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Gabriola, BC

British Columbia

Gabriola is a small town in British Columbia with a population of 4,500. Residents earn $76,768 per year, which is 2% above the national average.

3.1 /5.0
B Good
4,500 Population 20/sq mi density
$76,768 Median Income $46,858 per capita
$560,468 Home Value
$1,072 Median Rent 27.8% income on rent
50°F Avg Temperature 259 sunny days/yr
B
Overall
3.1 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B+
Economy
3.6 / 5.0
$76,768 median income, 5.1% unemployment
C+
Affordability
2.5 / 5.0
$560,468 home value, $1,072/mo rent
C+
Safety
2.5 / 5.0
B+
Education
3.6 / 5.0
32.9% bachelor's degree or higher

Discover Gabriola, 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.

Full City Profile
Median Income $76,768
2% higher than US avg
Home Value $560,468
99% higher than US avg
Bachelor's+ 32.9%
2% lower than US avg
Median Rent $1,072
8% lower than US avg
Unemployment 5.1%
42% higher than US avg
Poverty Rate 14.1%
14% higher than US avg

How Gabriola Compares to the U.S. Average (100% = U.S. avg)

People

Population4,500
Median Age41.8 yrs
Density20/mi²
Male / Female50% / 50%
Largest GroupWhite 93%

Economy

B+
Median Income$76,768
Per Capita$46,858
Unemployment5.1%
Poverty14.1%
Commute25 min

Housing

C+
Home Value$560,468
Rent$1,072
Ownership66.5%
Housing Units1,800
Rent Burden27.8%

Crime

C+
Property3,500/100K
Burglary484/100K

Climate

Avg Temp50°F (10°C)
Rain42.5 in/yr
Sunny Days259/yr
Elevation302 ft (92 m)

Education

B+
Bachelor's+32.9%
High School+87.4%
Graduate+17.0%

Community

Commute25 min

Is Gabriola a Good Place to Live?

Based on current data, Gabriola 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. Gabriola offers a solid quality of life with a good balance of affordability, safety, and opportunity.

Economy & Jobs

The median household income in Gabriola 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 Gabriola 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

Gabriola experiences four distinct seasons with an average temperature of 50°F. Winters average 38°F in January while summers reach 64°F in July. With 259 sunny days per year, residents enjoy well above the national average of sunshine. Annual precipitation totals 42.5 inches.

Gabriola has a population of 4,500 with a density of 20 people per square mile, spread across 219.6 square miles. The median age is 41.8 years, 7% older than the national median of 38.9. The gender split is 50.3% female and 49.7% male. The city is predominantly White (93.4%), with 4.5% Asian. English is the primary language spoken at home by 87.8% of residents.

Population

4,500
Total Population
20
People / sq mi
41.8yrs
Median Age
7% above US avg
219.6mi²
Land Area

Gender Distribution

Male 49.7%
Female 50.3%

Race & Ethnicity

Gabriola vs U.S. Average

Language Spoken at Home

English Only 87.8%
12% above US avg
Spanish 1.4%
90% below US avg
Other Languages 10.8%

Social Characteristics

Gabriola vs U.S. Average

The median household income in Gabriola is $76,768, which is 2% above the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $46,858 (above the $39,052 national figure). The average weekly wage is $901, 37% lower than the U.S. average. The unemployment rate is 5.1% (above the 3.6% US average). 14.1% of residents live below the poverty line. The area has 140 business establishments. Workers commute an average of 25 minutes. 22.1% of workers work from home (above the 15.2% national rate).

Income: Gabriola 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

Unemployment5.1%
42% above US avg
Poverty Rate14.1%
14% above US avg
Establishments (County)140

Business (County)

Tax & Cost of Living

Commute & Transportation

Commute Time24.6 min
Drive Alone79.5%
Public Transit2.3%
Work from Home22.1%

Walkability

The median home value in Gabriola is $560,468, 99% above the national median of $281,900. Monthly rent averages $1,072 (8% below the national average of $1,163). 66.5% of housing units are owner-occupied. There are 1,800 total housing units in the city. 27.8% of renters spend 30% or more of their income on housing. The home price-to-income ratio is 7.3x, making homeownership a significant financial stretch for most families.

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 Burden27.8%

Ownership & Property

Homeownership66.5%
Owner-Occupied66.5%
Renter-Occupied33.5%
Housing Units1,800

Property Tax

Property crime stands at 3,500 per 100,000, 79% above the U.S. average. This includes larceny/theft at 2,503, burglary at 484, vehicle theft at 505 per 100,000 residents. Overall, Gabriola receives a safety grade of C+.

Crime Rates: Gabriola vs U.S. Average (per 100,000)

Violent Crime

Property Crime

Total Property3,500.0/100K
79% above US avg
Burglary483.9/100K
Theft2,503.4/100K
Vehicle Theft504.8/100K

Traffic Safety

Safety Score

Safety GradeC+
Safety Score2.5 / 5.0
View full crime details →
Gabriola experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C). Winters average 38°F in January while summers reach 64°F in July. The area gets 259 sunny days per year, above the national average. Annual precipitation totals 42.5 inches. The city sits at an elevation of 302 feet.

Temperature

38°F Jan (3°C) 64°F Jul (18°C)
Annual Average49.9°F
8% below US avg
January Average38°F (3°C)
July Average64°F (18°C)
Sunny Days259 days/yr

Geography

Elevation302 ft (92 m)
Area219.6 sq mi (568.8 km²)
Population Density20/sq mi
Coordinates49.1704°N, 123.8499°W
TimezoneAmerica/Vancouver

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 42.5"
12% above US avg
Snowfall 0.0"
Wettest Month (Dec) 6.89"
Driest Month (Jul) 1.02"

Air Quality

Earthquake History

297 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M5.0. Most recent: M2.9 on Aug 21, 2025.

Apr 14, 1990 4 km ENE of Deming, Washington M5.0 128 km
Jan 8, 2015 19 km E of Tofino, Canada M4.8 131 km
Feb 21, 2025 28 km W of Squamish, Canada M4.8 62 km
Jan 24, 2020 46 km WNW of Neah Bay, Washington M4.5 120 km
Mar 3, 2025 2025 Orcas Island, Washington M4.5 99 km
Jun 24, 1997 19 km SSW of Gibsons, Canada M4.4 18 km
Jan 23, 2001 9 km NNW of Ucluelet, Canada M4.3 127 km
Apr 2, 1990 2 km ENE of Deming, Washington M4.3 127 km
Feb 19, 1991 31 km E of Squamish, Canada M4.3 100 km
Sep 21, 2002 9 km SW of Friday Harbor, Washington M4.1 93 km
Feb 22, 1996 31 km NNE of South Pender Harbour, Canada M4.1 81 km
Apr 3, 1990 3 km ENE of Deming, Washington M4.0 128 km
Apr 14, 1990 2 km ESE of Deming, Washington M4.0 127 km
Sep 26, 2024 12 km E of Saanichton, Canada M4.0 79 km
Dec 27, 2012 12 km E of North Saanich, Canada M4.0 72 km
Jul 1, 2009 4 km SE of Coupeville, Washington M4.0 140 km
Nov 20, 1994 26 km N of Ucluelet, Canada M3.9 123 km
Apr 7, 2001 36 km NNW of Neah Bay, Washington M3.9 84 km
May 16, 2001 35 km NE of Tofino, Canada M3.9 125 km
Mar 6, 2025 14 km SW of Blyn, Washington M3.9 148 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

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 — 137 km
1946 BRITISH COLUMBIA Eruption + Earthquake 9.0 m 1 110 km
1891 WASHINGTON Eruption + Earthquake 2.4 m — 133 km
1958 RIPPLE ROCK, BC Earthquake + Landslide 0.5 m — 145 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Nearby Volcanoes

6 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Garibaldi (97 km).

Name Type Elevation Last Eruption Distance
Garibaldi Stratovolcano 2,678 m (8,786 ft) -8060 97 km
Garibaldi Lake Volcanic field 2,316 m (7,598 ft) Unknown 105 km
Cayley Volcanic Field Volcanic field 2,375 m (7,792 ft) Unknown 113 km
Baker Stratovolcano(es) 3,285 m (10,778 ft) 1880 155 km
Meager Complex 2,680 m (8,793 ft) -410 164 km
Bridge River Cones Volcanic field 2,500 m (8,202 ft) Unknown 184 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP). Sorted by distance.

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 38°F (3°C) 6.7 in Coldest
February 40°F (5°C) 4.4 in
March 43°F (6°C) 4.1 in
April 48°F (9°C) 2.4 in
May 54°F (12°C) 2.0 in
June 59°F (15°C) 1.7 in
July 64°F (18°C) 1.0 in Driest
August 64°F (18°C) 1.3 in Warmest
September 58°F (15°C) 1.5 in
October 50°F (10°C) 3.9 in
November 43°F (6°C) 6.7 in
December 39°F (4°C) 6.9 in Wettest

Gabriola has a seasonal temperature swing of 26°F / from 38°F in January to 64°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 42.5 inches, with December being the wettest month (6.9") and July the driest (1.0").

View full weather details →
32.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 2% below the national average of 33.7%. 87.4% have completed high school. 17.0% hold a graduate or professional degree (above the 13.1% national rate). 79.5% of workers drive alone to work, while 2.3% use public transit.

Education

Bachelor's Degree+32.9%
2% below US avg
High School+87.4%
Graduate Degree+17.0%
B+ Education Grade (3.6/5.0)

Area & Infrastructure

Population Density20/sq mi
Total Area219.6 sq mi

Services

Commute & Transportation

Avg Commute24.6 min
Drive Alone79.5%
Public Transit2.3%
Work from Home22.1%

Schools in Gabriola

1 public schools (NCES 2022-23 data).

School Level Enrollment Teachers Student/Teacher
Gabriola Elementary School — — — —
View full schools details →

Radio Stations near Gabriola

7 stations within ~55 km.

Station Genre Quality
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
The Lounge CHPQ-FM 99.9 Parksville — AAC+ 48 kbps
CIBH 88.5 "The Beach" Parksville, BC adult contemporary AAC+ 48 kbps
CHPQ-FM "The Lounge 99.9" Parksville, BC adult standards, classic hits AAC+ 48 kbps

Museums in Gabriola

NameTypeAddressPhoneAnnual Revenue
Chemainus Valley Museum
Gabriola Museum
Harbour Heritage Centre
Ladysmith Maritime Society Museum
Ladysmith Museum
Museum of Natural History
Nanaimo Museum
Nanaimo Museum
Protection Island Museum
Vancouver Island Military Museum

Libraries in Gabriola

NameAddressStaffAnnual VisitsCirculationCollectionPrograms
305 - Library0.0
VIRL: Chemainus Branch0.0
VIRL: Gabriola Island Branch0.0
VIRL: Ladysmith Branch0.0
VIRL: Nanaimo Harbourfront Branch0.0
VIRL: Nanaimo North Branch0.0
VIRL: Nanaimo Wellington Branch0.0

Farmers Markets in Gabriola

NameAddressSeasonHoursOrganicWebsite
Cedar Farmers Market
Chemainus Public Market
Gabriola Agricultural Co-op Farmers Market
Island Roots

Cafes in Gabriola

2 cafes within city radius — OpenStreetMap data

Ground Up
Mad Rona's Coffee Bar

Clinics in Gabriola

1 clinics within city radius — OpenStreetMap data

Gabriola Medical Clinic

Gas Stations in Gabriola

1 gas stations within city radius — OpenStreetMap data

Co-op

Banks in Gabriola

1 banks within city radius — OpenStreetMap data

Coastal Community Credit Union

Shopping Malls in Gabriola

1 shopping malls within city radius — OpenStreetMap data

Twin Beaches Mall

Breweries in Gabriola

NameTypeAddressPhoneWebsite
Longwood Brewery
Serious Brewing
White Sails Brewery
Wolf Brewery

Ski Resorts Near Gabriola

2 ski resorts within range.

Resort Slopes (km) Lifts Peak (m) Price Season Night Park
Cypress Mountain 0.0 — — $0 — — —
Dakota Ridge Recreation Site 0.0 — — $0 — — —

Airports Near Gabriola

15 airports within the area.

AirportIATAType
Vancouver International AirportYVRLarge Airport
Victoria International AirportYYJLarge Airport
Nanaimo AirportYCDMedium Airport
Powell River AirportYPWMedium Airport
Qualicum Beach AirportXQUMedium Airport
Duncan AirportDUQSmall Airport
Long Harbour Airport—Small Airport
Michell Airpark—Small Airport
Quamichan Lake (Raven Field) Airport—Small Airport
Roche Harbor AirportRCESmall Airport
Sechelt-Gibsons AirportYHSSmall Airport
Squamish AirportYSESmall Airport
Stuart Island AirparkSSWSmall Airport
Stuart Island West Airport—Small Airport
Texada Gillies Bay AirportYGBSmall Airport

Post Offices in Gabriola

1 post offices.

Post OfficeAddress
Gabriola Island

Churches & Religious Organizations in Gabriola

1 religious organizations (IRS tax-exempt data).

NameAddress
Gabriola Fellowship Church

Explore Near Gabriola

Waterfalls
1
Natural waterfalls documented by USGS and OpenStreetMap contributors
View all →

Download Full City Report

Get a comprehensive, print-ready PDF with all data for Gabriola.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Gabriola

What is the population of Gabriola?

Gabriola has a population of 4,500 residents and is located in British Columbia. The population density is 20 people per square mile, spread across 219.6 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 Gabriola 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 Gabriola safe?

Property crime occurs at a rate of 3,500 per 100,000 (above the national average). Overall, Gabriola receives a safety grade of C+ based on combined crime data.

What is the weather like in Gabriola?

Gabriola has a four-season climate with an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C). Winter temperatures average 38°F in January, while summers reach an average of 64°F in July. The area receives 259 sunny days per year, well above the national average of 205. Annual rainfall totals 42.5 inches.

How is the job market in Gabriola?

The unemployment rate in Gabriola 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 140 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 Gabriola?

The median home value in Gabriola is $560,468. For renters, the median monthly rent is $1,072. The homeownership rate is 66.5%.

How are the schools in Gabriola?

32.9% of adults in Gabriola 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 Gabriola?

The average commute in Gabriola 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 Gabriola?

The racial and ethnic makeup of Gabriola is 93.4% White, 4.5% Asian. 87.8% of residents speak only English at home.

Nearby Cities

Cedar, BC 2,836 pop · 3.7 mi Chase River, BC 2,900 pop · 4.0 mi South End, BC 2,475 pop · 4.0 mi Nanaimo B, BC 4,500 pop · 4.0 mi Nanaimo C, BC 3,344 pop · 4.0 mi Nanaimo E, BC 6,765 pop · 4.0 mi Nanaimo F, BC 8,216 pop · 4.0 mi Nanaimo G, BC 8,109 pop · 4.0 mi Nanaimo H, BC 4,291 pop · 4.0 mi Nanaimo, BC 99,863 pop · 4.1 mi Harewood, BC 8,769 pop · 4.7 mi Departure Bay, BC 6,540 pop · 6.1 mi East Wellington, BC 1,444 pop · 7.6 mi Nanaimo A, BC 7,481 pop · 8.2 mi
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