Mission’s population is growing and most of those people are moving into single-detached houses, according to the latest release of census data.
The overall population of Mission is now 41,519, up from 38,554 in 2016.
That’s a 7.7% increase.
The data also shows that Mission has 14,701 total dwellings and that our population density is 183 per square kilometre.
Out of those 14,000 dwellings, the overwhelming majority are single-detached houses with more than 9,100 listed.
Mission’s population is also dominated by homeowners, with 10,835 compared with just 3,260 renters.
Mission also has housing with some of the lowest density in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.
Just 85 people live in an apartment that has five or more storeys. And just 1,125 live in an apartment that has fewer than four storeys.
The issue of density was one that was brought up by some candidates during the recent civic election as many of the younger candidates urged the city to approve taller apartment buildings to accommodate more people, especially renters.
Density will be an issue as plans for Mission’s waterfront are developed to include large amounts of housing. Some candidates wondered if residents will want their views blocked by tall apartments on the waterfront.
READ MORE: Mission family details fight for flood compensation
Some other census highlights
Median after-tax income of households in 2020 dollars: $87.000
The most common period of a house built in Mission was between 1961 and 1980 with 4,375 houses built in this period.
Just 980 houses were built between 2016 and 2021.
The census also shows that more than 6,800 of Mission’s 41,000 residents identify themselves as immigrants, and more than 7,200 residents identify themselves as a visible minority.
Out of those 7,200 residents, 4,330 identify as South Asian.
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chris.campbell@missioncityrecord.com
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