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Cowichan Bay, BC
British Columbia · Victoria Metro
Cowichan Bay is a small town in British Columbia with a population of 2,799. Residents earn $76,768 per year, which is 2% above the national average.
Discover Cowichan Bay, 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.
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How Cowichan Bay Compares to the U.S. Average (100% = U.S. avg)
People
Economy
B+Housing
C+Crime
C+Climate
Education
B+Community
Is Cowichan Bay a Good Place to Live?
Based on current data, Cowichan Bay receives an overall livability score of 3.1 out of 5.0, earning a grade of B. Key strengths include abundant sunshine. Areas to be aware of include high housing costs, above-average unemployment. Cowichan Bay offers a solid quality of life with a good balance of affordability, safety, and opportunity.
Economy & Jobs
The median household income in Cowichan Bay is $76,768, roughly in line with the national average of $75,149. The unemployment rate of 5.1% is somewhat elevated compared to the national rate of 3.6%. 14.1% of residents live in poverty, near the national average of 12.4%. Workers commute an average of 25 minutes.
Cost of Living & Housing
The median home value in Cowichan Bay 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 7.3x, 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
32.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree, below the national average of 33.7%. 87.4% have completed high school.
Climate & Weather
Cowichan Bay experiences four distinct seasons with an average temperature of 49°F. Winters average 37°F in January while summers reach 62°F in July. With 253 sunny days per year, residents enjoy well above the national average of sunshine. Annual precipitation totals 45.9 inches.
Population
Gender Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Cowichan Bay vs U.S. Average
Language Spoken at Home
Social Characteristics
Cowichan Bay vs U.S. Average
Income: Cowichan Bay vs U.S.
Commute Mode
Income
| Median HH Income | $76,768 |
| 2% above US avg | |
| Per Capita Income | $46,858 |
| Avg Weekly Wage | $901 |
Employment & Poverty
| Unemployment | 5.1% |
| 42% above US avg | |
| Poverty Rate | 14.1% |
| 14% above US avg | |
| Establishments (County) | 87 |
Business (County)
Tax & Cost of Living
Commute & Transportation
| Commute Time | 24.6 min |
| Drive Alone | 79.5% |
| Public Transit | 2.3% |
| Work from Home | 22.1% |
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 | 27.8% |
Ownership & Property
| Homeownership | 66.5% |
| Owner-Occupied | 66.5% |
| Renter-Occupied | 33.5% |
| Housing Units | 1,120 |
Property Tax
Crime Rates: Cowichan Bay 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 | 49.1°F |
| 9% below US avg | |
| January Average | 37°F (3°C) |
| July Average | 62°F (17°C) |
| Sunny Days | 253 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 292 ft (89 m) |
| Area | 8.9 sq mi (23.2 km²) |
| Population Density | 313/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 48.7337°N, 123.6174°W |
| Timezone | America/Vancouver |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Tsunami History
3 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 | — | 143 km |
| 1891 | WASHINGTON | Eruption + Earthquake | 2.4 m | — | 82 km |
| 1820 | CAMANO ISLAND, WA | Meteorological | — | — | 119 km |
Nearby Volcanoes
5 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Garibaldi (132 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Garibaldi | Stratovolcano | 2,678 m (8,786 ft) | -8060 | 132 km |
| Baker | Stratovolcano(es) | 3,285 m (10,778 ft) | 1880 | 132 km |
| Garibaldi Lake | Volcanic field | 2,316 m (7,598 ft) | Unknown | 141 km |
| Cayley Volcanic Field | Volcanic field | 2,375 m (7,792 ft) | Unknown | 156 km |
| Glacier Peak | Stratovolcano | 3,213 m (10,541 ft) | 1700 | 197 km |
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 37°F (3°C) | 7.8 in | Coldest, Wettest |
| February | 40°F (4°C) | 4.8 in | |
| March | 43°F (6°C) | 4.3 in | |
| April | 47°F (8°C) | 2.8 in | |
| May | 53°F (11°C) | 1.9 in | |
| June | 58°F (14°C) | 1.5 in | |
| July | 62°F (17°C) | 0.9 in | Driest |
| August | 63°F (17°C) | 1.2 in | Warmest |
| September | 58°F (14°C) | 1.3 in | |
| October | 50°F (10°C) | 4.3 in | |
| November | 42°F (6°C) | 7.7 in | |
| December | 38°F (3°C) | 7.5 in |
Cowichan Bay has a seasonal temperature swing of 25°F / from 37°F in January to 63°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 45.9 inches, with January being the wettest month (7.8") and July the driest (0.9").
Education
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 32.9% |
| 2% below US avg | |
| High School+ | 87.4% |
| Graduate Degree+ | 17.0% |
Area & Infrastructure
| Population Density | 313/sq mi |
| Total Area | 8.9 sq mi |
Services
Commute & Transportation
| Avg Commute | 24.6 min |
| Drive Alone | 79.5% |
| Public Transit | 2.3% |
| Work from Home | 22.1% |
Schools in Cowichan Bay
1 public schools (NCES 2022-23 data).
| School | Level | Enrollment | Teachers | Student/Teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunrise Waldorf School | — | — | — | — |
Radio Stations near Cowichan Bay
7 stations within ~55 km.
| Station | Genre | Quality | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CBC Radio One - Victoria, BC (MP3 stream) | features, news | MP3 128 kbps | |
| CJVB-AM 1470 "Fairchild Radio" Vancouver, BC | multicultural, multilingual | AAC 50 kbps | |
| CKAY 91.7 "Coast FM" Nanaimo, BC | hits, nanaimo | AAC+ 57 kbps | |
| CHKG-FM 96.1 "Fairchild Radio" Vancouver, BC | multicultural, multilingual | AAC 50 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 |
Museums in Cowichan Bay
| Name | Type | Address | Phone | Annual Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BC Forest Discovery Centre | ||||
| British Columbia Aviation Museum | ||||
| Central Saanich Fire Museum | ||||
| Centre of the Universe | ||||
| Chemainus Valley Museum | ||||
| Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre | ||||
| Cowichan Valley Museum | ||||
| Crofton Old School Museum | ||||
| Hand of Man Museum | ||||
| Henderson Hangar | ||||
| Heritage Acres | ||||
| Main Hangar | ||||
| Quw'utsun' Cultural and Conference Centre | ||||
| Restoration Hangar | ||||
| Shawnigan Lake Museum | ||||
| Sidney Museum and Archives |
Libraries in Cowichan Bay
| Name | Address | Staff | Annual Visits | Circulation | Collection | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Victoria Public Library - Bruce Hutchison Branch | 0.0 | |||||
| GVPL: Central Saanich Branch | 0.0 | |||||
| Piers Island Library | 0.0 | |||||
| Salt Spring Island Public Library | 0.0 | |||||
| Sidney Archives | 0.0 | |||||
| VIRL: Chemainus Branch | 0.0 | |||||
| VIRL: Cowichan Branch | 0.0 | |||||
| VIRL: Sidney / North Saanich Branch | 0.0 | |||||
| VIRL: South Cowichan Branch | 0.0 |
Farmers Markets in Cowichan Bay
| Name | Address | Season | Hours | Organic | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemainus Public Market | |||||
| Duncan Farmers’ Market | |||||
| Great Greens Market | |||||
| Grove Hall Farm, Italian Kitchen, Market & Deli | |||||
| North Saanich Farm Market | |||||
| Peninsula Country Market | |||||
| Salt Spring Saturday Market | |||||
| Salt Spring Tuesday Farmers’ Market | |||||
| The Old Farm Market |
Hotels in Cowichan Bay
1 hotels within city radius — OpenStreetMap data
Cafes in Cowichan Bay
2 cafes within city radius — OpenStreetMap data
Dentists in Cowichan Bay
1 dentists within city radius — OpenStreetMap data
Veterinaries in Cowichan Bay
1 veterinaries within city radius — OpenStreetMap data
Shopping Malls in Cowichan Bay
1 shopping malls within city radius — OpenStreetMap data
Breweries in Cowichan Bay
| Name | Type | Address | Phone | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category 12 | ||||
| Red Arrow Brewery | ||||
| Salt Spring Island Ales | ||||
| Serious Brewing | ||||
| Small Block Brewery |
Ski Resorts Near Cowichan Bay
3 ski resorts within range.
| Resort | Slopes (km) | Lifts | Peak (m) | Price | Season | Night | Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mt Seymour | 0.0 | — | — | $0 | — | — | — |
| Grouse Mountain | 0.0 | — | — | $0 | — | — | — |
| Cypress Mountain | 0.0 | — | — | $0 | — | — | — |
Airports Near Cowichan Bay
40 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 |
| Orcas Island Airport | ESD | Medium Airport |
| William R Fairchild International Airport | CLM | Medium Airport |
| Big Andy Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Blue Heron Field | — | Small Airport |
| Blue Ribbon Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Burden Field-(Rabbit Run) Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Clam Harbor Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Crane Island Airstrip | CKR | Small Airport |
| Crow Valley Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Delta Heritage Air Park | — | Small Airport |
| Diamond Point Airstrip | — | Small Airport |
| Duncan Airport | DUQ | Small Airport |
| Friday West Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Grand View International Airport | — | Small Airport |
| King Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Lawson Airpark | — | Small Airport |
| Long Harbour Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Lopez Island Airport | LPS | Small Airport |
| Michell Airpark | — | Small Airport |
| Olympic Field | — | Small Airport |
| Point Roberts Airpark | — | Small Airport |
| Port Angeles Cgas Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Quamichan Lake (Raven Field) Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Rake's Glen Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Roche Harbor Airport | RCE | Small Airport |
| Rucilla's Roost Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Sechelt-Gibsons Airport | YHS | Small Airport |
| Sekiu Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Sequim Valley Airport | SQV | Small Airport |
| Shaw Island AIrport | — | Small Airport |
| Stuart Island Airpark | SSW | Small Airport |
| Stuart Island West Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Waldron Airstrip | WDN | Small Airport |
| Wilding Farm Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Windsock Airport | — | Small Airport |
Post Offices in Cowichan Bay
1 post offices.
| Post Office | Address |
|---|---|
| Cowichan Bay |
Churches & Religious Organizations in Cowichan Bay
1 religious organizations (IRS tax-exempt data).
| Name | Address |
|---|---|
| St. Andrew's Church |
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Get ReportFrequently Asked Questions About Cowichan Bay
What is the population of Cowichan Bay?
Cowichan Bay has a population of 2,799 residents and is located in British Columbia. The population density is 313 people per square mile, spread across 8.9 square miles. The median age of residents is 41.8 years, which is older than the national median of 38.9 years. The population is 50.3% female and 49.7% male.
Is Cowichan Bay expensive to live in?
The median household income is $76,768, 2% above 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 7.3x, which means housing is a stretch relative to local earnings.
Is Cowichan Bay safe?
Property crime occurs at a rate of 3,500 per 100,000 (above the national average). Overall, Cowichan Bay receives a safety grade of C+ based on combined crime data.
What is the weather like in Cowichan Bay?
Cowichan Bay has a four-season climate with an average annual temperature of 49°F (10°C). Winter temperatures average 37°F in January, while summers reach an average of 62°F in July. The area receives 253 sunny days per year, well above the national average of 205. Annual rainfall totals 45.9 inches.
How is the job market in Cowichan Bay?
The unemployment rate in Cowichan Bay is 5.1%, somewhat above the national average of 3.6%. Job seekers may face moderate competition. The average weekly wage is $901. There are 87 business establishments in the area. The average commute time is 25 minutes, and 22.1% of workers work from home.
How much does housing cost in Cowichan Bay?
The median home value in Cowichan Bay is $560,468. For renters, the median monthly rent is $1,072. The homeownership rate is 66.5%.
How are the schools in Cowichan Bay?
32.9% of adults in Cowichan Bay hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national average of 33.7%. 87.4% have completed high school. 17.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.
What is transportation like in Cowichan Bay?
The average commute in Cowichan Bay is 25 minutes, shorter than the national average of 28 minutes. 79.5% of workers drive alone to work, 2.3% use public transit, and 22.1% work from home.
What are the demographics of Cowichan Bay?
The racial and ethnic makeup of Cowichan Bay is 93.4% White, 4.5% Asian. 87.8% of residents speak only English at home.