Is Lake Country a good place to live? Yes, if you want lakes, orchards and wineries with a small-town feel while staying close to Kelowna: the District sits on three lakes and is about five minutes from Kelowna International Airport. The trade-offs are fewer shops and services than in Kelowna, and house prices that are no lower: the typical single-family home was assessed at $933,000 on the 2026 roll, against $918,000 in Kelowna.
Last updated: November 11, 2026 · By Russell Mortlock, PREC
Lake Country at a glance
| Population | 15,817 in the 2021 Census, up 22.4% from 2016 Statistics Canada |
|---|---|
| Typical single-family home | $933,000 typical assessed value, no change from a year earlier (2026 roll, market value as of July 1, 2025) BC Assessment, January 2, 2026 |
| Kelowna International Airport (YLW) | About 5 minutes away Lake Country Tourism, page updated September 21, 2026 |
| Drive to Kelowna | Lake Country borders Kelowna to the north, past the airport. Tourism Kelowna puts the airport about 15 minutes from downtown Kelowna; your total drive depends on where in Lake Country you live. Tourism Kelowna |
| Lakes | Okanagan, Wood and Kalamalka lakes. The Okanagan Rail Trail runs along Wood and Kalamalka lakes. Lake Country Tourism; Tourism Kelowna |
| UBC Okanagan | Minutes away, near the airport District of Lake Country community profile (2023) |
| Wineries | A local wine trail of award-winning wineries Lake Country Tourism |
Full links at the end.
What is it like to live in Lake Country?
Lake Country is a district municipality between Kelowna and Vernon, at the north end of the Central Okanagan. It was incorporated in 1995 from four communities, Winfield, Okanagan Centre, Oyama and Carr's Landing, which kept their identities as the District's four wards.
Life here is built around water and farmland. The District touches Okanagan, Wood and Kalamalka lakes, and Tourism Kelowna notes that local orchards and vineyards grow apples, cherries and grapes. In summer, that means beaches, paddling and boating; year-round, the Okanagan Rail Trail gives you a flat, scenic route for walking and cycling along Wood and Kalamalka lakes.
It is also one of the fastest-growing places in the province. Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, Lake Country's population grew 22.4%, from 12,922 to 15,817. The District's own 2023 profile says that growth rate was the third-fastest among B.C. municipalities.
What are the pros and cons of living in Lake Country?
Pros
- Three lakes. In our opinion, few communities in the Okanagan have this much shoreline and this many beaches and boat launches close to home.
- Close to the airport and university. Lake Country Tourism puts YLW about 5 minutes away, and UBC Okanagan is next to the airport. In our opinion, that makes Lake Country one of the most convenient places in the region for frequent flyers and university staff and students.
- Space and views. In our experience, larger lots, orchards and hillside homes with lake views are easier to find here than in much of Kelowna.
- Wineries and the Rail Trail, right in the community.
- A small-town feel. Each of the four wards still feels like its own small community.
Cons
- House prices are not lower than Kelowna's. The typical single-family home was assessed at $933,000 on the 2026 roll, compared with $918,000 in Kelowna.
- Fewer services. For a hospital, big-box shopping and most specialists, you will drive into Kelowna or Vernon.
- A car is close to essential, especially in Carr's Landing and Okanagan Centre.
- Highway 97 traffic. The main route south to Kelowna is Highway 97. Test the drive at the times you would commute.
Who is Lake Country a good fit for?
Lake Country suits:
- Families who want more space, a yard and lake access, and are happy to drive for some activities and appointments.
- People who work at the airport, UBC Okanagan or in north Kelowna, or who fly often, because the commute is short.
- Retirees and downsizers who want a quieter, scenic setting. Carr's Landing's average age of 54, the highest of the four wards, says a lot about its appeal to that group.
- Outdoor people: paddlers, cyclists on the Rail Trail, boaters and anyone who wants to be on a lake within minutes of home.
It suits people less if they want to walk to shops and restaurants every day, rely on transit, or want the energy of downtown Kelowna on their doorstep. For that, compare the Kelowna neighbourhoods in our Kelowna vs West Kelowna guide.
What do homes cost in Lake Country in 2026?
As of the 2026 assessment roll (market value at July 1, 2025), BC Assessment put the typical single-family home in the District of Lake Country at $933,000, compared with $930,000 a year earlier (BC Assessment rounds the change to 0%). For comparison, on the same roll the typical single-family home was $918,000 in Kelowna and $721,000 in Vernon.
BC Assessment's release does not include a typical condo or townhome value for Lake Country, and the Association of Interior REALTORS does not publish Lake Country-only figures in its public monthly release. Across the Association's whole region, it reported 1,079 residential sales in October 2026, down 15.2% from October 2025.
Assessed values are not asking prices, and prices vary widely between a lakefront home in Okanagan Centre and a townhome in Winfield. Ask our team for recent sales in the area you are looking at.
What are the main neighbourhoods?
The District's four wards are the historic communities. Populations are from the 2021 Census, as reported in the District's 2023 ward profiles.
- Winfield (9,767 people, 62% of the District). The largest ward, with more than half its land in the Agricultural Land Reserve. In our experience, it is where most of the District's shops and everyday services are.
- Okanagan Centre (3,140 people). The second-largest ward, which includes the lakeside community of Okanagan Centre on Okanagan Lake.
- Oyama (2,106 people). Between Wood and Kalamalka lakes, with a lower population density than Winfield or Okanagan Centre.
- Carr's Landing (804 people). The smallest ward, on Okanagan Lake, with almost entirely single-detached homes and the District's oldest population, averaging 54.
- Lakestone. A master-planned lakeside community with over 28 km of trails and 250 acres of preserved natural space, according to the developer, where single-family homesites are now selling.
Browse current listings on our Lake Country area page, and see the condo buildings we recommend on our Lake Country condos page.
What new homes are being built in Lake Country?
As of November 6, 2026, our list of Lake Country projects includes:
- Lake Pointe Village, at 11565 Okanagan Centre Road East: 20 level-entry townhomes built in three phases, with up to 4 bedrooms. Status: under construction; taking reservations.
- The Summit at Lakestone: single-family homesites with home designs from several local builders. Status: now selling.
- Lakeside Estates Phase 2: townhomes, coming soon.
See every Okanagan project on our new homes and pre-sales page. If you are new to buying before a home is built, read our guide to buying a pre-sale in the Okanagan.
How far is Lake Country from Kelowna and the airport?
Close. Lake Country borders Kelowna to the north, and Lake Country Tourism puts Kelowna International Airport about 5 minutes away. Tourism Kelowna puts the airport about 15 minutes from downtown Kelowna, so plan on a longer drive from the northern wards to downtown, especially at rush hour.
Comparing Lake Country with the cities to the south? Our guide to Kelowna vs West Kelowna covers home values, the commute and neighbourhoods on both sides of the lake. If you are moving from the coast, read moving to Kelowna from Vancouver.
Lake Country FAQ
Is Lake Country part of Kelowna?
No. Lake Country is its own district municipality, incorporated in 1995, north of Kelowna in the Central Okanagan.
How many people live in Lake Country?
15,817 in the 2021 Census, up 22.4% from 2016. Winfield is the largest ward, with 9,767 people.
Is Lake Country cheaper than Kelowna?
Not for a typical house. On the 2026 assessment roll, the typical single-family home was $933,000 in Lake Country and $918,000 in Kelowna.
What lakes are in Lake Country?
Okanagan, Wood and Kalamalka lakes. The Okanagan Rail Trail runs along Wood and Kalamalka lakes.
Are new homes being built in Lake Country?
Yes. As of November 2026, projects on our list include Lake Pointe Village townhomes, homesites at The Summit at Lakestone and Lakeside Estates Phase 2 townhomes.
Get new Okanagan homes and pre-sale releases first. Sign up on our Okanagan New Homes page.
See new homes and pre-sales in the Okanagan
About the author
Russell Mortlock, PREC
Russell Mortlock, PREC, is a REALTOR® with Mortlock-Wilk Real Estate Group, Real Broker B.C. Ltd. He helps buyers and sellers across the Okanagan and Revelstoke, with a focus on new construction and pre-sales, and is the selling agent for Boxfort's Revelstoke projects.
Sources
- Statistics Canada, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population: Lake Country, District municipality. statcan.gc.ca
- BC Assessment, "Southern Interior 2026 Property Assessments Announced" (January 2, 2026). bcassessment.ca
- District of Lake Country, Lake Country Ward Profiles 2001-2021 (May 2023). lakecountry.bc.ca
- District of Lake Country, Lake Country Municipal Profile 1996-2021 (May 2023). lakecountry.bc.ca
- District of Lake Country, community profile in Invest Kelowna's 2023 Community Profiles. investkelowna.com
- Lake Country Tourism, Life the Okanagan Way (page updated September 21, 2026). visitlakecountry.ca
- Tourism Kelowna, Lake Country. tourismkelowna.com
- Tourism Kelowna, Getting here by air. tourismkelowna.com
- Association of Interior REALTORS, "Local Residential Real Estate Market Shows Relative Stability Despite Softer Activity" (October 2026 statistics, released November 5, 2026). interiorrealtors.ca
- Kelowna Home Source, Lake Country project pages (details as of November 6, 2026). kelownahomesource.com