Nanaimo & the Island
Get a feel for the place. See what’s available, how long homes take to sell, and what’s changing.
Compare Nanaimo neighbourhoods by the life you want to lead: a walk to the waterfront, a home near the university, a garden on an established street, or more land in the foothills. Our area guides bring together local places, housing context and homes for sale.
The directory also covers Lantzville, Nanoose Bay, Parksville, Qualicum Beach and Ladysmith. These are communities beyond Nanaimo, each with its own setting and services. Explore a few areas before narrowing your search to a street.
A closer look at the Island
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The beach at the bottom of the hill. Established streets above the bay, with the water always close by.
Explore Departure BayNeighbourhood figures unavailable
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Explore Departure Bay market data23 of 23 areas
Departure Bay’s residential streets rise around a broad beach and the ferry approach. Country Club Centre, the Island Highway and the nearby golf course help connect its coastal setting with everyday city life.
Diver Lake sits near Bowen Road and Labieux Road, with connections to the Island Highway and Nanaimo Parkway. Established houses and newer residential pockets make it a useful area to compare with Uplands and Central Nanaimo.
Hammond Bay Road follows the coastal hillside between Departure Bay and Nanaimo’s north end. Detached homes, townhouses and patio homes share the area with shoreline parks and viewpoints towards the Strait of Georgia.
North Jingle Pot sits in Nanaimo’s foothills below Mount Benson. Acreages, older farm properties and residential subdivisions offer several ways to live with more open space while retaining city connections.
North Nanaimo combines ocean-facing hillsides with a substantial shopping and service district. Its homes include detached houses, townhouses and apartments, with outlooks towards the Strait of Georgia from some streets.
Pleasant Valley brings together the Brannen Lake area and Nanaimo’s north-end shopping connections. Its residential streets reflect the transition from a rural setting to an established city neighbourhood.
Uplands includes established residential streets near Long Lake and the broader Linley Valley setting. The Island Highway connects it with Country Club Centre and Nanaimo’s north-end shopping areas.
Brechin Hill rises above Nanaimo’s harbour, north of the Old City. Character houses, renovated homes and outlooks towards Newcastle Island sit close to the Island Highway and Estevan Road.
Central Nanaimo includes established streets around the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital area. Mature gardens, detached houses and condominium buildings provide a range of options within the working city.
Nanaimo’s Old City Quarter connects heritage streets with downtown shops, galleries and the waterfront. Character houses and newer apartments give buyers different ways to live near the city’s cultural centre.
South Jingle Pot connects the Mount Benson foothills with the Westwood Lake area and University District. Larger properties and residential subdivisions give it a different feel from the streets nearer downtown.
The University District surrounds Vancouver Island University and extends towards the College Heights and Westwood Lake area. Character houses, apartments and newer homes connect campus life with the wider city.
Cedar lies south of Nanaimo, with farms, acreages and coastal pockets around Cedar-by-the-Sea and Yellow Point. Cedar Village Square gives the rural community a practical centre for everyday errands.
Chase River sits at Nanaimo’s southern entrance, where established homes and newer streets meet a more rural setting. Highway connections make it a useful area to compare with Cedar and South Nanaimo.
Extension is a rural community southwest of Nanaimo, reached by Extension Road. Older homes, wooded lots and acreages reflect its village history and its connection to the surrounding countryside.
South Nanaimo adjoins the Old City and University District. Older homes, restored character properties and newer residential development reflect its long history as a working part of Nanaimo.
Lower Lantzville surrounds the village centre and coastal side of the District of Lantzville. Homes along and around Lantzville Road offer a community setting distinct from Nanaimo’s nearby north end.
Upper Lantzville occupies the hills above the coastal village, with wooded surroundings, larger properties and residential development in the Foothills area. Some homes look towards the Winchelsea Islands.
Nanoose Bay lies between Lantzville and Parksville, with rural roads, sheltered coastal settings and marina communities. Fairwinds is a distinct part of this wider area, with its own golf and waterfront setting.
Fairwinds is a residential community within Nanoose Bay, associated with its golf course, coastal trails and Schooner Cove marina. It deserves a separate look within the wider Nanoose Bay home search.
Parksville is an Oceanside city north of Nanaimo, known for its sandy shoreline and beach-oriented public spaces. Detached houses, condominiums and patio homes offer a range of ownership choices.
Qualicum Beach lies north of Parksville, with a walkable village centre, shops and a coastal setting. Detached homes form an important part of the search, alongside other housing options in the wider area.
Ladysmith is a harbour town south of Nanaimo, with hillside homes, a historic centre and waterfront public spaces. It offers a distinct town setting within a wider Vancouver Island search.
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