7,129 peopleAD−#2,515 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk A−·lowest: safety D
87QuesnelBritish Columbia · 10,253 peopleAD−#2,544 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability B+, hazard risk B+·lowest: safety D
88BrooksAlberta · 17,537 peopleAB#871 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, jobs & income A−·lowest: safety C
89Electoral Area A, Bulkley-NechakoBritish Columbia · 5,829 peopleAB−#1,260 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, hazard risk A·lowest: health D
90VanderhoofBritish Columbia · 4,545 peopleAC+#1,651 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, cost of living B+·lowest: safety D
91Electoral Area F, Bulkley-NechakoBritish Columbia · 3,643 peopleAD−#2,531 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk B, cost of living C+·lowest: health D
92RosslandBritish Columbia · 4,355 peopleAA−#370 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living C−
93Three HillsAlberta · 3,502 peopleAB+#827 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, schools A·lowest: safety C−
94Pincher CreekAlberta · 3,890 peopleAC#1,768 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, jobs & income B·lowest: cost of living C
95Cardston CountyAlberta · 4,938 peopleAC#1,886 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: schools A−, cost of living B+·lowest: walkability D−
96Pincher Creek No. 9Alberta · 3,176 peopleAD#2,460 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income B, hazard risk C+·lowest: schools C−
97Powell RiverBritish Columbia · 14,947 peopleAC#1,951 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A+, walkability A−·lowest: cost of living D
98LunenburgNova Scotia · 2,523 peopleAC−#2,175 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk A−·lowest: cost of living D
99BridgewaterNova Scotia · 9,989 peopleAD#2,381 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, hazard risk A−·lowest: cost of living C−
100Vermilion River CountyAlberta · 8,282 peopleAC+#1,533 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A+, jobs & income A·lowest: health C−
Method
How this list is made
Civic life grade: library visits per resident, registered charities per 1,000 residents and the province’s volunteering rate. 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: Swan Valley West, Svhartje (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Swan River, Svhartje (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Killarney, Jd.101 (CC BY-SA 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).