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City Pop Band: 5,000-15,000

Nelson

Central Kootenay (CKO)

Population

12,126

Land Area

1,167

ha

Annual Operating Budget

$54.3M

expenses

Nelson Population Trend

Annual population estimates sourced from BC Stats / Alberta Municipal Affairs. Used as the denominator for all per-capita metrics on this page. Learn more ↗

Annual estimates, 2011–2025

12,126+16.4% since 2011

Fiscal Trends (2021–2024)

Total revenue and total operating expenses per resident over 4 fiscal years. Shows whether the municipality's fiscal position has been improving or declining. Learn more ↗

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

Composite score (0–10) measuring the 4-year trajectory of fiscal health across revenue growth, expense control, debt reduction, and operating surplus. Higher is better. Score is relative to all municipalities in your population band. Learn more ↗
Mid-Band

44.7

score
15.6% Band Min
88.5% Band Max
Band Avg: 50.0%
BC Avg: 50.0%

Fiscal trajectory score of 44.7 is below the band average of 50.0, indicating fiscal trends that warrant attention.

Rank 58/90 2021–2024 data
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Fiscal Balance

Operating surplus (revenues minus expenses) divided by population. Positive means the municipality took in more than it spent. Higher is better. Learn more ↗
Top of Band

$892

/ person
-$909 Band Min
$4,520 Band Max
Band Avg: $675
BC Avg: $930

Operating surplus of $892/person is 1.3× the band average of $675. Ranks 24th of 91 in the band.

Rank 24/91 2024 data
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Tax Burden

Own-source taxation per resident — property taxes and other local levies set by the municipality. Lower is better (lighter burden on residents). Does not include provincial school taxes. Learn more ↗
Top of Band

$1,091

/ person
$724 Band Min
$13,659 Band Max
Band Avg: $2,145
BC Avg: $2,010

Per-person taxation of $1,091 is 49% below the band average of $2,145, ranking 13th of 91 in the band.

Rank 13/91 2024 data
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Debt Load

Annual debt payments as a percentage of the provincial statutory borrowing limit. Lower is better — more room for future infrastructure borrowing. 100% = at the legal ceiling. Learn more ↗
Top of Band

7.3%

capacity used
0.0% Band Min
44.8% Band Max
Band Avg: 14.9%
BC Avg: 11.9%

Liability servicing capacity used is 7.3%, leaving significant room for strategic borrowing if needed.

Rank 25/91 2024 data
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Revenue Resilience

Provincial and federal grants and transfers as a share of total revenue. Lower is better — the municipality is more financially self-sufficient. Note: high grant dependency may reflect dedicated capital programs, not fiscal weakness. Learn more ↗
Mid-Band

15.7%

grant dependency
3.3% Band Min
46.7% Band Max
Band Avg: 16.8%
BC Avg: 23.6%

Grant dependency of 15.7% is below the band average of 16.8%, indicating stronger revenue self-sufficiency.

Rank 49/91 2024 data
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Service Efficiency

Total operating expenses per resident across all municipal services. Lower is better — delivering services at lower per-person cost. Smaller municipalities often have higher per-capita costs due to fixed overhead. Learn more ↗
Bottom of Band

$4,482

/ person
$1,247 Band Min
$14,119 Band Max
Band Avg: $3,534
BC Avg: $3,918

Total spending of $4,482/person is $948 above the band average of $3,534, ranking 78th of 91 in the band.

Rank 78/91 2024 data
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What's Driving These Numbers

Tax Revenue by Property Class

Tax levy collected from each property class — how the tax burden is distributed across residential, commercial, industrial, and other property owners. Year coverage varies by data availability.

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
Bottom of Band

Annual Homeowner Cost

Estimated taxes on a median-value home

A typical homeowner pays $6,197/year — 135% above the band average of $2,635.

Estimated annual property tax bill on a median-value home (all dwelling types — not single-family only). See methodology.

Learn more ↗

$6,197 / yr

$325 Band Min
$7,343 Band Max
Band Avg: $2,635
BC Avg: $4,403
84th of 91 in band
Mid-Band

Residential Tax Base

Share of assessed property value from residential

82.8% of the tax base is residential, above the band average of 68.9%. Less diversified than typical peers.

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82.8%

6.8% Band Min
98.4% Band Max
Band Avg: 69.0%
BC Avg: 77.1%
62nd of 91 in band
Top of Band

Population Growth

Change over 5 years (2020–2025)

Population grew 5.1% over 5 years, compared to the band average of 4.9%.

Learn more ↗

+5.1%

-8.8% Band Min
23.5% Band Max
Band Avg: 4.9%
BC Avg: 12.6%
36th of 83 in band
Bottom of Band

Development Activity

Building permit value per capita (trailing 12 months)

$2,162 in building permits per person, below the band average of $3,966.

Learn more ↗

$2,162 / cap

$306 Band Min
$11,826 Band Max
Band Avg: $3,966
BC Avg: $4,650
22nd of 30 in band

Revenue Breakdown / person

Per-capita revenue by source — how much each resident contributes through each funding stream. Own-Source Tax = municipal property taxes. Transfers = federal and provincial grants. Service Sales = utility and fee revenues.

Expense Breakdown / person

Per-capita operating expenses by municipal service category. Municipalities with water, sewer, or transit utilities will show higher totals.

Peer Comparison

Comparing against 33 municipalities in the 5,000-15,000 band.

MunicipalityTypePopulation▼Rev/CapExp/CapSurplus/CapDebt/CapTax BillTax Coll. %Liab. Used %5yr Growth
Powell RiverC14,947$3,783$3,034$749$2,200$5,98597.6%24.7%+5.0%
TerraceC13,648$3,415$2,527$888$249$4,71698.4%5.7%+8.9%
Dawson CreekC13,635$5,216$3,876$1,340$1,320$5,30196.3%25.3%+4.1%
SidneyT13,445$2,362$2,089$273$785$5,39699.4%9.1%+7.3%
North SaanichD12,986$2,156$1,915$242$304$6,14198.7%10.2%+6.0%
Prince RupertC12,903$6,123$4,170$1,953$3,677$5,39997.4%24.9%+0.8%
View RoyalT12,795$2,046$1,681$365$288$5,18399.2%10.1%+7.7%
SummerlandD12,343$4,117$3,236$881$1,224$6,04799.4%17.3%+0.7%
NelsonC12,126$5,374$4,482$892$411$6,19798.9%7.3%+5.1%
SecheltD11,558$2,426$2,071$355$392$7,34396.9%16.5%+4.4%
Williams LakeC11,462$3,633$2,927$707$419$4,75497.5%10.6%+1.2%
ColdstreamD11,380$1,309$1,247$61$1,013$7,01998.8%15.7%-0.3%
QuesnelC10,253$3,615$3,286$329$1,176$4,15397.3%21.8%-1.0%
LadysmithT9,926$2,638$2,193$445$1,559$6,31098.3%24.6%+8.3%
Qualicum BeachT9,640$2,972$2,148$825$279$7,24299.0%22.9%+3.4%
CastlegarC9,465$3,001$2,759$241$1,661$4,62498.5%14.5%+10.0%
RevelstokeC9,464$4,782$3,385$1,397$1,014$5,83997.2%26.9%+9.0%
KimberleyC9,037$3,432$2,531$902$505$6,05198.4%11.0%+9.6%
TrailC8,539$3,595$2,998$597$1,450$4,40298.6%28.3%+3.4%
MerrittC7,190$7,146$3,146$4,000$1,954$5,06497.2%25.0%-2.7%
HopeD7,183$2,754$2,831-$77$396$4,64298.2%7.2%+6.5%
KentD7,093$3,162$2,031$1,131$123$4,49298.6%2.6%+7.2%
FernieC7,086$3,460$3,109$350$362$6,84898.2%15.2%+9.9%
PeachlandD6,302$2,691$2,420$272$1,550$6,41395.6%33.2%+7.9%
CrestonT5,976$2,880$2,419$461$803$5,06698.8%12.5%+4.6%
SpallumcheenD5,843$2,382$1,759$623$70$5,27297.2%1.4%+7.6%
DuncanC5,745$2,993$2,361$631$0$4,87998.5%0.0%+9.1%
OsoyoosT5,724$4,471$2,883$1,589$1,838$5,54197.4%16.2%+2.1%
ArmstrongC5,643$1,970$1,597$373$793$4,27199.0%14.1%+4.1%
SmithersT5,627$5,504$3,626$1,878$488$5,22298.4%7.6%+0.1%
OliverT5,262$3,112$2,600$512$1,413$4,71698.5%27.8%-0.2%
MetchosinD5,207$1,875$1,484$391$0$4,86899.2%0.0%+0.1%
GibsonsT5,090$3,350$2,776$574$1,821$6,72498.1%29.4%+4.4%