Population
68,714
Land Area
119.84
haAnnual Operating Budget
$314.5M
expensesTrends and Profile
Medicine Hat 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
84.3
scoreFiscal trajectory score of 84.3 is above the band average of 50.0, placing this municipality among improving peers.
Fiscal Balance
$2,115
/ personOperating surplus of $2,115/person is 3.7× the band average of $566. Ranks 1st of 22 in the band.
Tax Burden
$1,190
/ personPer-person taxation of $1,190 is 29% below the band average of $1,666, ranking 6th of 22 in the band.
Debt Load
25.8%
capacity usedAt 25.8% of liability capacity used, borrowing room is more constrained than 1 of 22 peers in the band.
Revenue Resilience
8.3%
grant dependencyGrant dependency of 8.3% is above the band average of 7.1%. More reliant on transfers than typical peers.
Service Efficiency
$4,578
/ personTotal spending of $4,578/person is $1,571 above the band average of $3,007, ranking 21st of 22 in the band.
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 $1,018/year — 77% below the band average of $4,401.
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 $1,018/year — 77% below the band average of $4,401.
Learn more ↗$1,018 / 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 $1,018/year — 77% below the band average of $4,401.
Residential Tax Base
Share of assessed property value from residential
76.2% of the tax base is residential, similar to the band average of 77.4%.
Learn more ↗Share of assessed property value from residential
76.2% of the tax base is residential, similar to the band average of 77.4%.
Learn more ↗76.2%
Share of assessed property value from residential
76.2% of the tax base is residential, similar to the band average of 77.4%.
Population Growth
Change over 5 years (2020–2025)
Population grew 5.1% over 5 years, compared to the band average of 10.4%.
Learn more ↗Change over 5 years (2020–2025)
Population grew 5.1% over 5 years, compared to the band average of 10.4%.
Learn more ↗+5.1%
Change over 5 years (2020–2025)
Population grew 5.1% over 5 years, compared to the band average of 10.4%.
Development Activity
Building permit data not available
Revenue Breakdown / person
Expense Breakdown / person
Peer Comparison
Comparing against 9 municipalities in the 50,000-150,000 band.
| Municipality | Type | Population▼ | Rev/Cap | Exp/Cap | Surplus/Cap | Debt/Cap | Tax Bill | Tax Coll. % | Liab. Used % | 5yr Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Deer | D | 115,409 | $3,831 | $3,866 | -$35 | $2,481 | $1,249 | 98.2% | 28.8% | +10.0% |
| Lethbridge | D | 113,671 | $5,043 | $4,481 | $562 | $1,465 | $1,284 | 98.5% | 21.1% | +11.2% |
| Strathcona County | D | 107,345 | $4,932 | $4,111 | $821 | $1,043 | $1,058 | 97.9% | 11.8% | +4.7% |
| Airdrie | D | 92,544 | $3,345 | $2,232 | $1,113 | $646 | $854 | 96.2% | 14.6% | +24.2% |
| Wood Buffalo | D | 81,577 | $8,858 | $8,399 | $459 | $0 | $536 | 96.3% | 0.0% | +8.2% |
| St. Albert | D | 74,730 | $3,841 | $3,180 | $660 | $1,306 | $1,812 | 98.4% | 20.9% | +7.3% |
| Grande Prairie | D | 71,160 | $3,472 | $3,338 | $134 | $1,742 | $1,651 | 96.9% | 22.2% | +4.2% |
| Medicine Hat | D | 68,714 | $6,693 | $4,578 | $2,115 | $6,233 | $1,018 | 95.7% | 25.8% | +5.1% |
| Rocky View County | D | 50,260 | $4,231 | $2,982 | $1,250 | $997 | $980 | 94.3% | 17.4% | +20.0% |