Population
19,512
Land Area
711
haAnnual Operating Budget
$46.4M
expensesTrends and Profile
Esquimalt 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
35.7
scoreFiscal trajectory score of 35.6 is below the band average of 50.0, indicating fiscal trends that warrant attention.
Fiscal Balance
$245
/ personOperating surplus of $245/person is 0.4× the band average of $624. Ranks 39th of 48 in the band.
Tax Burden
$1,897
/ personPer-person taxation of $1,897 is 16% above the band average. Residents contribute $258 more per person than typical peers.
Debt Load
19.0%
capacity usedLiability capacity used is 19.0%, near the band average of 15.0%. Ranking 28th of 48 in the band.
Revenue Resilience
4.4%
grant dependencyGrant dependency of 4.4% is below the band average of 12.2%, indicating stronger revenue self-sufficiency.
Service Efficiency
$2,379
/ personTotal spending of $2,379/person is $521 below the band average, ranking 19th 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 $5,793/year — 70% 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 $5,793/year — 70% below the band average of $19,046.
Learn more ↗$5,793 / 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 $5,793/year — 70% below the band average of $19,046.
Residential Tax Base
Share of assessed property value from residential
91.6% 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
91.6% of the tax base is residential — homeowners carry nearly all of the tax burden. Band average: 81.2%.
Learn more ↗91.6%
Share of assessed property value from residential
91.6% 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 5.4% over 5 years, compared to the band average of 10.2%.
Learn more ↗Change over 5 years (2020–2025)
Population grew 5.4% over 5 years, compared to the band average of 10.2%.
Learn more ↗+5.4%
Change over 5 years (2020–2025)
Population grew 5.4% over 5 years, compared to the band average of 10.2%.
Development Activity
Building permit value per capita (trailing 12 months)
$831 in building permits per person, below the band average of $3,872.
Based on 9 months of data
Learn more ↗Building permit value per capita (trailing 12 months)
Based on 9 months of data
$831 in building permits per person, below the band average of $3,872.
Learn more ↗$831 / cap
Building permit value per capita (trailing 12 months)
Based on 9 months of data
$831 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% |