Westville, Nova Scotia Population & Demographics: How Many People Live Here?

Data source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population — View the official Westville census dataset on Statistics Canada

This article shows the demographic data and statistics of Westville. It is a town in Canada that encompasses a land area of 14.24 km2. The town has a population density of 248.60 people per km2.

We highlight the Westville town's various population characteristics. From gender, age distribution, ethnicity, household and dwelling, and income to spoken languages, occupation, and religion.

Westville on the Map

The map and listings below are sourced from OpenStreetMap contributors, not Statistics Canada, and may be incomplete depending on how thoroughly the area has been mapped.

Westville location on the map. View in Google Map

Population Characteristics

According to the latest census, Westville has a population of around 3,540 people. The town's population is in decreased . Between 2016 and 2021, the population of Westville has decreased by -2.43%.

Population in 2016Population in 2021Difference
3,6283,540 --2.43%

2026 Population Projection

Westville's population declined between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, so a 2026 growth projection is not shown. The most recent confirmed figure remains the 3,540 people recorded in the 2021 census.

Population By Genders

The male population of Westville is around 1,680 while the female population is around 1,860.

Of the 3,540 total population in Westville, the largest gender is female with around 1,860 women within the population.

MaleFemaleDifference
1,6801,860 -9.68%

Is Westville a Good Place to Live?

Based on 2021 Statistics Canada Census data, here's how Westville compares across key quality-of-life indicators — measured against Nova Scotia, its own province. Draw your own conclusions from the actual numbers.

Employment & Economy

17.5%
Unemployment rate
4.8 pts above the province
44.6%
Employment rate
7.3 pts below the province
54.2%
Participation rate
5.3 pts below the province

Income & Affordability

$60,800
Median household income
$10,700 below the province
17.6%
Below low-income threshold (LIM-AT)
2.7 pts above the province

Commute

88.4%
Commute under 30 minutes
13.3 pts above the province
94.8%
Commute by car
7.4 pts above the province
0.0%
Commute by public transit
4.1 pts below the province

Housing Character

74.4%
Single-detached houses
10.7 pts above the province
10.8%
Apartments (any building size)
14.1 pts below the province

Household Composition

2.30 people
Average household size
0.10people above the province
31.6%
One-person households
0.8 pts above the province

Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population.

Other Towns Near Westville

Population by Age Characteristics

Westville has an aging population. The majority of the population is people aged 55 to 59 years old, accounting for 8.10% of the total population. The town median age is 47.20.

DataMaleFemaleDifferenceTotal
55 to 59 years135 8.00%150 8.10% 10.00%285 8.10%
60 to 64 years125 7.40%155 8.30% 19.35%285 8.10%
65 to 69 years140 8.30%145 7.80% 3.45%280 7.90%
45 to 49 years110 6.50%130 7.00% 15.38%245 6.90%
70 to 74 years115 6.80%130 7.00% 11.54%245 6.90%
10 to 14 years115 6.80%120 6.50% 4.17%235 6.60%
50 to 54 years90 5.40%125 6.70% 28.00%215 6.10%
15 to 19 years105 6.30%85 4.60% 19.05%190 5.40%
25 to 29 years85 5.10%105 5.60% 19.05%190 5.40%
35 to 39 years75 4.50%110 5.90% 31.82%190 5.40%
5 to 9 years100 6.00%90 4.80% 10.00%185 5.20%
20 to 24 years90 5.40%95 5.10% 5.26%185 5.20%
40 to 44 years90 5.40%95 5.10% 5.26%185 5.20%
30 to 34 years80 4.80%95 5.10% 15.79%175 4.90%
75 to 79 years80 4.80%90 4.80% 11.11%170 4.80%
0 to 4 years85 5.10%65 3.50% 23.53%145 4.10%
80 to 84 years30 1.80%50 2.70% 40.00%75 2.10%
85 years and over15 0.90%45 2.40% 66.67%65 1.80%
Median age of the population46 45.60%48 48.00% 6.25%47 47.20%
Average age of the population43 42.90%46 45.60% 6.58%44 44.30%
85 to 89 years10 0.60%20 1.10% 50.00%35 1.00%

Broader Age Groups

If the town's population is divided into broader age groups, most of the population falls into the 15 to 64 years age group. The group accounts for 60.30% of the population. The other age groups, 65 years and over and 0 to 14 years, account for 23.60% and 16.10%, respectively.

If we look at the population data from the broader age groups, we can see that most people in Westville are within the 15 to 64 years age group.

DataMaleFemaleTotal
65 years and over22.60%24.50%23.60%
0 to 14 years17.90%14.50%16.10%

Photos of Places & Sceneries in Westville

Explore Westville Through Videos

Population of Westville by Ethnicity and Origin

The population of Westville is quite diverse, which contributes to the town's vibrant cultural landscape. Westville is inclusive and accepts various ethnic groups with open arms. Furthermore, the province appreciates the unique contributions that each ethnicity brings.

The top 5 ethnicities and origins in the province are Scottish, which accounts for 42.76% of the total population, followed by Irish (23.01%), English (22.87%), Canadian (20.88%), and French (14.35%).

Other ethnicities and origins in Newfoundland and Labrador include German, Caucasian (White), Acadian, European, and Nova Scotian.

Ethnicity and OriginMaleFemalePercentage in Population
Scottish42.73%42.78%42.76%
Irish25.52%20.71%23.01%
English19.88%25.89%22.87%
Canadian20.18%21.53%20.88%
French13.65%15.26%14.35%
German7.42%7.63%7.53%
Caucasian (White)6.53%5.72%6.25%
Acadian5.64%4.63%5.11%
European3.26%4.09%3.69%
Nova Scotian4.75%2.45%3.55%

Immigration Profile

Immigration patterns vary a great deal from one area to another, which makes this data one of the more distinctive parts of Westville's population profile.

About 2.7% of Westville's population are immigrants (95 people).

The top countries of origin for Westville's immigrant population are Philippines (45), United States of America (20), United Kingdom (10), Brazil (0), Colombia (0).

Only using 25% sample data.
Country of BirthPopulation
Philippines45
United States of America20
United Kingdom10
Brazil0
Colombia0

Household and Dwelling Characteristics

About 1,165 of Westville's population live in a single-detached house. In addition, most of them are living in 2 persons household.

Household Size

About 17.90% of the population lives in 2 persons households. 1 person households ranked second, accounting for 15.80% of the population. 3 persons, 4 persons, and 5 or more persons households account for 8.30%, 5.45%, and 2.55%, respectively.

Number of Person(s) in HouseholdTotalPercentage
2 persons56017.90%
1 person49515.80%
3 persons2608.30%
4 persons1705.45%
5 or more persons802.55%

Income in Westville

Analyzing income distribution in Westville can help us better understand its socioeconomic dynamics.

Per Capita Income

According to 2020 data, the median personal income within Westville is $35,200.

A region's per capita data sheds light on the average income earned per person living in it. Since per capita income is calculated by dividing the region's total income by its population, it quantifies the population's economic situation on an individual basis.

Such data offers insights into the town's economic performance, spread of income across individuals, quality of life, as well as disparities within its borders.

Most of Westville population or around 480 people falls in the $10,000 to $29,999 group. The next largest groups are the $30,000 to $49,999, and $50,000 to $79,999 with around 410 and 330 people, respectively.

Household Income

The Westville's median household income is $60,800, according to 2020 data.

Below national average Westville's median household income is 23,200 dollars below the Canadian national median of $84,000 (2020 data, 2021 Census).

The data provides important insights into the town's economic landscape as well as the living standards of its population.

Analyzing such data enables researchers, policymakers, and businesses to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the town's income distribution, disparities, and trends.

Education Levels in Westville

This data sheds light on the distribution of Westville residents across educational milestones.

Such information is crucial in shaping the province’s policies on education, workforce development strategies, and initiatives that aim to improve access to quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities.

49.75% or most of the Westville population has a Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree. 34.20% of the population has a High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate, 16.05% has a No certificate, diploma or degree, and 12.25% has Bachelor's degree or higher.

Only using 25% sample data.
DegreeMenWomenTotalPercentage
Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree1,0051,2452,24549.75%
High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate7159001,60534.20%
No certificate, diploma or degree43537581016.05%
Bachelor's degree or higher23032055512.25%

Below national average 12.3% of Westville's population has a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to the national average of 32.9% (Canada, 2021 Census).

Employment in Westville

This dataset provides a snapshot of employment trends in Westville. It encompasses a wide range of sectors, industries, as well as job categories.

The data shows that the unemployment rate in Newfoundland and Labrador is at 9.49% which is very high.

Only using 25% sample data.
StatusPercentage
Employment rate44.58%
Unemployment rate9.49%

Working as an Employee

The table shows the data on the total number of individuals in the town who work as an employee. The majority of Westville's population (around 72.10%) are working permanent position as an employee.

Self-employed

In the town, there are 50 men and 20 women working as self-employed individuals, bringing the total number to 65.

Only using 25% sample data.
StatusMenWomenTotal
Self-employed502065

Employment Industry Sectors

The Westville industry employment sector census data offers insights into the region's economic landscape. The distribution of employment in Westville is categorized and quantified, which reveals the region's economic composition.

Westville has a wide range of industries. Most of its population (24%) works in the retail trade sector. The Health care and social assistance sector comes second at 18%, followed by Manufacturing at 8%.

Only using 25% sample data.
IndustryMenWomenPercentage
Retail trade16522024%
Health care and social assistance3025018%
Manufacturing90358%
Accommodation and food services30757%
Construction5504%
Transportation and warehousing55104%
Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services40204%
Educational services15454%
Other services (except public administration)45204%
Public administration40153%
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction40103%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting4503%
Professional, scientific and technical services15253%
Utilities2002%
Wholesale trade1501%
Information and cultural industries10101%
Finance and insurance0201%
Arts, entertainment and recreation1501%
Management of companies and enterprises001%
Real estate and rental and leasing000%

Labour Market Snapshot

A quick snapshot of where Westville residents work — the leading industry sectors employing them, and the broad occupation categories they work in.

Top employer sectors in Westville: -45 Retail trade (24%), Health care and social assistance (18%), -33 Manufacturing (8%)

Top occupation categories in Westville: Sales and service occupations (30%), Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations (19%), Health occupations (12%)

Places of Work

The data offers insights into the commuting patterns as well as workplace distribution in the town. It provides a snapshot of workplaces, showing their geographic distribution and the flow of workers across different areas.

Only using 25% sample data.
Work LocationMenWomenTotalPercentage
Usual place of work44055599575.70%
No fixed workplace address1254516512.50%
Worked at home708015511.80%
Worked outside Canada0000.00%

Commuting

The data sheds light on how Westville residents travel to school or work. It highlights the frequency of different modes of transportation like walking, cycling, carpooling, and public transit.

The data is pivotal in the making of transportation policies as well as the development of transit systems. Ultimately commuting data contributes to improving the quality of life of Westville residents and sustainable urban planning.

Commuting Duration

This data reveals the average time that the residents of Westville spend traveling to their workplaces. It also sheds light on the efficiency of the town's public transit systems, and road networks, as well as the accessibility of the town.

Only using 25% sample data.
DurationPercentage
Less than 15 minutes59.20%
15 to 29 minutes29.20%
30 to 44 minutes5.60%
45 to 59 minutes3.40%
60 minutes and over2.60%

Marital Status

The statistics on marital status in Westvilleshed light on its societal dynamics. It captures the diverse types of marital statuses of the population.

Long-term commitments, such as common-law partnerships, civil unions, and marriages, reflect the town's social fabric. We can gain insights into Westville's changing preferences and norms by examining the trends in marital status.

Married or living common-law
53.54%
Married or living common-law
46.46%

Language Spoken

The data below highlights town's linguistic diversity, showing elegances of solo language as well as bilingual harmonies. Other than language, it also shows the cultural landscape in Canada.

English is the most spoken official language in Westville. About 3,505 people living in the province speak English, 20 people speak French, 0 people speak English and French language, and 0 people speak Neither English nor French language.

LanguagePopulation
English3,505
French20
English and French0
Neither English nor French0

Mother Tongue & Home Language

Useful for newcomers researching an area: this shows the language residents first learned at home in childhood (mother tongue) and the language they speak most often at home now, which can differ as families settle in.

LanguageMother TongueSpoken Most Often at Home
English97.7%98.7%
Non-official languages1.0%0.7%
French0.6%0.1%

Religion

Westville is predominantly Christian. About 2,155 of its population is Christian (980 males and 980 females).

The second largest religion in the province is Buddhist with 0.0% of the population adhering to the religion. There are also Hindu and Jewish, both represent 0.0% and 0.0% of the population, while Muslim represent 0.0% of the population.

ReligionPopulation
Christian61.2%
Buddhist0.0%
Hindu0.0%
Jewish0.0%
Islam0.0%
Sikh0.0%

Points of Interest in Westville

Schools

Parks

Places to Visit in Westville

Historic Sites

Green Spaces in Westville

NameTypeApprox. Area
Acadia ParkParks30.5 ha
Victoria ParkParks1.9 ha
Old Chelsea School ParkParks0.2 ha
Henderson ParkParks0.1 ha

Areas are approximate, calculated from OpenStreetMap boundary data.

Frequently Asked Questions about Westville

According to the 2021 census, Westville has a population of approximately 3,540 people.

Between 2016 and 2021, the population of Westville decreased by 2.43%.

Westville has a population density of approximately 248.60 people per square kilometre.

Westville covers a land area of approximately 14.24 km².

The median age of the population in Westville is 47.20 years.

The largest ethnic or cultural origin group in Westville is Scottish.

The median household income in Westville is $60,800, based on 2020 data.

English is the most common first official language spoken in Westville.

Christian is the predominant religion in Westville.

Statistics Canada (statcan.gc.ca) conducted the 2026 Census of Population in May 2026. However, census data goes through an extensive processing, validation, and quality-assurance period before public release. Based on the release plan, the 2026 Census results begin rolling out on February 10, 2027, with complete community-level profiles available by December 1, 2027. Until then, this page uses 2021 Census data as its primary source, supplemented by a population projection estimate for 2026 calculated using the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from the 2016–2021 Census period.