Population
39,397
Land Area
31.73
haAnnual Operating Budget
$84.1M
expensesTrends and Profile
Cochrane Population Trend
Annual estimates, 2016–2025
Fiscal Trends (2021–2024)
Revenue and expense per person over 4 years
Fiscal Report Card
These metrics reflect reported financial data and do not capture local context such as major infrastructure investments, one-time grants, natural disasters, or policy decisions. Learn more
Fiscal Trajectory
13.3
scoreFiscal trajectory score of 13.3 is below the band average of 50.0, indicating fiscal trends that warrant attention.
Fiscal Balance
$390
/ personOperating surplus of $390/person is 0.6× the band average of $624. Ranks 33rd of 48 in the band.
Tax Burden
$1,003
/ personPer-person taxation of $1,003 is 39% below the band average of $1,639, ranking 7th of 48 in the band.
Debt Load
20.2%
capacity usedLiability capacity used is 20.2%, near the band average of 15.0%. Ranking 33rd of 48 in the band.
Revenue Resilience
4.0%
grant dependencyGrant dependency of 4.0% is below the band average of 12.2%, indicating stronger revenue self-sufficiency.
Service Efficiency
$2,134
/ personTotal spending of $2,134/person is $766 below the band average, ranking 12th of 48 for service efficiency.
What's Driving These Numbers
Tax Revenue by Property Class
How the annual municipal tax levy is split across property classes. A higher residential share means homeowners carry more of the tax burden.
Share of total municipal tax levy by property class (Commercial and Industrial combined)
Annual Homeowner Cost
Estimated taxes on a median-value home
A typical homeowner pays $940/year — 95% below the band average of $19,046.
Estimated annual property tax bill on a median-value home (all dwelling types — not single-family only). See methodology.
Learn more ↗Estimated taxes on a median-value home
Estimated annual property tax bill on a median-value home (all dwelling types — not single-family only). See methodology.
A typical homeowner pays $940/year — 95% below the band average of $19,046.
Learn more ↗$940 / yr
Estimated taxes on a median-value home
Estimated annual property tax bill on a median-value home (all dwelling types — not single-family only). See methodology.
A typical homeowner pays $940/year — 95% below the band average of $19,046.
Residential Tax Base
Share of assessed property value from residential
90.5% of the tax base is residential — homeowners carry nearly all of the tax burden. Band average: 81.2%.
Learn more ↗Share of assessed property value from residential
90.5% of the tax base is residential — homeowners carry nearly all of the tax burden. Band average: 81.2%.
Learn more ↗90.5%
Share of assessed property value from residential
90.5% of the tax base is residential — homeowners carry nearly all of the tax burden. Band average: 81.2%.
Population Growth
Change over 5 years (2020–2025)
Population grew 22.8% over 5 years — significantly above the band average of 10.2%. Rapid growth drives infrastructure and service demand.
Learn more ↗Change over 5 years (2020–2025)
Population grew 22.8% over 5 years — significantly above the band average of 10.2%. Rapid growth drives infrastructure and service demand.
Learn more ↗+22.8%
Change over 5 years (2020–2025)
Population grew 22.8% over 5 years — significantly above the band average of 10.2%. Rapid growth drives infrastructure and service demand.
Development Activity
Building permit data not available
Revenue Breakdown / person
Expense Breakdown / person
Peer Comparison
Comparing against 22 municipalities in the 15,000-50,000 band.
| Municipality | Type | Population▼ | Rev/Cap | Exp/Cap | Surplus/Cap | Debt/Cap | Tax Bill | Tax Coll. % | Liab. Used % | 5yr Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spruce Grove | D | 44,575 | $3,439 | $2,711 | $728 | $1,801 | $1,231 | 96.4% | 25.8% | +14.6% |
| Leduc | D | 39,966 | $5,370 | $3,455 | $1,915 | $2,067 | $1,310 | 97.4% | 26.0% | +17.1% |
| Cochrane | T | 39,397 | $2,524 | $2,134 | $390 | $1,223 | $940 | 96.6% | 20.2% | +22.8% |
| Parkland County | D | 34,286 | $3,635 | $3,073 | $561 | $1,312 | $1,100 | 96.0% | 13.0% | +3.4% |
| Okotoks | T | 33,482 | $3,162 | $2,491 | $671 | $615 | $1,061 | 96.4% | 6.7% | +8.5% |
| Chestermere | D | 31,671 | $2,230 | $1,432 | $798 | $54 | $864 | 92.8% | 2.8% | +41.9% |
| Fort Saskatchewan | D | 30,575 | $4,047 | $3,148 | $898 | $636 | $1,028 | 98.7% | 11.3% | +11.0% |
| Grande Prairie No. 1, County of | D | 26,701 | $5,448 | $5,260 | $188 | $925 | $1,816 | 97.7% | 19.4% | — |
| Beaumont | D | 26,305 | $2,405 | $2,472 | -$67 | $1,377 | $1,536 | 94.9% | 21.9% | +27.9% |
| Foothills County | D | 25,779 | $2,797 | $2,503 | $294 | $383 | $3,252 | 93.4% | 11.6% | +8.7% |
| Red Deer County | D | 22,076 | $4,202 | $4,015 | $188 | $956 | $722,106 | 93.9% | 19.9% | +4.9% |
| Lloydminster | D | 21,295 | $6,757 | $5,149 | $1,607 | $2,931 | $1,161 | 93.6% | 21.9% | +2.5% |
| Sturgeon County | D | 21,035 | $6,405 | $4,928 | $1,477 | $1,675 | $1,068 | 97.9% | 13.3% | +0.9% |
| Camrose | D | 20,801 | $3,310 | $2,476 | $834 | $1,309 | $1,305 | 97.5% | 19.8% | +5.6% |
| Stony Plain | T | 19,662 | $3,417 | $2,830 | $586 | $1,496 | $1,143 | 95.7% | 20.5% | +7.6% |
| Sylvan Lake | T | 17,897 | $3,469 | $2,693 | $776 | $1,752 | $1,266 | 95.7% | 22.6% | +10.3% |
| Cold Lake | D | 17,815 | $3,865 | $3,805 | $60 | $2,705 | $1,255 | 94.2% | 30.2% | +10.1% |
| Brooks | D | 17,537 | $2,034 | $2,032 | $2 | $153 | $1,127 | 92.5% | 4.4% | +15.5% |
| Canmore | T | 17,341 | $6,221 | $4,457 | $1,764 | $3,201 | $947 | 97.9% | 25.7% | +10.4% |
| Strathmore | T | 16,416 | $2,593 | $2,380 | $213 | $849 | $1,042 | 96.5% | 26.3% | +9.7% |
| Leduc County | D | 16,400 | $5,522 | $4,906 | $616 | $2,404 | $760 | 98.0% | 25.5% | +16.0% |
| High River | T | 15,518 | $3,170 | $2,574 | $595 | $226 | $990 | 96.4% | 12.4% | +10.0% |