Population
22,794
Land Area
1,767
haAnnual Operating Budget
$34.2M
expensesTrends and Profile
Colwood Population Trend
Annual estimates, 2011–2025
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
64.5
scoreFiscal trajectory score of 64.5 is above the band average of 50.0, placing this municipality among improving peers.
Fiscal Balance
$631
/ personOperating surplus of $631/person is 1.0× the band average of $624. Ranks 18th of 48 in the band.
Tax Burden
$1,196
/ personPer-person taxation of $1,196 is 27% below the band average of $1,639, ranking 14th of 48 in the band.
Debt Load
11.2%
capacity usedLiability servicing capacity used is 11.2%, leaving significant room for strategic borrowing if needed.
Revenue Resilience
7.4%
grant dependencyGrant dependency of 7.4% is below the band average of 12.2%, indicating stronger revenue self-sufficiency.
Service Efficiency
$1,501
/ personTotal spending of $1,501/person is $1,399 below the band average, ranking 3rd 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
Annual Homeowner Cost
Estimated taxes on a median-value home
A typical homeowner pays $5,519/year — 71% 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 $5,519/year — 71% below the band average of $19,046.
Learn more ↗$5,519 / 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 $5,519/year — 71% below the band average of $19,046.
Residential Tax Base
Share of assessed property value from residential
92.8% 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
92.8% of the tax base is residential — homeowners carry nearly all of the tax burden. Band average: 81.2%.
Learn more ↗92.8%
Share of assessed property value from residential
92.8% 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 17.9% 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 17.9% over 5 years — significantly above the band average of 10.2%. Rapid growth drives infrastructure and service demand.
Learn more ↗+17.9%
Change over 5 years (2020–2025)
Population grew 17.9% over 5 years — significantly above the band average of 10.2%. Rapid growth drives infrastructure and service demand.
Development Activity
Building permit value per capita (trailing 12 months)
$9,689 in building permits per person — 2.5× the band average. Signals strong development activity and future tax base growth.
Learn more ↗Building permit value per capita (trailing 12 months)
$9,689 in building permits per person — 2.5× the band average. Signals strong development activity and future tax base growth.
Learn more ↗$9,689 / cap
Building permit value per capita (trailing 12 months)
$9,689 in building permits per person — 2.5× the band average. Signals strong development activity and future tax base growth.
Revenue Breakdown / person
Expense Breakdown / person
Peer Comparison
Comparing against 26 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vernon | C | 49,527 | $2,382 | $2,161 | $221 | $749 | $5,031 | 99.2% | 3.1% | +9.2% |
| West Vancouver | D | 47,929 | $4,973 | $4,458 | $515 | $511 | $12,023 | 99.1% | 3.5% | +6.2% |
| Mission | C | 47,280 | $2,726 | $2,064 | $663 | $268 | $6,372 | 96.2% | 5.5% | +10.2% |
| West Kelowna | C | 40,274 | $2,242 | $2,235 | $7 | $1,191 | $7,066 | 95.0% | 22.4% | +9.5% |
| Penticton | C | 39,068 | $4,152 | $3,727 | $425 | $547 | $5,870 | 99.1% | 11.9% | +3.5% |
| Campbell River | C | 38,300 | $2,649 | $2,219 | $430 | $209 | $6,019 | 98.6% | 4.9% | +5.3% |
| Port Moody | C | 38,285 | $3,044 | $2,509 | $535 | $587 | $7,472 | 98.6% | 8.2% | +9.6% |
| Langley | C | 35,444 | $2,455 | $1,837 | $618 | $611 | $5,017 | 98.5% | 4.1% | +20.1% |
| North Cowichan | D | 34,525 | $2,317 | $2,014 | $303 | $915 | $5,679 | 98.2% | 23.8% | +5.8% |
| Courtenay | C | 32,869 | $2,397 | $2,115 | $282 | $587 | $5,915 | 98.3% | 11.0% | +13.7% |
| Squamish | D | 28,578 | $5,028 | $2,770 | $2,258 | $1,428 | $7,205 | 98.4% | 26.5% | +20.9% |
| White Rock | C | 25,057 | $2,937 | $2,222 | $715 | $783 | $6,686 | 95.2% | 7.9% | +12.7% |
| Fort St. John | C | 24,383 | $4,326 | $3,302 | $1,024 | $1,448 | $3,590 | 94.5% | 15.7% | +8.1% |
| Colwood | C | 22,794 | $2,132 | $1,501 | $631 | $474 | $5,519 | 98.7% | 11.2% | +17.9% |
| Cranbrook | C | 22,703 | $3,081 | $2,660 | $421 | $1,170 | $5,546 | 97.6% | 23.9% | +6.2% |
| Pitt Meadows | C | 20,892 | $2,865 | $2,382 | $483 | $1,062 | $6,971 | 98.7% | 12.4% | +5.1% |
| Salmon Arm | C | 20,891 | $2,249 | $1,937 | $311 | $954 | $5,116 | 98.8% | 24.8% | +6.3% |
| Port Alberni | C | 19,671 | $2,999 | $2,759 | $239 | $1,033 | $5,255 | 96.7% | 12.0% | +4.8% |
| Esquimalt | D | 19,512 | $2,624 | $2,379 | $245 | $1,704 | $5,793 | 98.0% | 19.0% | +5.4% |
| Oak Bay | D | 18,626 | $3,642 | $3,021 | $621 | $0 | $10,935 | 99.7% | 0.0% | +0.9% |
| Central Saanich | D | 18,184 | $2,537 | $1,846 | $691 | $357 | $6,857 | 99.4% | 6.5% | +0.9% |
| Lake Country | D | 17,637 | $2,723 | $2,225 | $498 | $962 | $6,594 | 99.0% | 19.1% | +10.8% |
| Sooke | D | 17,248 | $1,731 | $1,279 | $452 | $128 | $5,507 | 97.2% | 14.0% | +13.2% |
| Comox | T | 15,884 | $2,687 | $1,909 | $778 | $191 | $5,953 | 98.8% | 8.4% | +4.7% |
| Parksville | C | 15,371 | $2,508 | $2,204 | $304 | $305 | $6,131 | 98.8% | 4.0% | +13.4% |
| Whistler | D | 15,090 | $9,738 | $8,531 | $1,207 | $4,103 | $5,768 | 98.4% | 14.9% | -2.3% |