Livability Score

74
/100
i The AreaVibes Livability Score evaluates 9 different categories and creates an overall score out of 100. The higher the score, the better the area.

amenities A-

There are lots of amenities close to this location.
Coffee (41) C-
Entertainment (20) C-
Food and Drink (90) A-
Fitness (12) F
Groceries (26) F
Parks (442) A+
Shops (90) C+
See more Nanaimo amenity data

commute A+

Of all people who commute, 2.0% take public transportation in Nanaimo.
Public Transit Stops (543)
Stops & Stations
A+
Workers Taking Public Transit
2.0%
F
See more Nanaimo commute data

cost of living C+

The cost of living in Nanaimo is 94/100 - which is 24% lower than British Columbia.
Cost of Living
Goods & Services, Housing, etc.
D-
Tax Rates
Income & Sales Tax
C+
See more Nanaimo cost of living data

crime F

Nanaimo crime rates are 8,345 per 100k, which is 38% higher than British Columbia
Property Crime
6,797 crimes per 100k
F
Violent Crime
1,548 crimes per 100k
F
See more Nanaimo crime data

employment C+

The median income in Nanaimo is $74,402 - which is 14% lower than British Columbia.
Med. Household Income
$74,402
D-
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
A
See more Nanaimo employment data

health A+

There are many hospitals, police and fire stations.
Health & Safety (33)
Dentist, Doctor, Hospital, etc.
A+
Air Quality
Median Air Quality
A+
See more Nanaimo health & safety data

housing A

Nanaimo home prices are $892,000 - which is 7% lower than British Columbia
Home Price
$892,000
D-
Home Appreciation Rate
51%
C-
Home Affordability
12x (home price to income ratio)
A
See more Nanaimo housing data

schools B

The Nanaimo graduation rate is 86% - which is equal to British Columbia
School Test Scores
58%
D+
High School Grad. Rates
86%
C+
Elementary Schools (27) B-
High Schools (13) F
See more Nanaimo education data

ratings F

Nanaimo has an overall rating of 32% from 16 reviews.
User Reviews (1)
From AreaVibes
F
User Surveys (15)
From AreaVibes
C-
See more Nanaimo user rating data
Amenities Commute Cost of Living Crime Employment Health & Safety Housing Schools User Ratings
Photo of Nanaimo, BC
( 16 Ratings )

Living in Nanaimo, BC

Nanaimo Area Facts

  • Nanaimo has a Livability Score of 74/100, which is considered excellent
  • Nanaimo crime rates are 38% higher than the British Columbia average
  • Cost of living in Nanaimo is 24% lower than the British Columbia average

Nanaimo Reviews

Write a review about Nanaimo Tell people what you like or don't like about Nanaimo…
Tail of two cities 1 rating By Anonymous ( Dec 04, 2022) Two camps all have something to gain and everything to loose . Reality is a far cry from the typical sales pitch given by real estate agents ,investors and politicians alike . Underneath the shopping centers
And houses exceeding 750,000 . You still have a troubled past . Hi
...Read More gher taxes only benefit the wealthy
Cost of living has made it impossible for anyone thinking about home ownership. Shrinking economy
With fewer glances of making a decent living. South end looks remarkably like the same “ known “ places
As Vancouvers east end and to some extent Surrey .
Housing crisis is just political propaganda. Keep ‘em
Poor keep ‘em ignorant and let big pharma take care
Of the rest . Read Less
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Compare Nanaimo, BC Livability

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      Nanaimo, BC

      Located on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Nanaimo is a connection hub that serves as a gateway to other destinations on the northern part of the island. Known as the Harbour City due to its prime location, this oceanfront city offers a high quality of life and with our Nanaimo Livability guide, it’s easy to see why. Our Nanaimo guide will take you through the best of what the city offers, from affordable housing and an abundance of parks and lakes, to the outdoor recreational activities that this beautiful setting makes possible.

      With house prices driving people out of Vancouver to other cities in British Columbia, Nanaimo makes for a perfect choice. Housing is affordable and will get you a lot further than what you’d get in Vancouver. Although commuting to Downtown Vancouver for work may not be a viable option because of the distance, Nanaimo is booming with economic and employment opportunities that are attractive to both professionals and enterprises alike. As Nanaimo is considered a connection hub and is served by three airports and three BC Ferry terminals it also offers booming opportunities in the transportation and logistics centre. In addition to easy access to other parts of the country, local bus services provided by Nanaimo Regional Transit make it easy to get around within Nanaimo and across Vancouver Island.

      The best part about living here is undoubtedly being in such close proximity to hiking and cycling trails such as E and N trail and Parkway trail. Morell Nature Sanctuary just south of town has wheelchair access and miles of trails that you can just lose yourself in. Westwood Lake is ringed by a walking path and due to its ban on gas powered boats, is a particularly tranquil spot. Long Lake is another lake that’s a favourite with Nanaimo residents and is home to the city’s rowing club. It’s also one of the city’s popular summer hotspots, with great spots for swimming and opportunities for water sports including water-skiing and paddle boarding. Other favourite resident spots, particularly for fine dining, include the Old City Quarter. You should definitely check out McLean’s Specialty Foods, famous for it fantastic cheeses, as well as Columbia Bakery on Bowen Road, which is an iconic local institution.

      A- Amenities

      Are there many local amenities in Nanaimo? Yes, there are lots of amenities close to this location.

      Parks

      Townsite Triangle Park
      Millstone Park II
      Saint George Ravine Park
      Mansfield Park
      Millstone Park I
      Bowen Park
      Chinese Memorial Gardens Park
      Caledonia Park

      Entertainment

      International Flagpoles
      Artisans' Studio
      Nanaimo Art Gallery
      Port Theatre
      Nanaimo Museum
      Vancouver Island Military Museum
      Miner's Cottage
      The OV Arts Centre

      Food & Drink

      Subway
      McDonald's
      Burger King
      MB Mart
      BC Liquor
      Nesvog's Meats & Sausages Co.
      Quarterway Pub
      Quarterway Liquor Store

      A+ Commute

      Is public transit available in Nanaimo? Of all people who commute, 2.0% take public transportation in Nanaimo.
      Drive to Work
      39%

      1% lower than the CDN average

      Take Public Transit
      2%

      5% lower than the CDN average

      Walk to Work
      3%

      equal to the CDN average

      A+ Health & Safety

      Is Nanaimo a healthy and safe place to live? Yes, there are many hospitals, police and fire stations.

      Hospitals

      Emergency
      Nanaimo Regional General Hospital

      Pharmacies

      Shoppers Drug Mart
      London Drugs
      Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy
      Shoppers Drug Mart
      The Medicine Shoppe
      Rexall Drugstore

      Doctors