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Chemainus, BC
British Columbia
Chemainus is a small town in British Columbia with a population of 818. Residents earn $60,000 per year, which is 20% below the national average.
Data updated June 2026
Discover Chemainus, BC
Explore over 40 sections covering people, economy, housing, health, crime, climate, community, costs, trends, schools, colleges, hospitals, treatment centers, industries, museums, libraries, breweries, farmers markets, grocery stores, pharmacies, campgrounds, parks, trails, stadiums, ski resorts, daycare centers, nursing homes, churches, fire stations, cell towers, bridges, power plants, EV stations, prisons, radio stations, airports, police stations, post offices, Amtrak stations, superfund sites, UNESCO sites, and more.
Use the tabs and dropdown menus below to navigate every data point we track for this city.
How Chemainus Compares to the U.S. Average (100% = U.S. avg)
People
Economy
DHousing
FCrime
C+Climate
Education
FCommunity
Is Chemainus a Good Place to Live?
Based on current data, Chemainus receives an overall livability score of 1.8 out of 5.0, earning a grade of D. Key strengths include abundant sunshine. Areas to be aware of include high housing costs, above-average unemployment, an elevated poverty rate. Chemainus faces significant challenges across several quality-of-life categories.
Economy & Jobs
The median household income in Chemainus is $60,000, 20% below the national average of $75,149. At 12.5%, unemployment is notably high. The poverty rate of 35.2% exceeds the national average of 12.4%, indicating economic hardship for a significant portion of the population. Workers commute an average of 21 minutes.
Cost of Living & Housing
The median home value in Chemainus is $560,468, making it a premium housing market at 99% above the U.S. median of $281,900. Renters pay a median of $1,072 per month. With a home price-to-income ratio of 9.3x, housing affordability is a significant challenge for many families.
Safety & Crime
Property crime occurs at a rate of 3,500 per 100,000, 79% above the national average.
Education
4.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree, below the national average of 33.7%. 35.3% have completed high school.
Climate & Weather
Chemainus experiences four distinct seasons with an average temperature of 48°F. Winters average 36°F in January while summers reach 61°F in July. The area gets 233 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 56.6 inches.
Population
Gender Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Chemainus vs U.S. Average
Language Spoken at Home
Social Characteristics
Chemainus vs U.S. Average
Income: Chemainus vs U.S.
Commute Mode
Income
| Median HH Income | $60,000 |
| 20% below US avg | |
| Per Capita Income | $21,800 |
| Avg Weekly Wage | $419 |
Employment & Poverty
| Unemployment | 12.5% |
| 247% above US avg | |
| Poverty Rate | 35.2% |
| 184% above US avg | |
| Establishments (County) | 25 |
Business (County)
Tax & Cost of Living
Commute & Transportation
| Commute Time | 20.8 min |
| Drive Alone | 81.8% |
| Public Transit | 0.0% |
| Work from Home | 6.1% |
Walkability
Home Value Sources
Ownership Split
Home Values
| Census Median | $560,468 |
| 99% above US avg |
Real Estate Market (Redfin)
Rental Costs
| Census Median Rent | $1,072 |
| 8% below US avg | |
| Rent Burden | 32.0% |
Ownership & Property
| Homeownership | 47.2% |
| Owner-Occupied | 47.2% |
| Renter-Occupied | 5.6% |
| Housing Units | 180 |
Property Tax
Crime Rates: Chemainus vs U.S. Average (per 100,000)
Violent Crime
Property Crime
| Total Property | 3,500.0/100K |
| 79% above US avg | |
| Burglary | 483.9/100K |
| Theft | 2,503.4/100K |
| Vehicle Theft | 504.8/100K |
Traffic Safety
Safety Score
| Safety Grade | C+ |
| Safety Score | 2.5 / 5.0 |
Temperature
| Annual Average | 47.8°F |
| 11% below US avg | |
| January Average | 36°F (2°C) |
| July Average | 61°F (16°C) |
| Sunny Days | 233 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 125 ft (38 m) |
| Area | 4.5 sq mi (11.7 km²) |
| Population Density | 181/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 48.9163°N, 123.7194°W |
| Timezone | America/Vancouver |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Tsunami History
4 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 38.0 m (125 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 2007 | CHEHALIS LAKE, CHILLIWACK | Meteorological | 38.0 m | — | 139 km |
| 1946 | BRITISH COLUMBIA | Eruption + Earthquake | 9.0 m | 1 | 137 km |
| 1891 | WASHINGTON | Eruption + Earthquake | 2.4 m | — | 103 km |
| 1820 | CAMANO ISLAND, WA | Meteorological | — | — | 138 km |
Nearby Volcanoes
5 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Garibaldi (116 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Garibaldi | Stratovolcano | 2,678 m (8,786 ft) | -8060 | 116 km |
| Garibaldi Lake | Volcanic field | 2,316 m (7,598 ft) | Unknown | 124 km |
| Cayley Volcanic Field | Volcanic field | 2,375 m (7,792 ft) | Unknown | 138 km |
| Baker | Stratovolcano(es) | 3,285 m (10,778 ft) | 1880 | 140 km |
| Meager | Complex | 2,680 m (8,793 ft) | -410 | 191 km |
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 36°F (2°C) | 9.5 in | Coldest, Wettest |
| February | 38°F (4°C) | 5.8 in | |
| March | 41°F (5°C) | 5.5 in | |
| April | 45°F (7°C) | 3.5 in | |
| May | 51°F (11°C) | 2.4 in | |
| June | 56°F (13°C) | 1.9 in | |
| July | 61°F (16°C) | 1.1 in | Driest |
| August | 62°F (16°C) | 1.5 in | Warmest |
| September | 57°F (14°C) | 1.7 in | |
| October | 49°F (9°C) | 5.4 in | |
| November | 41°F (5°C) | 9.2 in | |
| December | 36°F (2°C) | 9.2 in |
Chemainus has a seasonal temperature swing of 25°F / from 36°F in January to 62°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 56.6 inches, with January being the wettest month (9.5") and July the driest (1.1").
Education
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 4.3% |
| 87% below US avg | |
| High School+ | 35.3% |
| Graduate Degree+ | 0.0% |
Area & Infrastructure
| Population Density | 181/sq mi |
| Total Area | 4.5 sq mi |
Services
Commute & Transportation
| Avg Commute | 20.8 min |
| Drive Alone | 81.8% |
| Public Transit | 0.0% |
| Work from Home | 6.1% |
Schools in Chemainus
2 public schools (NCES 2022-23 data).
| School | Level | Enrollment | Teachers | Student/Teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemainus Elementary Community School | — | — | — | — |
| Chemainus Secondary School | — | — | — | — |
Radio Stations near Chemainus
6 stations within ~55 km.
| Station | Genre | Quality | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CBC Radio One - Victoria, BC (MP3 stream) | features, news | MP3 128 kbps | |
| CKAY 91.7 "Coast FM" Nanaimo, BC | hits, nanaimo | AAC+ 57 kbps | |
| CJSU-FM 89.7 "Sun FM" Duncan, BC | adult hits | AAC+ 57 kbps | |
| CHWF-FM "The Wolf 106.9" Nanaimo, BC | active rock | AAC+ 48 kbps | |
| CKWV-FM 102.3 "The Wave" Nanaimo, BC | hot adult contemporary | AAC+ 48 kbps | |
| CITR - University of British Columbia | campus radio, eclectic | AAC |
Museums in Chemainus
| Name | Type | Address | Phone | Annual Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BC Forest Discovery Centre | ||||
| Chemainus Valley Museum | ||||
| Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre | ||||
| Cowichan Valley Museum | ||||
| Crofton Old School Museum | ||||
| Hand of Man Museum | ||||
| Harbour Heritage Centre | ||||
| Ladysmith Maritime Society Museum | ||||
| Ladysmith Museum | ||||
| Museum of Natural History | ||||
| Nanaimo Museum | ||||
| Nanaimo Museum | ||||
| Quw'utsun' Cultural and Conference Centre | ||||
| Vancouver Island Military Museum |
Libraries in Chemainus
| Name | Address | Staff | Annual Visits | Circulation | Collection | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 305 - Library | 0.0 | |||||
| Salt Spring Island Public Library | 0.0 | |||||
| VIRL: Chemainus Branch | 0.0 | |||||
| VIRL: Cowichan Branch | 0.0 | |||||
| VIRL: Ladysmith Branch | 0.0 | |||||
| VIRL: Nanaimo Harbourfront Branch | 0.0 |
Farmers Markets in Chemainus
| Name | Address | Season | Hours | Organic | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Farmers Market | |||||
| Chemainus Public Market | |||||
| Duncan Farmers’ Market | |||||
| Great Greens Market | |||||
| Grove Hall Farm, Italian Kitchen, Market & Deli | |||||
| Salt Spring Saturday Market | |||||
| Salt Spring Tuesday Farmers’ Market | |||||
| The Old Farm Market |
Hotels in Chemainus
2 hotels within city radius — OpenStreetMap data
Cafes in Chemainus
3 cafes within city radius — OpenStreetMap data
Theatres in Chemainus
1 theatres within city radius — OpenStreetMap data
Clinics in Chemainus
1 clinics within city radius — OpenStreetMap data
Veterinaries in Chemainus
1 veterinaries within city radius — OpenStreetMap data
Gas Stations in Chemainus
2 gas stations within city radius — OpenStreetMap data
Banks in Chemainus
3 banks within city radius — OpenStreetMap data
Golf Courses in Chemainus
1 golf courses within city radius — OpenStreetMap data
Breweries in Chemainus
| Name | Type | Address | Phone | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Arrow Brewery | ||||
| Salt Spring Island Ales | ||||
| Serious Brewing | ||||
| Small Block Brewery | ||||
| Wolf Brewery |
Ski Resorts Near Chemainus
3 ski resorts within range.
| Resort | Slopes (km) | Lifts | Peak (m) | Price | Season | Night | Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grouse Mountain | 0.0 | — | — | $0 | — | — | — |
| Cypress Mountain | 0.0 | — | — | $0 | — | — | — |
| Dakota Ridge Recreation Site | 0.0 | — | — | $0 | — | — | — |
Airports Near Chemainus
22 airports within the area.
| Airport | IATA | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Vancouver International Airport | YVR | Large Airport |
| Victoria International Airport | YYJ | Large Airport |
| Boundary Bay Airport | YDT | Medium Airport |
| Friday Harbor Airport | FRD | Medium Airport |
| Nanaimo Airport | YCD | Medium Airport |
| Qualicum Beach Airport | XQU | Medium Airport |
| Burden Field-(Rabbit Run) Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Crane Island Airstrip | CKR | Small Airport |
| Duncan Airport | DUQ | Small Airport |
| Friday West Airport | — | Small Airport |
| King Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Long Harbour Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Michell Airpark | — | Small Airport |
| Point Roberts Airpark | — | Small Airport |
| Quamichan Lake (Raven Field) Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Roche Harbor Airport | RCE | Small Airport |
| Sechelt-Gibsons Airport | YHS | Small Airport |
| Sekiu Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Shaw Island AIrport | — | Small Airport |
| Stuart Island Airpark | SSW | Small Airport |
| Stuart Island West Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Waldron Airstrip | WDN | Small Airport |
Post Offices in Chemainus
2 post offices.
| Post Office | Address |
|---|---|
| Askew Creek | |
| Chemainus |
Churches & Religious Organizations in Chemainus
3 religious organizations (IRS tax-exempt data).
| Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Saint Michael & All Angels Anglican Church | |
| St. Joseph's Catholic Church | |
| United Church of Chemainus |
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Get ReportFrequently Asked Questions About Chemainus
What is the population of Chemainus?
Chemainus has a population of 818 residents and is located in British Columbia. The population density is 181 people per square mile, spread across 4.5 square miles. The median age of residents is 25.2 years, which is younger than the national median of 38.9 years. The population is 48.5% female and 52.2% male.
Is Chemainus expensive to live in?
The median household income is $60,000, 20% below the national average of $75,149. The median home value is $560,468 (99% above the U.S. median). Renters pay a median of $1,072 per month. The home price-to-income ratio is 9.3x, which means housing is a stretch relative to local earnings.
Is Chemainus safe?
Property crime occurs at a rate of 3,500 per 100,000 (above the national average). Overall, Chemainus receives a safety grade of C+ based on combined crime data.
What is the weather like in Chemainus?
Chemainus has a four-season climate with an average annual temperature of 48°F (9°C). Winter temperatures average 36°F in January, while summers reach an average of 61°F in July. The area receives 233 sunny days per year. Annual rainfall totals 56.6 inches.
How is the job market in Chemainus?
The job market in Chemainus faces challenges, with unemployment at 12.5% / significantly above the national rate of 3.6%. The average weekly wage is $419. There are 25 business establishments in the area. The average commute time is 21 minutes, and 6.1% of workers work from home.
How much does housing cost in Chemainus?
The median home value in Chemainus is $560,468. For renters, the median monthly rent is $1,072. The homeownership rate is 47.2%.
How are the schools in Chemainus?
4.3% of adults in Chemainus hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national average of 33.7%. 35.3% have completed high school. 0.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.
What is transportation like in Chemainus?
The average commute in Chemainus is 21 minutes, shorter than the national average of 28 minutes. 81.8% of workers drive alone to work, and 6.1% work from home.
What are the demographics of Chemainus?
The racial and ethnic makeup of Chemainus is 99.4% White. 90.8% of residents speak only English at home.