#1Tofino
British Columbia · 2,772 peopleOverall C−·#2,293 of 2,556
Strongest: jobs & income A, walkability A·lowest: cost of living D−
Tofino, #1 on this list · Photo: Buiobuione (CC BY-SA 4.0)Canada · 2026
Towns with the mildest winters in Canada
The next two places belong to Oak Bay, 6°C (42°F), and Saanich, 6°C (42°F). The middle town on the list, Mont-Saint-Grégoire, sits at -9°C (16°F). Last place on the list falls to Rankin Inlet, at -30°C (-22°F). One province supplies the whole top ten. No town does better on this list than Tofino, British Columbia, at 6°C (43°F).
Average January temperature, 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station How grades work
#16°C (43°F) January average
#2Oak Bay
British Columbia · 18,626 peopleOverall A+·#45 of 2,556
Strongest: health A+, safety A+·lowest: cost of living D−
#3Saanich
British Columbia · 126,011 peopleOverall A·#253 of 2,556
Strongest: health A+, walkability A+·lowest: cost of living D−
The top 100 of 2,589
Ranked by its measure (January average), best first; each town’s overall grade and national rank sit beside it.
100 towns
#TownJanuary averageGrade · national rankWhat drives it
1TofinoBritish Columbia · 2,772 people6°C (43°F)C−#2,293 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, walkability A·lowest: cost of living D−
2Oak BayBritish Columbia · 18,626 people6°C (42°F)A+#45 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A+, safety A+·lowest: cost of living D−
3SaanichBritish Columbia · 126,011 people6°C (42°F)A#253 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A+, walkability A+·lowest: cost of living D−
4EsquimaltBritish Columbia · 19,512 people6°C (42°F)B+#614 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D−
5View RoyalBritish Columbia · 12,795 people6°C (42°F)B+#806 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A+, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D−
6ColwoodBritish Columbia · 22,794 people6°C (42°F)B#997 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A+, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D−
7MetchosinBritish Columbia · 5,207 people6°C (42°F)B#1,060 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, safety A−·lowest: cost of living D−
8LangfordBritish Columbia · 59,664 people6°C (42°F)B−#1,318 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A+, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D−
9VictoriaBritish Columbia · 103,888 people6°C (42°F)B−#1,507 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D−
10Juan de Fuca (Part 1)British Columbia · 5,439 people6°C (42°F)C+#1,724 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A−, schools B+·lowest: cost of living D−
11SookeBritish Columbia · 17,248 people6°C (42°F)C−#2,281 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A−, walkability B+·lowest: cost of living D−
12North VancouverBritish Columbia · 97,845 people5°C (42°F)A#98 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A+, walkability A·lowest: cost of living D−
13Bowen IslandBritish Columbia · 4,501 people5°C (42°F)A#103 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: schools A+, safety A+·lowest: cost of living D−
14West VancouverBritish Columbia · 47,929 people5°C (42°F)B+#667 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A+, walkability A·lowest: cost of living D−
15North VancouverBritish Columbia · 66,624 people5°C (42°F)B+#760 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A+, walkability A+·lowest: cost of living D−
16FairviewBritish Columbia · 33,969 people5°C (42°F)B+#804 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D−
17HeightsBritish Columbia · 22,141 people5°C (42°F)B+#813 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, schools A+·lowest: cost of living D−
18KitsilanoBritish Columbia · 27,320 people5°C (42°F)B+#835 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D−
19BrentwoodBritish Columbia · 22,170 people5°C (42°F)B+#844 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A·lowest: cost of living D−
20GreektownBritish Columbia · 16,618 people5°C (42°F)B+#847 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D−
21Roberts CreekBritish Columbia · 3,779 people5°C (42°F)B#936 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A+, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D−
22BroadviewBritish Columbia · 8,008 people5°C (42°F)B#961 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A·lowest: cost of living D−
23West Point GreyBritish Columbia · 13,429 people5°C (42°F)B#981 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, schools A+·lowest: cost of living D−
24HoldomBritish Columbia · 7,976 people5°C (42°F)B#998 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, schools A·lowest: cost of living D−
25Deer LakeBritish Columbia · 8,417 people5°C (42°F)B#1,025 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, health A·lowest: cost of living D−
26Riley ParkBritish Columbia · 23,682 people5°C (42°F)B#1,068 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D−
27Lake CityBritish Columbia · 3,240 people5°C (42°F)B#1,080 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, walkability A·lowest: cost of living D
28Mount PleasantBritish Columbia · 37,091 people5°C (42°F)B#1,090 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D−
29LochdaleBritish Columbia · 7,463 people5°C (42°F)B#1,096 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, schools A+·lowest: cost of living D−
30ShaughnessyBritish Columbia · 8,034 people5°C (42°F)B#1,107 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D
31MontecitoBritish Columbia · 10,734 people5°C (42°F)B#1,143 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A·lowest: cost of living D−
32Garden VillageBritish Columbia · 6,492 people5°C (42°F)B#1,163 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A·lowest: cost of living D−
33South CambieBritish Columbia · 9,846 people5°C (42°F)B#1,168 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D−
34Buckingham HeightsBritish Columbia · 8,794 people5°C (42°F)B−#1,182 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, health A·lowest: cost of living D−
35BainbridgeBritish Columbia · 3,015 people5°C (42°F)B−#1,192 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, health A·lowest: cost of living D−
36East BurnabyBritish Columbia · 17,233 people5°C (42°F)B−#1,194 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A·lowest: cost of living D−
37YaletownBritish Columbia · 40,297 people5°C (42°F)B−#1,202 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D−
38Little SaigonBritish Columbia · 11,086 people5°C (42°F)B−#1,216 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D−
39Royal OakBritish Columbia · 18,364 people5°C (42°F)B−#1,234 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A·lowest: cost of living D−
40Hastings-SunriseBritish Columbia · 36,072 people5°C (42°F)B−#1,303 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D−
41SecheltBritish Columbia · 11,558 people5°C (42°F)B−#1,315 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A+, jobs & income A−·lowest: cost of living D−
42GibsonsBritish Columbia · 5,090 people5°C (42°F)B−#1,345 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D−
43CollingwoodBritish Columbia · 18,399 people5°C (42°F)B−#1,362 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D−
44Grandview-WoodlandBritish Columbia · 28,119 people5°C (42°F)B−#1,376 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D−
45Electoral Area E, Sunshine CoastBritish Columbia · 4,279 people5°C (42°F)B−#1,393 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A+, jobs & income A−·lowest: cost of living D−
46Coal HarbourBritish Columbia · 10,407 people5°C (42°F)B−#1,426 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D−
47Renfrew-CollingwoodBritish Columbia · 23,392 people5°C (42°F)B−#1,434 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A+, walkability A+·lowest: cost of living D−
48MetrotownBritish Columbia · 36,594 people5°C (42°F)B−#1,437 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A·lowest: cost of living D−
49West EndBritish Columbia · 30,785 people5°C (42°F)B−#1,492 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D−
50Granville Entertainment DistrictBritish Columbia · 19,125 people5°C (42°F)B−#1,505 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D−
51Kensington-Cedar CottageBritish Columbia · 39,668 people5°C (42°F)C+#1,524 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D−
52Davie VillageBritish Columbia · 16,833 people5°C (42°F)C+#1,532 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D−
53Welcome BeachBritish Columbia · 3,130 people5°C (42°F)C+#1,567 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A+, schools B+·lowest: cost of living D−
54EdmondsBritish Columbia · 34,805 people5°C (42°F)C+#1,659 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A·lowest: cost of living D−
55Electoral Area F, Sunshine CoastBritish Columbia · 2,691 people5°C (42°F)C+#1,675 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A+, walkability B+·lowest: cost of living D−
56KillarneyBritish Columbia · 32,167 people5°C (42°F)C+#1,734 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D−
57Burnaby MountainBritish Columbia · 9,248 people5°C (42°F)C+#1,747 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A·lowest: cost of living D−
58Norquay VillageBritish Columbia · 11,287 people5°C (42°F)C#1,845 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D−
59StrathconaBritish Columbia · 13,783 people5°C (42°F)C#1,896 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D−
60Central SaanichBritish Columbia · 18,184 people5°C (40°F)A#151 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D−
61Saltspring IslandBritish Columbia · 12,429 people5°C (40°F)A#230 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D
62North SaanichBritish Columbia · 12,986 people5°C (40°F)A−#349 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, health A·lowest: cost of living D
63SidneyBritish Columbia · 13,445 people5°C (40°F)B+#764 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A·lowest: cost of living D−
64Cobble HillBritish Columbia · 5,074 people5°C (40°F)B#1,070 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: schools A+, jobs & income B+·lowest: cost of living D−
65ShawniganBritish Columbia · 9,903 people5°C (40°F)B#1,135 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: schools A+, safety B+·lowest: cost of living D
66Electoral Area A, Cowichan ValleyBritish Columbia · 5,156 people5°C (40°F)B−#1,218 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: schools A, safety B+·lowest: cost of living D
67HighlandsBritish Columbia · 2,753 people5°C (40°F)C−#2,035 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D
68LadysmithBritish Columbia · 9,926 people5°C (40°F)D#2,345 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, health B·lowest: cost of living D
69Cowichan BayBritish Columbia · 3,713 people5°C (40°F)D#2,359 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A−, walkability B−·lowest: cost of living D
70North CowichanBritish Columbia · 34,525 people5°C (40°F)D#2,393 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability B+, jobs & income B·lowest: cost of living D−
71Electoral Area E, Cowichan ValleyBritish Columbia · 4,482 people5°C (40°F)D#2,430 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income B+, health B−·lowest: cost of living D
72Electoral Area G, Cowichan ValleyBritish Columbia · 2,597 people5°C (40°F)D#2,479 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability B−, health B−·lowest: cost of living D−
73Lake CowichanBritish Columbia · 3,757 people5°C (40°F)D−#2,532 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk B−·lowest: jobs & income D
74DuncanBritish Columbia · 5,745 people5°C (40°F)D−#2,539 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health B·lowest: cost of living D−
75Southern Gulf IslandsBritish Columbia · 6,691 people4°C (40°F)A−#360 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A, health A·lowest: cost of living D
76Prince RupertBritish Columbia · 12,903 people4°C (40°F)C#2,001 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, walkability A·lowest: safety D
77Dunbar-SouthlandsBritish Columbia · 21,117 people4°C (39°F)B#1,016 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D
78DeltaBritish Columbia · 124,670 people4°C (39°F)B#1,041 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A·lowest: cost of living D−
79South SlopeBritish Columbia · 8,989 people4°C (39°F)B#1,138 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, health A·lowest: cost of living D−
80KerrisdaleBritish Columbia · 14,105 people4°C (39°F)B#1,146 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, schools A+·lowest: cost of living D−
81LantzvilleBritish Columbia · 4,276 people4°C (39°F)B−#1,207 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, schools A−·lowest: cost of living D−
82Arbutus RidgeBritish Columbia · 15,083 people4°C (39°F)B−#1,401 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D−
83OakridgeBritish Columbia · 14,071 people4°C (39°F)C+#1,545 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D−
84SunsetBritish Columbia · 37,186 people4°C (39°F)C+#1,670 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D−
85MarpoleBritish Columbia · 28,182 people4°C (39°F)C#1,828 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D−
86Victoria-FraserviewBritish Columbia · 31,095 people4°C (39°F)C#1,840 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D−
87RichmondBritish Columbia · 239,584 people4°C (39°F)C#1,877 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A·lowest: cost of living D−
88Port HardyBritish Columbia · 4,201 people4°C (39°F)C−#2,103 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, health A−·lowest: safety D
89Electoral Area C, NanaimoBritish Columbia · 3,733 people4°C (39°F)C−#2,245 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income B, safety B−·lowest: cost of living D
90NanaimoBritish Columbia · 111,845 people4°C (39°F)D#2,373 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, jobs & income B·lowest: cost of living D−
91Electoral Area H, Cowichan ValleyBritish Columbia · 2,761 people4°C (39°F)D#2,454 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income B, health B−·lowest: schools D
92Electoral Area B, NanaimoBritish Columbia · 4,702 people4°C (39°F)D−#2,503 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability B, safety B−·lowest: cost of living D−
93Electoral Area A, NanaimoBritish Columbia · 7,825 people4°C (39°F)D−#2,518 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income B, hazard risk B−·lowest: cost of living D−
94TsawwassenBritish Columbia · 2,629 people4°C (39°F)Strongest: schools A, health A·lowest: jobs & income B−
95ComoxBritish Columbia · 15,884 people4°C (39°F)A#228 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: schools A, walkability A·lowest: cost of living D−
96Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox ValleyBritish Columbia · 7,830 people4°C (39°F)B#1,037 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A−, jobs & income B+·lowest: cost of living D
97Qualicum BeachBritish Columbia · 9,640 people4°C (39°F)B#1,097 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: schools A, walkability A−·lowest: cost of living D−
98Electoral Area G, NanaimoBritish Columbia · 8,412 people4°C (39°F)B#1,103 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: schools A−, safety A−·lowest: cost of living D
99CumberlandBritish Columbia · 4,974 people4°C (39°F)B−#1,304 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, walkability A−·lowest: cost of living D
100Electoral Area A, Comox ValleyBritish Columbia · 8,415 people4°C (39°F)B−#1,398 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety B+, health B+·lowest: cost of living D−
Method
How this list is made
Average January temperature, 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. 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: Tofino, Buiobuione (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Oak Bay, rpaterso (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Saanich, Keefer4~commonswiki (CC BY-SA 2.5), 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).