This page sets out published facts for ten areas of Greater Victoria and ranks none of them. The City of Victoria had 91,867 people in the 2021 Census, a median age of 42.8, and 60.5% of households renting; Langford’s population grew 31.8% from 2016 to 2021 and Oak Bay’s median age was 54.4. Statistics Canada and BC Assessment publish by municipality, so a card says when a figure is for the whole municipality rather than the neighbourhood. Travel times are typical times to the Inner Harbour from a reference point in each area.
Facts about ten areas of Greater Victoria
Esquimalt Village
- Population, 2021 Census (Esquimalt)
- 17,533 (-0.7% since 2016)
- Median age / average age
- 43.2 / 44.1
- Aged 0 to 14 / 65 and over
- 12.2% / 20.7%
- Households that rent
- 51.1%
- CMHC average rent, October 2025
- 1 bedroom $1,474, 2 bedroom $1,775
- BC Assessment typical value, 2026 roll (Esquimalt)
- Single family $1,014,000 (0%)
Strata $559,000 (-1%) - To the Inner Harbour
- Walk 51 min (4.1 km) · drive 7 min
Bus, weekday 10:00: 26 min (route 15)
Bus, weekday 18:30: 26 min (route 15)
Fairfield (Cook Street Village)
- Population, 2021 Census (Victoria (City))
- 91,867 (+7.1% since 2016)
- Median age / average age
- 42.8 / 45.2
- Aged 0 to 14 / 65 and over
- 9.2% / 23.2%
- Households that rent
- 60.5%
- CMHC average rent, October 2025
- 1 bedroom $1,568, 2 bedroom $1,959
- BC Assessment typical value, 2026 roll (Victoria (City))
- Single family $1,128,000 (+1%)
Strata $551,000 (-2%) - To the Inner Harbour
- Walk 19 min (1.5 km) · drive 4 min
Bus, weekday 10:00: 19 min (route 2)
Bus, weekday 18:30: no bus trip in the matrix
Fernwood
- Population, 2021 Census (Victoria (City))
- 91,867 (+7.1% since 2016)
- Median age / average age
- 42.8 / 45.2
- Aged 0 to 14 / 65 and over
- 9.2% / 23.2%
- Households that rent
- 60.5%
- CMHC average rent, October 2025
- 1 bedroom $1,595, 2 bedroom $2,078
- BC Assessment typical value, 2026 roll (Victoria (City))
- Single family $1,128,000 (+1%)
Strata $551,000 (-2%) - To the Inner Harbour
- Walk 34 min (2.7 km) · drive 6 min
Bus, weekday 10:00: 25 min (route 5)
Bus, weekday 18:30: 19 min (route 27)
James Bay
- Population, 2021 Census (Victoria (City))
- 91,867 (+7.1% since 2016)
- Median age / average age
- 42.8 / 45.2
- Aged 0 to 14 / 65 and over
- 9.2% / 23.2%
- Households that rent
- 60.5%
- CMHC average rent, October 2025
- 1 bedroom $1,622, 2 bedroom $2,073
- BC Assessment typical value, 2026 roll (Victoria (City))
- Single family $1,128,000 (+1%)
Strata $551,000 (-2%) - To the Inner Harbour
- Walk 16 min (1.3 km) · drive 2 min
Bus, weekday 10:00: no bus trip in the matrix
Bus, weekday 18:30: no bus trip in the matrix
Langford
- Population, 2021 Census (Langford)
- 46,584 (+31.8% since 2016)
- Median age / average age
- 38.4 / 39.1
- Aged 0 to 14 / 65 and over
- 17.2% / 13.7%
- Households that rent
- 35.2%
- CMHC average rent, October 2025
- 1 bedroom $1,874, 2 bedroom $2,378
- BC Assessment typical value, 2026 roll (Langford)
- Single family $951,000 (0%)
Strata $556,000 (-1%) - To the Inner Harbour
- Walk 166 min (13.3 km) · drive 17 min
Bus, weekday 10:00: 48 min (route 95)
Bus, weekday 18:30: 39 min (route 95)
Oak Bay Village
- Population, 2021 Census (Oak Bay)
- 17,990 (-0.6% since 2016)
- Median age / average age
- 54.4 / 49.7
- Aged 0 to 14 / 65 and over
- 12.8% / 34.2%
- Households that rent
- 25.5%
- CMHC average rent, October 2025
- 1 bedroom $1,573, 2 bedroom $1,958
- BC Assessment typical value, 2026 roll (Oak Bay)
- Single family $1,647,000 (+1%)
Strata $823,000 (+1%) - To the Inner Harbour
- Walk 55 min (4.4 km) · drive 9 min
Bus, weekday 10:00: 25 min (route 5)
Bus, weekday 18:30: 30 min (routes 8, then 15)
Rockland
- Population, 2021 Census (Victoria (City))
- 91,867 (+7.1% since 2016)
- Median age / average age
- 42.8 / 45.2
- Aged 0 to 14 / 65 and over
- 9.2% / 23.2%
- Households that rent
- 60.5%
- CMHC average rent, October 2025
- 1 bedroom $1,595, 2 bedroom $2,078
- BC Assessment typical value, 2026 roll (Victoria (City))
- Single family $1,128,000 (+1%)
Strata $551,000 (-2%) - To the Inner Harbour
- Walk 33 min (2.7 km) · drive 6 min
Bus, weekday 10:00: 25 min (route 5)
Bus, weekday 18:30: 30 min (route 15)
Sidney
- Population, 2021 Census (Sidney)
- 12,318 (+5.5% since 2016)
- Median age / average age
- 62 / 56
- Aged 0 to 14 / 65 and over
- 8.8% / 45%
- Households that rent
- 23.2%
- CMHC average rent, October 2025
- 1 bedroom $1,984, 2 bedroom $2,515
- BC Assessment typical value, 2026 roll (Sidney)
- Single family $953,000 (+2%)
Strata $650,000 (+3%) - To the Inner Harbour
- Walk 346 min (27.7 km) · drive 29 min
Bus, weekday 10:00: 73 min (route 72)
Bus, weekday 18:30: 73 min (route 72)
Uptown (Saanich)
- Population, 2021 Census (Saanich)
- 117,735 (+3.1% since 2016)
- Median age / average age
- 44.4 / 44.3
- Aged 0 to 14 / 65 and over
- 12.9% / 23.1%
- Households that rent
- 30.8%
- CMHC average rent, October 2025
- 1 bedroom $1,594, 2 bedroom $2,097
- BC Assessment typical value, 2026 roll (Saanich)
- Single family $1,164,000 (+1%)
Strata $597,000 (0%) - To the Inner Harbour
- Walk 51 min (4.1 km) · drive 8 min
Bus, weekday 10:00: 27 min (route 95)
Bus, weekday 18:30: 23 min (route 75)
Victoria West
- Population, 2021 Census (Victoria (City))
- 91,867 (+7.1% since 2016)
- Median age / average age
- 42.8 / 45.2
- Aged 0 to 14 / 65 and over
- 9.2% / 23.2%
- Households that rent
- 60.5%
- CMHC average rent, October 2025
- 1 bedroom $1,595, 2 bedroom $2,078
- BC Assessment typical value, 2026 roll (Victoria (City))
- Single family $1,128,000 (+1%)
Strata $551,000 (-2%) - To the Inner Harbour
- Walk 25 min (2 km) · drive 4 min
Bus, weekday 10:00: 24 min (route 14)
Bus, weekday 18:30: 19 min (route 14)
The same facts in one table
| Area | Municipality | Population 2021 | Median age | Renters | 1-bed rent (CMHC) | Walk to Inner Harbour | Drive to Inner Harbour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Esquimalt Village | Esquimalt | 17,533 | 43.2 | 51.1% | $1,474 | 51 min | 7 min |
| Fairfield (Cook Street Village) | Victoria (City) | 91,867 | 42.8 | 60.5% | $1,568 | 19 min | 4 min |
| Fernwood | Victoria (City) | 91,867 | 42.8 | 60.5% | $1,595 | 34 min | 6 min |
| James Bay | Victoria (City) | 91,867 | 42.8 | 60.5% | $1,622 | 16 min | 2 min |
| Langford | Langford | 46,584 | 38.4 | 35.2% | $1,874 | 166 min | 17 min |
| Oak Bay Village | Oak Bay | 17,990 | 54.4 | 25.5% | $1,573 | 55 min | 9 min |
| Rockland | Victoria (City) | 91,867 | 42.8 | 60.5% | $1,595 | 33 min | 6 min |
| Sidney | Sidney | 12,318 | 62 | 23.2% | $1,984 | 346 min | 29 min |
| Uptown (Saanich) | Saanich | 117,735 | 44.4 | 30.8% | $1,594 | 51 min | 8 min |
| Victoria West | Victoria (City) | 91,867 | 42.8 | 60.5% | $1,595 | 25 min | 4 min |
What is here and what is not
Ten areas, each with the same set of facts: the municipality’s population and age from the 2021 Census, how many households rent, CMHC’s average rent for the matching zone, BC Assessment’s typical assessed values, and typical travel times to the Inner Harbour. There is no score, no ranking and no “best for”, and the order is alphabetical.
Municipal figures are not neighbourhood figures
James Bay, Fairfield, Rockland, Fernwood and Victoria West are neighbourhoods inside the City of Victoria, and Statistics Canada’s tables used here do not split the city. Oak Bay, Esquimalt, Saanich, Langford and Sidney are separate municipalities. Saanich is large, so its figures describe a lot of different places. Where the card shows a CMHC zone that groups several places, such as Langford with View Royal, Colwood and Sooke, it says so.
Travel times
The times come from this site’s offline travel-time model, from a reference point in each area, such as a village centre, to the Inner Harbour. They are typical times, not live traffic or live bus timetables, and a few short trips show no bus option because walking is quicker. Check BC Transit’s routes and schedules before relying on a route.
Next steps
See rent by area in rent in Victoria, home prices in Victoria house prices, your own budget in the cost of living calculator, and the moving checklist.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best neighbourhood in Victoria?
This site does not rank neighbourhoods. “Best” depends on your budget, work, family and what you like, and no published measure captures that. Each card gives the same facts for every area, in alphabetical order, so you can weigh them yourself.
Which Victoria neighbourhoods are safe?
We do not rank safety or crime. There is no single comparable official measure by neighbourhood that this site has read, and a ranking would mislead. For crime information, use your police department’s published reports for the municipality you are considering.
Why are the population and age figures for the whole municipality?
Because Statistics Canada’s Census tables used here are by municipality. They do not break out City of Victoria neighbourhoods such as James Bay or Fernwood, so for those areas the figures describe the City of Victoria as a whole, and each card says so.
How long does it take to get downtown from each area?
Each card gives a typical walking time, driving time and weekday bus times to the Inner Harbour from a reference point in the area, from an offline model built from OpenStreetMap roads and BC Transit’s published timetable data. They are typical times, not live traffic or live timetables, and driving excludes parking.
Where can I see rents and home prices by area?
Rents by CMHC zone are on the rent in Victoria page and on each card here. Home prices by area are on the house prices page. CMHC’s zones do not always match neighbourhood boundaries, and the cards say where this site has not confirmed a match.
More in Moving to Victoria
- Moving to Victoria BCHub
- BC property transfer tax calculatorGuide
- Closing costs in BCGuide
- Rent in VictoriaGuide
- Rent affordability calculatorGuide
- Rental scam checklistGuide
- First-time home buyer in BCGuide
- Cost of livingGuide
- Victoria vs VancouverGuide
- UVic and Camosun student housingGuide
- Victoria house pricesGuide
- Rent vs buy calculatorGuide
- Moving to Victoria checklistGuide
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census of Population 2021
- Statistics Canada: Population and dwelling counts (Table 98-10-0002-01)
- Statistics Canada: Age, average age and median age (Table 98-10-0022-01)
- Statistics Canada: Structural type of dwelling by tenure (Table 98-10-0240-01)
- BC Assessment: Vancouver Island 2026 Property Assessments Announced
- CMHC: Victoria 2025 Rental Market Report data tables (Excel)
- BC Transit: Victoria schedules and maps
- City of Victoria: Neighbourhood plans