2011 CENSUS INFORMATION

Victoria Housing CharacteristicsThis information examines changes to Victoria’s housing stock between 2001 and 2011. The data includes the number and type of dwellings, the number of owner and tenant occupied dwellings and the number of units by period of construction. It is broken down by neighbourhood or compared with other municipalities as well as the Capital Regional District (CRD) as a whole where appropriate and possible.

Number of Dwelling Units by Neighbourhood over Time

Total Number of Units % Change

Neighbourhood 2001 2006 2011 2001 – 2006 2006 – 2011

Burnside 2,550 2,785 2,820 9% 1%

Downtown 815 900 1,515 10% 68%

Fairfield 6,480 6,630 6,705 2% 1%

Fernwood 4,750 5,045 4,925 6% -2%

Gonzales 1,610 1,710 1,735 6% 1%

Harris Green 1,035 1,185 1,320 14% 11%

Hillside-Quadra 3,465 3,670 3,630 6% -1%

James Bay 6,575 6,695 6,695 2% 0%

Jubilee 2,880 2,955 2,940 3% -1%

North Park 1,890 2,060 2,080 9% 1%

Oaklands 2,850 2,995 3,035 5% 1%

Rockland 1,920 1,910 1,875 -1% -2%

Victoria West 2,760 3,155 3,675 14% 16%

TOTAL – City of Victoria 39,595 41,705 42,955 5% 3%

SOURCE: STATISTICS CANADA 2001, 2006, AND 2011 CENSUSES

From the 2011 Census and National Household Survey information, Statistics Canada provides us with valuable information to better understand our community. Objective statistical information provides a solid foundation for informed decisions by elected representatives, businesses, unions and non-profit organizations, as well as individual residents.

Dwelling Units Over TimeThe table below shows the number of dwelling units for each neighbourhood for the previous three census years. It shows that:

• Downtown was the neighbourhood with the highest percent change between 2006 and 2011 at 68%.

• Victoria West was the neighbourhood with the second highest percent change between 2006 and 2011 at 16%.

• The rest of the neighbourhoods saw very little change.

1 CENTENNIAL SQUARE, VICTORIA, BC V8W 1P6 | victoria.ca

2011 CENSUS INFORMATION • HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS PAGE 2

Housing TypesAs of the 2011 Census, there were 42,955 private dwellings in Victoria. Apartments account for the majority of the housing stock (67.5%), followed by single-detached houses (15.7%). Overall the city’s housing stock increased by 3% since 2006. Downtown (68%), Victoria West (16%) and Harris Green (11%) experienced the most growth. The other neighbourhoods had negative or low growth (between -2% and 3%).

The pie chart below shows the structural types of dwellings that make up Victoria.

The following table shows the number and percentage of housing types for each neighbourhood. They show that:

• Between the neighbourhoods, Gonzales has the highest percentage of single detached houses (53.6%) and Oaklands has the second highest number (32%).

• Downtown and Harris Green are almost entirely apartments. The next highest percentages of apartments are North Park (86.6%) and James Bay (78%).

Percentage of Housing by Type

SOURCE: STATISTICS CANADA 2011 CENSUS

Percentage of Housing Types by Neighbourhood

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Burnside 2,820 10.3% 0.7% 6.7% 6.9% 0.4% 67.6% 7.4% 0.0%

Downtown 1,515 0.0% 0.0% 0.3% 0.0% 0.3% 31.4% 68.6% 0.0%

Fairfield 6,705 16.0% 2.0% 7.5% 1.4% 0.1% 64.4% 8.6% 0.1%

Fernwood 4,925 18.9% 3.7% 12.1% 3.5% 0.2% 58.6% 3.0% 0.1%

Gonzales 1,735 53.6% 7.8% 19.3% 0.9% 0.3% 18.2% 0.0% 0.0%

Harris Green 1,320 0.4% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.4% 14.0% 85.6% 0.0%

Hillside-Quadra 3,630 18.2% 1.4% 16.9% 6.9% 0.1% 54.0% 2.3% 0.0%

James Bay 6,695 6.8% 3.0% 3.4% 8.5% 0.3% 48.9% 29.1% 0.0%

Jubilee 2,940 14.5% 1.4% 10.0% 1.9% 0.2% 68.7% 3.1% 0.0%

North Park 2,080 4.1% 1.7% 3.6% 3.8% 0.2% 64.2% 22.4% 0.0%

Oaklands 3,035 32.0% 4.6% 19.8% 9.7% 0.0% 33.8% 0.0% 0.0%

Rockland 1,875 27.2% 1.9% 7.5% 4.3% 0.3% 52.8% 6.1% 0.0%

Victoria West 3,675 11.6% 3.5% 7.5% 8.4% 0.3% 31.0% 37.1% 0.0%

TOTAL City of Victoria

42,955 15.7% 2.6% 9.0% 4.9% 0.2% 50.8% 16.7% 0.0%

SOURCE: STATISTICS CANADA CENSUS 2011

Single-Detached House (15.7%)

Semi-Detached House (2.6%)

Apartments, Duplex (9.0%)

Row House (4.9%)

Other Single-Attached House (0.2%)

Apartments, fewer than five storeys (50.8%)

Apartments, five or more storeys (16.7%)

Movable Dwelling (0.0%)

Single-Detached House (15.7%)

Semi-Detached House (2.6%)

Apartments, Duplex (9.0%)

Row House (4.9%)

Other Single-Attached House (0.2%)

Apartments, fewer than five storeys (50.8%)

Apartments, five or more storeys (16.7%)

Movable Dwelling (0.0%)

2011 CENSUS INFORMATION • HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS PAGE 3

Period of ConstructionThe majority of Victoria’s housing stock was built prior to 1981 (70%), with half of that construction occurring prior to 1961. The last three decades have seen a progressive decrease in numbers of units built. From 1981 to 1990 4,995 units (12%) were built. This figure dropped to 4,140 units (10%) between 1991 and 2000, and decreased further to 3,550 units (8%) from 2001 to 2011.

The chart below shows the number of dwellings by period of construction.

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Number of Dwellings by Period of Construction

Housing TenureThe table below shows the percentages of owner and renter dwellings for the Capital Regional District core municipalities. It shows that Victoria has the highest percentage of renter-occupied dwellings within the region and is well below the number of owner-occupied dwellings in the Capital Regional District (66%).

Housing Tenure of CRD Core Municipalities

% Owner Occupied

% Renter Occupied

Victoria 41% 59%

Esquimalt 49% 51%

Oak Bay 76% 24%

Saanich 73% 27%

View Royal 72% 28%

CRD 66% 34%SOURCE: STATISTICS CANADA 2011 NATIONAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY

The following table shows the percentage of dwellings owned by the resident compared to the percentage of dwellings rented by the resident. It shows that in 2011 within the City of Victoria, 59% of all residents were renters and 41% owned their home. Between the neighbourhoods, Gonzales had the highest percentage of ownership at 70%. North Park and Downtown have the highest rental tenure.

Housing Tenure by Neighbourhood

Neighbourhood Total Units Owned Percent Rented Percent

Burnside 2,795 1,040 37% 1,755 63%

Downtown 1,425 385 27% 1,040 73%

Fairfield 6,780 3,045 45% 3,735 55%

Fernwood 4,840 1,750 36% 3,095 64%

Gonzales 1,710 1,205 70% 500 29%

Harris Green 1,350 475 35% 875 65%

Hillside-Quadra 3,685 1,475 40% 2,205 60%

James Bay 6,695 2,045 31% 4,645 69%

Jubilee 2,945 1,165 40% 1,780 60%

North Park 2,120 480 23% 1,640 77%

Oaklands 3,115 1,800 58% 1,315 42%

Rockland 1,830 805 44% 1,025 56%

Victoria West 3,675 1,815 49% 1,860 51%

TOTAL City of Victoria 42,955 17,485 41% 25,475 59%

SOURCE: STATISTICS CANADA 2011 NATIONAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY

1 CENTENNIAL SQUARE, VICTORIA, BC V8W 1P6 | victoria.ca

2011 CENSUS INFORMATION • HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS PAGE 4

Source: Statistics Canada 2001, 2006, 2011 Censuses and 2011 National Household Survey

Copyright & Permissions

Statistics Canada information is used with the permission of Statistics Canada. Users are forbidden to copy and redisseminate the data in an original or modified form, for commercial purposes, without permission from Statistics Canada. Information on the availability of data from Statistics Canada can be obtained from its Regional Offices, or toll free at 1.800.263.1136, or on their website.

Notes on the 2011 National Household Survey

The 2011 Census saw the mandatory long-form questionnaire replaced with the voluntary National Household Survey. As a result, issues associated with the survey response rate and non-response bias may exist. Comparing the NHS and the previous censuses may also be problematic. These issues are summarized below. For more information, please contact Statistics Canada or refer to the NHS User Guide.

Survey response rate and non-response biasThe NHS estimates in these fact sheets may have some quality limitations due to the survey response rate and non-response bias (Chapter 5 – Data quality assessment and indicators). The response rate refers to the number of people who answered the survey divided by the number of people in the sample. A lower response rate could have more data quality limitations. In addition, if the answers of respondents differed from the potential answers of those who did not answer, there may be a non-response bias in the data.

Comparability of the NHS estimates and the 2006 CensusThe content of the NHS is similar to that of the 2006 Census long questionnaire. However, a number of changes were made to some questions and sections of the questionnaire (Chapter 5 – Data quality assessment and indicators). This fact sheet does not compare NHS estimates with the 2006 Census to avoid potential misinterpretation of the data.

DefinitionsSingle-detached house – A single dwelling not attached to any other dwelling or structure (except its own garage or shed). A single-detached house has open space on all sides, and has no dwellings either above it or below it. A mobile home fixed permanently to a foundation is also classified as a single-detached house.

Semi-detached house – One of two dwellings attached side by side (or back to back) to each other, but not attached to any other dwelling or structure (except its own garage or shed). A semi-detached dwelling has no dwellings either above it or below it, and the two units together have open space on all sides.

Row house – One of three or more dwellings joined side by side (or occasionally side to back), such as a townhouse or garden home, but not having any other dwellings either above or below. Townhouses attached to a high-rise building are also classified as row houses.

Apartment or flat in a duplex – One of two dwellings, located one above the other, may or may not be attached to other dwellings or buildings.

Apartment in a building that has five or more storeys – A dwelling unit in a high-rise apartment building which has five or more storeys.

Apartment in a building that has fewer than five storeys – A dwelling unit attached to other dwelling units, commercial units, or other non-residential space in a building that has fewer than five storeys.

Other single-attached house – A single dwelling that is attached to another building and that does not fall into any of the other categories, such as a single dwelling attached to a non-residential structure (e.g., a store or a church) or occasionally to another residential structure (e.g., an apartment building).

Mobile home – A single dwelling, designed and constructed to be transported on its own chassis and capable of being moved to a new location on short notice. It may be placed temporarily on a foundation pad and may be covered by a skirt.

Other movable dwelling – A single dwelling, other than a mobile home, used as a place of residence, but capable of being moved on short notice, such as a tent, recreational vehicle, travel trailer, houseboat or floating home.