Living in Revelstoke: Pros, Cons and What Homes Cost (2026-27)

Is Revelstoke a good place to live? Yes, for people who want mountains, snow and a small-town pace: you get big-mountain skiing, two national parks and a walkable heritage downtown in a town of about 9,000 people. But housing is expensive and scarce for a small town, winters are long and snowy, and the nearest major airport is about two and a half hours away.

Last updated: November 10, 2026 · By Russell Mortlock, PREC

Revelstoke at a glance

What is it like to live in Revelstoke year-round?

Revelstoke sits on the Columbia River between the Monashee and Selkirk mountains, on the Trans-Canada Highway. Mount Revelstoke National Park starts at the edge of town and Glacier National Park is just to the east, so the outdoors is not a weekend trip here; it is the backyard.

Winter is the season the town is known for. Revelstoke Mountain Resort is a short drive from downtown, and the resort reports about 10.5 m of snow in an average season. Summer is shorter but busy: hiking, mountain biking, paddling on the river and the Greenbelt trails that run from Southside into downtown.

Day to day, Revelstoke feels like a small town that happens to have big-town visitor numbers. The heritage downtown around Mackenzie Avenue and First Street has locally owned shops, cafes and restaurants, the Railway Museum and the Revelstoke Museum and Archives. Queen Victoria Hospital is in Arrow Heights. The rail line still runs through town, and the railway, the sawmill and the resort are a big part of the local economy.

What are the pros of living in Revelstoke?

• The mountains, in every season. In our opinion, few towns in Canada put this much terrain this close to home: a resort with the longest lift-served vertical in North America (the resort's own claim), two national parks and backcountry access in every direction.
• A real downtown. Heritage buildings, local businesses and walkable streets, with the Greenbelt trails and Centennial Park on the river close by.
• Community size. About 9,000 people means you get to know your neighbours, and schools, the hospital, recreation and most daily errands are close.
• Year-round jobs, not just ski jobs. According to the City, eight employers had more than 100 workers each in 2021, including Downie Timber, CP Rail, the resort, Interior Health and Parks Canada.
• A growing town. The population grew 9.4% between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, and the City reports building permit values rising from an average of $35 million in 2020 to $50 million in 2024.

What are the cons of living in Revelstoke?

• Housing costs and supply. The City's own 2025-2027 resort strategy lists the lack of affordable housing as a key weakness. Its 2024 Housing Needs Report put the 2021 rental vacancy rate at 1.4%, well below the 3% to 5% it calls healthy, and estimates the town needs about 2,367 more homes by 2041.
• Winter driving. The Trans-Canada is the main road in and out. In Rogers Pass, east of town, Parks Canada closes the highway from time to time for avalanche control; it says closures can last from 2 to 8 hours or longer. Winter tires are a must.
• Distance to big-city services. Kelowna and Kamloops are each about 2.5 hours away, and so is the nearest major airport. Specialist appointments, big-box shopping and flights usually mean a day trip.
• A visitor economy. The town is busiest in ski season and summer. In 2021, about 10% of dwellings (385 homes) were not occupied by usual residents, which the City links mainly to short-term rentals and holiday homes.
• Snow. If you love it, it is a pro. If you do not, a long, snowy winter with a lot of shovelling is a real con.

What do homes cost in Revelstoke in 2026?

As of the 2026 assessment roll, the typical single-family home in the City of Revelstoke was assessed at $881,000, up 2% from $860,000 the year before. BC Assessment values reflect the market as of July 1, 2025. For comparison, the typical single-family assessment in the City of Kelowna was $918,000 on the same roll.

The City's 2024 Housing Needs Report, using BC Assessment data, put the average sale price across all home types at $857,187 in 2023, up about 182% from $303,968 in 2017.

For condos, the closest published figure is regional. As of October 2026, the Association of Interior REALTORS put the condo benchmark price for the Shuswap/Revelstoke region at $407,000, up 0.2% from October 2025. That benchmark covers the Shuswap and Revelstoke together, so it is not a Revelstoke-only price. The Association's public release does not give a townhome figure for the region.

Assessed values are not asking or sale prices. Prices vary a lot by neighbourhood, view and distance to the resort. Ask our team for current sales in the area you are looking at.

Where do people live in Revelstoke?

• Downtown. The historic core around Mackenzie Avenue and First to Third Streets: heritage homes, restaurants and shops within a short walk.
• Southside. A relaxed residential area about 15 minutes' walk from downtown, with the Greenbelt trails and a paved route to Centennial Park.
• Farwell. A quiet residential area near the highway, about 15 minutes' walk from downtown, and the town's original settlement.
• Arrow Heights. On the lower slopes of Mount Mackenzie across the Illecillewaet River, with an elementary school and the hospital. It is the closest neighbourhood to the resort.
• Mackenzie Village. A newer neighbourhood next to Arrow Heights, with condos and townhomes, a cafe, a restaurant and a small grocery store.
• Columbia Park. Mainly residential, across the highway on the north side of town, beside the Revelstoke Golf Club on the Columbia River.
• Big Eddy. North of the highway, about 30 minutes' walk from downtown, with small businesses, garden centres and micro farms, and access to Mount Macpherson and Boulder Mountain.

Read more about the town on our Revelstoke area page.

Is there new construction in Revelstoke?

Yes. New homes are going up both in town and near the resort, from townhomes with legal suites to condos and estate lots. Projects on our list include Boxfort's Outpost on Oscar Street (1-bedroom flats and 2- and 3-bedroom townhomes), Campfire and The Peaks; Benchlands by Revelstoke Mountain Resort; and The Selkirks and The Ridge at Mackenzie Village. Availability changes often, so we keep the current list on one page.

See the new construction section of our Revelstoke New Homes page, or the full list of Revelstoke pre-sales and new homes.

Russell Mortlock is the selling agent for Boxfort's projects, including Outpost, Campfire and The Peaks. On other projects, he can act as your buyer's agent.

What should I know before moving to Revelstoke?

• Start your home search early. With low vacancy and limited supply, good homes and rentals go quickly. Get pre-approved before you start looking.
• Check the rules for the property, not just the price. If you plan to rent a suite or rent nightly, confirm the zoning and the City's and Province's short-term rental rules before you buy, and ask our team about the specific property.
• Plan for winter. Winter tires, a safety kit in the car, and a check of DriveBC before every highway trip. Parks Canada requires winter tires in Rogers Pass from October 1 to March 31.
• Visit in more than one season. A week in February and a week in October show you two very different towns.
• Think about access. If you will fly often for work or family, the 2.5-hour drive to Kelowna's airport is part of your routine.

Revelstoke FAQ

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Sources

• Statistics Canada, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population: Revelstoke, City (CY). statcan.gc.ca
• City of Revelstoke, Resort Development Strategy 2025-2027 (2025). revelstoke.ca
• City of Revelstoke, 2024 Housing Needs Report (November 27, 2024). revelstoke.ca
• BC Assessment, "Southern Interior 2026 Property Assessments Announced" (January 2, 2026). bcassessment.ca
• Tourism Revelstoke, Getting Here (page dated November 4, 2026). seerevelstoke.com
• Tourism Revelstoke, Neighbourhoods (page dated July 2, 2026). seerevelstoke.com
• Revelstoke Mountain Resort, Media Kit (last updated June 2026). revelstokemountainresort.com
• Parks Canada, Winter driving in Rogers Pass, Glacier National Park (last modified September 1, 2026). parks.canada.ca
• Association of Interior REALTORS, "Local Residential Real Estate Market Shows Relative Stability Despite Softer Activity" (October 2026 statistics, released November 5, 2026). interiorrealtors.ca