The 7 Safest & Most Family-Friendly Neighborhoods in Kelowna

Kelowna’s Safest Neighborhoods

With some of Canada’s finest weather, nature in our backyard, and a laid-back mindset -- probably from the sun - Kelowna is a fantastic place to raise a family. But in recent years crime is on the rise - especially property crimes in Rutland and the downtown core.

If you’re moving to Kelowna with kids, choosing the right neighborhood is just as important as choosing the right house.

The Kelowna RCMP routinely publishes maps showing crime incidents throughout Kelowna. We’ve reviewed the police data to bring you the 7 safest, most family-friendly neighborhoods in Kelowna and West Kelowna. While some level of crime can be expected in any Kelowna neighborhood, the crime maps speak for themselves.

Kelowna

Glenmore

Glenmore is a mix of suburban and countryside living at the north end of Kelowna. Properties here include sprawling ranches, condominiums, and everything in between. From Glenmore it’s a 10 minute drive or less to town, and you have fantastic access to the Kelowna airport and UBC’s Okanagan campus. With new shopping centres, restaurants, yoga, and the nearby Kelowna Golf & Country Club, you won’t need to drive to town often.

Glenmore has schools, paved walking paths, hiking trails, and is home to one of the top bird watching sites in BC, Robert Lake. Glenmore is growing quickly and densifying, so we can expect crime rates to increase at least a bit in the future.

Southeast Kelowna

The highly desirable, rural neighborhood of Southeast Kelowna lies south of Mission Creek , north of Myra Canyon, 

and west of Gallagher’s Canyon Golf Club. Southeast Kelowna is known for huge properties, rolling orchards, ranches, and big views over the city, lake and mountains. Southeast Kelowna’s secluded nature also means crime rates here are some of the lowest anywhere in the city.

Upper Mission

Upper Mission is a highly desirable and slightly upscale neighborhood at the far south side of Kelowna, about 15 minutes from town. Properties in Upper Mission have some of the best lake views in Kelowna, and are mostly newer single-family homes or acreage estates. The Upper Mission is very family friendly with large lots, quiet streets, great parks like Bertram, lake access, and nearby amenities and schools in Lower Mission.

Lower Mission

 Located downhill and immediately north of the Upper Mission, Kelowna’s Lower Mission is closer to town and more affordable, making it extremely popular with young families. Real estate options in Lower Mission include condos, single-family homes, historical homes, and gorgeous waterfront properties. The Lower Mission has excellent restaurants, pubs, tons of recreation options at the H20 Centre, shopping, and some of Kelowna’s best beaches. Crime rates are slightly higher here than in Southeast Kelowna or Upper Mission as the neighborhood is a bit closer to the downtown core.

West Kelowna

Lakeview Heights

Located just across the lake at the top of Bridge Hill, Lakeview heights is a suburban neighborhood ranging from the base of Mount Boucherie to the beaches of Okanagan Lake.

Lakeview has a bit of everything – lakefront homes in Casa Loma and Sunnyside, spectacular views from Mission Hill, generous yards, and quiet streets. Lakeview has its own grocery store, tennis court, pharmacy, and liquor store at the Lakeview Heights Village, and there are some great restaurants at the wineries on the Westside Wine Trail.

Wherever you are in Lakeview, you’re close either West Kelowna or downtown. Lakeview is also hoe to Kalamoir Park, one of Kelowna’s natural gems. Learn more about life in the neighborhood in our Lakeview Heights Microneighborhood guide.

Shannon Lake

If you like quiet seclusion, tall pine trees, fishing, and having 18-holes of golf at your doorstep, Shannon Lake is a great family-friendly neighborhood. Just a 5 minute drive from the amenities in West Kelowna, but a far enough walk to keep away the riff-raff, Shannon Lake has some of the lowest reported incidents of crime in all of Kelowna. Shannon Lake is a 10 minute drive to the local middle and high schools, and it has its own elementary school. Shannon Lake Park has short dog-friendly walking trails, a picnic area, and gets stocked with rainbow trout.

Glenrosa

Glenrosa is a suburban neighborhood at the west end of West Kelowna. Glenrosa features mostly older homes on larger lots, many of them overlooking West Kelowna and Okanagan Lake. From Glenrosa it’s a 10 minute drive to West Kelowna shopping and about 25 minutes to cross the bridge. Glenrosa has its own elementary and middle schools, and is about 15 minutes from Mount Boucherie Secondary School.

There’s a common trend in Kelowna’s RCMP crime data – as you go further North or South from the downtown core, or West across the bridge, crime rates tend to decrease. Crime rates are by far the highest in Kelowna’s downtown core, West Kelowna’s downtown, and some parts of Rutland.

Notable mentions: If you’re ok with a 30 minute drive to Kelowna, the nearby municipalities of Peachland and Lake Country (also known as Winfield) are worth checking out. Both offer quiet living, low crime rates, and cheaper real estate than Kelowna.