British Columbia · Census Agglomeration

Trail by the numbers

Trail is Canada's 139th largest metro area, home to about 15K people, growing slower than the country since 2021 (+0.2% vs +9.3%). The median age is 48.8 and January averages -2°C.

Live weatherCompare Trail
Population (2025 est.)8,539City of Trail
Metro population15,149#139 in Canada
Median household income$76,000Canada: $84,000
Avg. 2-bedroom rent—Not surveyed here
Median age48.8Canada: 41.6
Immigrants—Canada: 23.0%
January average-1.6°CJuly high 28°C
Speak English & French2.9%Canada: 18.0%

People

Population of Trail

The Trail census agglomeration had an estimated 15,149 people on July 1, 2025, up +0.2% since 2021 (Canada grew +9.3%). The 2021 Census counted 14,268 people, +0.5% more than in 2016.

The City of Trail itself had an estimated 8,539 residents in 2025.

Land area279 km²
People per km²51.1
Households6,515
14K15K15K15K15K20112013201520172019202120232025

Municipalities in the Trail area

Municipality2025 estimate2021 Census2016–21 growthPeople / km²
Trail8,5397,920+2.7%227
Fruitvale2,0681,958+2.0%725
Warfield1,7291,753+4.3%929
Kootenay Boundary A2,0081,624-14.1%7
Montrose1,0721,013+1.7%693

Sources: Statistics Canada, Table 17-10-0148-01, Statistics Canada, Table 17-10-0155-01, Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0003-01

2021 Census

Who lives in Trail

Age

Under 15 14%15 to 64 60%65 and over 26%

Median age is 48.8 (Canada: 41.6). 26.3% of residents are 65 or older and 13.8% are under 15.

Languages

English only 97%English & French 3%Neither 0%

2.9% can speak both official languages. At home, 97.1% speak mostly English, 0.1% mostly French and 2.0% mostly another language.

Immigration

— of residents are immigrants (Canada: 23.0%), and — arrived between 2016 and 2021.

Education: 16.1% of 25 to 64 year olds hold a bachelor's degree or higher; 28.3% have a college or CEGEP diploma and 14.3% a trades certificate.

Sources: Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0030-01, Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0223-01, Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0227-01, Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0302-01, Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0384-01

Money

Income and jobs in Trail

Median household income$76,000before tax, 2020
After tax$68,500median, 2020
Average household income$90,300before tax, 2020

Half of Trail households made more than $76,000 in 2020 and half made less. Across Canada the median was $84,000.

Sources: Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0061-01

Housing

Housing in Trail

Owners 76%Renters 24%
Median home value$348,000owner-estimated, 2021
Owners' monthly costs$810median, 2021
Renters' monthly costs$890median, 2021
Spend 30%+ on housing12.1%of households

Sources: Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0258-01, Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0256-01, Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0253-01

Commuting

Getting around Trail

How people get to work

Car, truck or van89.4%
Public transit1.7%
Walked6.8%
Bicycle0.5%
Other1.2%
Average commute15.9 minCanada: 23.7 min
Commute an hour or more3.0%one way

Census day 2021 fell during the COVID-19 pandemic, so transit use is lower than in normal years.

Source: Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0457-01

Climate

Trail weather and climate

-10°0°10°20°30°76 mm precipitationJ51 mm precipitationF63 mm precipitationM59 mm precipitationA70 mm precipitationM72 mm precipitationJ48 mm precipitationJ30 mm precipitationA42 mm precipitationS51 mm precipitationO97 mm precipitationN90 mm precipitationD0°3°9°15°20°24°28°28°22°13°5°0°
Average daily highAverage daily lowPrecipitation
Coldest month-1.6°CJanuary average
July daily high28.1°C
Snow per year201 cm
Precipitation751 mmper year
Days above 30°C32.0
Nights below −20°C0.5

30-year averages (1981–2010) from the Castlegar A weather station, 23.1 km from the city centre.

Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010

Out of all Canadian metro areas with data

How Trail ranks

#139 of 152 · Largest cities by population#142 of 152 · Fastest-growing cities#116 of 152 · Youngest cities#92 of 152 · Highest-income cities#74 of 152 · Most expensive homes#134 of 152 · Cities with the most renters#148 of 152 · Most bilingual cities#124 of 152 · Most educated cities#122 of 152 · Cities with the longest commutes#62 of 152 · Cities where the most people take transit#25 of 152 · Cities where the most people walk to work#103 of 152 · Best cycling cities#137 of 152 · Coldest cities#5 of 152 · Cities with the hottest summers#61 of 152 · Snowiest cities#106 of 152 · Wettest cities

Compare

Compare with any city →

Cities near Trail

NelsonBC 20K people —2BR rent-2°Jan avg45.2median agePentictonBC 50K people $1,5112BR rent-1°Jan avg53.6median ageCranbrookBC 30K people $1,4722BR rent-6°Jan avg46.0median ageKelownaBC 255K people $2,0982BR rent-2°Jan avg44.4median ageVernonBC 74K people $1,6072BR rent-2°Jan avg50.0median ageSalmon ArmBC 21K people $1,3362BR rent-4°Jan avg51.6median age

FAQ

Trail questions, answered

What is the population of Trail?

The Trail metro area had an estimated 15,149 people on July 1, 2025 (Statistics Canada). The City of Trail itself had about 8,539.

What is the average household income in Trail?

The median household income in Trail was $76,000 before tax in 2020 ($68,500 after tax), according to the 2021 Census. The average was $90,300.

How cold does it get in Trail?

January averages -1.6°C, with average lows of -3.7°C. Trail gets about 201 cm of snow a year, and in July the average daily high is 28.1°C (1981–2010 climate normals).

Is Trail bilingual?

2.9% of people in Trail can speak both English and French; 97.0% speak English only and 0.0% French only (2021 Census).

What is the median age in Trail?

The median age in Trail was 48.8 in the 2021 Census, compared with 41.6 for Canada.

Built October 30, 2026 from the latest published official data.