Population
15,884
Land Area
1,679
haAnnual Operating Budget
$30.3M
expensesTrends and Profile
Comox 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
31.9
scoreFiscal trajectory score of 31.9 is below the band average of 50.0, indicating fiscal trends that warrant attention.
Fiscal Balance
$778
/ personOperating surplus of $778/person is 1.2× the band average of $624. Ranks 11th of 48 in the band.
Tax Burden
$962
/ personPer-person taxation of $962 is 41% below the band average of $1,639, ranking 4th of 48 in the band.
Debt Load
8.4%
capacity usedLiability servicing capacity used is 8.4%, leaving significant room for strategic borrowing if needed.
Revenue Resilience
17.2%
grant dependencyGrant dependency of 17.2% is above the band average of 12.2%. More reliant on transfers than typical peers.
Service Efficiency
$1,909
/ personTotal spending of $1,909/person is $991 below the band average, ranking 6th 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 $5,953/year — 69% 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 $5,953/year — 69% below the band average of $19,046.
Learn more ↗$5,953 / 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 $5,953/year — 69% below the band average of $19,046.
Residential Tax Base
Share of assessed property value from residential
96.1% 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
96.1% of the tax base is residential — homeowners carry nearly all of the tax burden. Band average: 81.2%.
Learn more ↗96.1%
Share of assessed property value from residential
96.1% 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 4.7% over 5 years, compared to the band average of 10.2%.
Learn more ↗Change over 5 years (2020–2025)
Population grew 4.7% over 5 years, compared to the band average of 10.2%.
Learn more ↗+4.7%
Change over 5 years (2020–2025)
Population grew 4.7% over 5 years, compared to the band average of 10.2%.
Development Activity
Building permit value per capita (trailing 12 months)
$3,623 in building permits per person, below the band average of $3,872.
Learn more ↗Building permit value per capita (trailing 12 months)
$3,623 in building permits per person, below the band average of $3,872.
Learn more ↗$3,623 / cap
Building permit value per capita (trailing 12 months)
$3,623 in building permits per person, below the band average of $3,872.
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% |