Population
4,486
Land Area
19,304
haAnnual Operating Budget
$14.8M
expensesTrends and Profile
Sparwood 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
54.9
scoreFiscal trajectory score of 54.9 is above the band average of 50.0, placing this municipality among improving peers.
Fiscal Balance
$942
/ personOperating surplus of $942/person is 1.0× the band average of $904. Ranks 40th of 106 in the band.
Tax Burden
$2,155
/ personPer-person taxation of $2,155 is 18% below the band average of $2,643, ranking 71st of 106 in the band.
Debt Load
13.3%
capacity usedLiability capacity used is 13.3%, near the band average of 13.7%. Ranking 60th of 106 in the band.
Revenue Resilience
11.0%
grant dependencyGrant dependency of 11.0% is below the band average of 22.1%, indicating stronger revenue self-sufficiency.
Service Efficiency
$3,294
/ personTotal spending of $3,294/person is $1,177 below the band average, ranking 48th of 106 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 $4,074/year — 52% above the band average of $2,689.
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 $4,074/year — 52% above the band average of $2,689.
Learn more ↗$4,074 / 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 $4,074/year — 52% above the band average of $2,689.
Residential Tax Base
Share of assessed property value from residential
59.8% of the tax base is residential, below the band average of 68.2%. A more diversified tax base than peers.
Learn more ↗Share of assessed property value from residential
59.8% of the tax base is residential, below the band average of 68.2%. A more diversified tax base than peers.
Learn more ↗59.8%
Share of assessed property value from residential
59.8% of the tax base is residential, below the band average of 68.2%. A more diversified tax base than peers.
Population Growth
Change over 5 years (2020–2025)
Population grew 6.1% over 5 years, compared to the band average of 5.0%.
Learn more ↗Change over 5 years (2020–2025)
Population grew 6.1% over 5 years, compared to the band average of 5.0%.
Learn more ↗+6.1%
Change over 5 years (2020–2025)
Population grew 6.1% over 5 years, compared to the band average of 5.0%.
Development Activity
Building permit value per capita (trailing 12 months)
$5,276 in building permits per person, below the band average of $7,717.
Based on 7 months of data
Learn more ↗Building permit value per capita (trailing 12 months)
Based on 7 months of data
$5,276 in building permits per person, below the band average of $7,717.
Learn more ↗$5,276 / cap
Building permit value per capita (trailing 12 months)
Based on 7 months of data
$5,276 in building permits per person, below the band average of $7,717.
Revenue Breakdown / person
Expense Breakdown / person
Peer Comparison
Comparing against 42 municipalities in the 1,500-5,000 band.
| Municipality | Type | Population▼ | Rev/Cap | Exp/Cap | Surplus/Cap | Debt/Cap | Tax Bill | Tax Coll. % | Liab. Used % | 5yr Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cumberland | V | 4,974 | $3,054 | $2,068 | $986 | $1,911 | $6,196 | 98.1% | 26.4% | +9.4% |
| Vanderhoof | D | 4,545 | $3,134 | $2,622 | $512 | $542 | $4,686 | 97.8% | 16.1% | +0.3% |
| Bowen Island | D | 4,501 | $3,770 | $2,805 | $965 | $2,686 | $11,159 | 98.1% | 26.1% | +6.4% |
| Sparwood | D | 4,486 | $4,236 | $3,294 | $942 | $997 | $4,074 | 99.0% | 13.3% | +6.1% |
| Golden | T | 4,433 | $3,793 | $3,266 | $527 | $1,084 | $5,661 | 98.0% | 87.4% | +7.7% |
| Northern Rockies | D | 4,400 | $9,736 | $8,810 | $927 | $4,902 | — | 87.4% | 19.3% | — |
| Rossland | C | 4,355 | $4,062 | $2,702 | $1,360 | $1,639 | $7,003 | 98.5% | 22.2% | +4.7% |
| Grand Forks | C | 4,308 | $5,779 | $3,616 | $2,163 | $605 | $6,637 | 95.1% | 6.6% | +2.5% |
| Invermere | D | 4,305 | $3,520 | $2,876 | $644 | $2,331 | $5,896 | 98.9% | 29.0% | +9.3% |
| Lantzville | D | 4,276 | $1,726 | $1,435 | $292 | $900 | $8,295 | 96.9% | 8.8% | +9.9% |
| Port Hardy | D | 4,201 | $2,873 | $2,793 | $80 | $671 | $4,279 | 95.3% | 15.7% | +3.3% |
| Lake Cowichan | T | 3,757 | $2,810 | $1,738 | $1,071 | $0 | $6,168 | 96.9% | 0.4% | +7.3% |
| Pemberton | V | 3,620 | $4,161 | $3,431 | $731 | $1,043 | $4,568 | 102.5% | 18.4% | +7.6% |
| Mackenzie | D | 3,442 | $5,292 | $4,053 | $1,239 | $0 | $3,249 | 82.9% | 0.2% | -6.1% |
| Enderby | C | 3,292 | $3,342 | $1,810 | $1,532 | $581 | $4,463 | 97.6% | 10.8% | +4.1% |
| Houston | D | 3,114 | $4,531 | $3,362 | $1,169 | $297 | $4,531 | 97.0% | 4.2% | -2.0% |
| Princeton | T | 3,050 | $6,414 | $3,841 | $2,572 | $2,379 | $3,060 | 94.1% | 23.4% | +1.9% |
| Elkford | D | 3,030 | $4,866 | $3,384 | $1,482 | $3,468 | $4,459 | 99.1% | 23.1% | +7.2% |
| Sicamous | D | 2,854 | $6,913 | $4,347 | $2,565 | $2,227 | $4,697 | 97.3% | 17.7% | +7.4% |
| Tofino | D | 2,772 | $12,822 | $6,299 | $6,523 | $6,246 | $7,965 | 99.7% | 18.2% | +5.8% |
| Highlands | D | 2,753 | $1,611 | $1,472 | $140 | $40 | $5,836 | 96.6% | 7.6% | +8.9% |
| Tumbler Ridge | D | 2,663 | $7,559 | $6,196 | $1,363 | $0 | $2,851 | 99.4% | 3.9% | +11.2% |
| Chase | V | 2,591 | $2,437 | $1,945 | $492 | $684 | $4,138 | 97.9% | 13.9% | +5.5% |
| Anmore | V | 2,508 | $3,007 | $2,059 | $948 | $972 | $12,750 | 97.4% | 12.6% | +2.3% |
| Clearwater | D | 2,500 | $3,394 | $3,076 | $318 | $60 | $4,185 | 97.9% | 4.6% | +3.1% |
| Chetwynd | D | 2,484 | $4,862 | $3,727 | $1,135 | $1,160 | $4,190 | 98.6% | 10.5% | +0.9% |
| Ucluelet | D | 2,452 | $6,044 | $3,646 | $2,398 | $588 | $6,166 | 98.8% | 19.2% | +19.0% |
| Port McNeill | T | 2,402 | $2,461 | $2,215 | $246 | $445 | $3,859 | 102.4% | 15.7% | -0.4% |
| Logan Lake | D | 2,337 | $4,319 | $2,752 | $1,567 | $102 | $3,140 | 98.5% | 16.4% | +2.1% |
| Lumby | V | 2,257 | $2,840 | $1,645 | $1,196 | $82 | $4,677 | 93.3% | 3.9% | +7.5% |
| Harrison Hot Springs | V | 2,148 | $4,261 | $2,957 | $1,305 | $129 | $4,971 | 94.6% | 2.6% | +13.7% |
| Fruitvale | V | 2,068 | $2,107 | $1,673 | $434 | $1,014 | $5,470 | 96.3% | 16.3% | +2.6% |
| Lillooet | D | 2,065 | $4,012 | $3,784 | $229 | $0 | $4,791 | 96.4% | 0.0% | -13.1% |
| 100 Mile House | D | 2,030 | $3,912 | $3,565 | $348 | $0 | $4,006 | 98.2% | 0.5% | +2.2% |
| Burns Lake | V | 2,007 | $7,155 | $3,439 | $3,716 | $0 | $4,343 | 92.7% | 31.1% | +1.7% |
| Keremeos | V | 1,779 | $1,631 | $1,591 | $40 | $82 | $3,803 | 97.8% | 3.6% | +11.0% |
| Ashcroft | V | 1,744 | $2,950 | $2,551 | $399 | $0 | $4,174 | 93.5% | 0.0% | +3.4% |
| Nakusp | V | 1,740 | $4,281 | $3,376 | $905 | $611 | $4,350 | 96.2% | 9.8% | +5.0% |
| Warfield | V | 1,729 | $1,996 | $1,883 | $113 | $172 | $5,502 | 97.3% | 23.0% | -2.0% |
| Sun Peaks | V | 1,546 | $6,424 | $6,079 | $345 | $8,533 | $6,647 | 99.1% | 48.1% | +13.3% |
| Telkwa | V | 1,544 | $3,531 | $2,193 | $1,338 | $89 | $5,181 | 95.1% | 7.4% | +1.7% |
| Fort St. James | D | 1,542 | $7,183 | $4,492 | $2,691 | $134 | $3,746 | 97.5% | 2.1% | +2.4% |