How NorthScore works

NorthScore is a 0-100 composite livability index computed for every populated geographic area in British Columbia. It measures livability for a typical resident, not investment potential. Housing prices and affordability are not part of the score.

What NorthScore measures

74
Good
A NorthScore of 74 means this location ranks better than 74% of all populated areas in BC across six livability dimensions. Higher is better.

NorthScore aggregates six weighted components, each independently percentile-ranked against all populated dissemination blocks in BC. The composite is a weighted average - not a simple count.

The score intentionally excludes housing price, rent levels, and affordability. Those metrics are available in separate data cards. Livability and affordability often trade off against each other; keeping them separate lets you see both clearly.

The six components

Each component draws from one or more authoritative Canadian government data sources. Sub-metrics are combined within each component before the component itself is weighted into the composite.

Daily Amenity Access 30%
Source: Statistics Canada Proximity Measures Database (PMD) 2021
  • Grocery access15%
  • Transit access15%
  • Healthcare (GP/clinic)12%
  • Pharmacy10%
  • Parks & recreation10%
  • Primary education10%
  • Employment centres8%
  • Secondary education7%
  • Childcare7%
  • Libraries6%
Safety 25%
Source: Statistics Canada Crime Severity Index (CSI)
  • Inverted CSI percentile rank vs all BC municipalities100%

Lower CSI = higher score. Small communities with suppressed data use the parent Census Division average, flagged as estimated.

Environmental Health 15%
Source: ECCC AQHI, ECCC NPRI, Health Canada radon survey
  • Air quality (AQHI)50%
  • Industrial pollution proximity (NPRI)30%
  • Radon risk (FSA level)20%

AQHI: score = max(0, 100 - ((AQHI - 1) / 9) x 100). No NPRI facility within 25 km = 95 points.

Natural Hazard Resilience 15%
Source: NRCan CanadaSHM6, BC Wildfire Service, NRCan flood maps, BC Tsunami Zones
  • Seismic risk penaltyadditive
  • Wildfire interface penaltyadditive
  • Flood plain penaltyadditive
  • Tsunami zone penaltyadditive

Penalties: Low = 0, Moderate = 15, High = 35, Severe = 55. Score = max(0, 100 - sum of penalties). Penalties are additive because hazards compound.

Climate Comfort 10%
Source: Environment Canada Climate Normals 1991-2020
  • Mean annual temperature (higher = better)40%
  • Annual sunshine hours (higher = better)35%
  • Annual precipitation (lower = better)25%

Each metric percentile-ranked against all BC climate stations.

Infrastructure Quality 5%
Source: StatCan ODHF (hospitals), GTFS feeds (transit), BC MoE school enrolment
  • Hospital proximity (inverse distance)40%
  • Transit frequency (avg weekday departures)35%
  • School enrolment trend25%

Captures acute care proximity, transit frequency, and neighbourhood vitality - metrics not covered by PMD.

Score labels

Score range Label Meaning
90-100 Exceptional Top 10% in BC
75-89 Very Good Top 25% in BC
60-74 Good Above median in BC
45-59 Fair Near median in BC
30-44 Below Average Bottom 40% in BC
0-29 Challenging Bottom 30% in BC

Scores are percentile-normalized against all populated dissemination blocks in British Columbia. A score of 70 means this location ranks better than 70% of BC. When Canada-wide data is added, the baseline will shift.

Important caveats

  • NorthScore reflects livability for a typical resident. It does not include housing price, rent levels, or affordability data.
  • Weights reflect general Canadian housing preference research. They are not equal, and professional users can adjust them.
  • Normalization is against BC only in Phase 1. The baseline will shift when Canada-wide data is added in Phase 2.
  • Data vintages vary by component. Census data is from 2021; crime data lags approximately 12 months; air quality (AQHI) is updated daily.
  • Natural hazard scores are for general informational purposes. Not a substitute for professional engineering or insurance assessment.
  • Environmental quality data is informational. Not a substitute for a Phase I/II Environmental Site Assessment.
  • For small communities where Statistics Canada has suppressed crime data (populations under approximately 250), the parent Census Division average is used and flagged as estimated.