It’s happening now. The Squamish Adventure® lifestyle is attracting scores of people ready to make the move to this spectacular ocean-side mountain community. Conveniently located between the world class destinations of Whistler and Vancouver, Squamish is where you can easily balance life in a small town community with unprecedented outdoor adventure.
Use our Squamish Real Estate Hub to discover the best our town has to offer. Find a favourite local Realtor to buy or sell your home, search current Squamish MLS® listings, discover upcoming developments as they are announced, browse the latest market and community news in “The District’ and explore the Squamish Adventure® lifestyle that makes our community so special.
Located at the northern tip of a glacially etched fjord on the Pacific Ocean, surrounded by a spectacular mountain backdrop and nestled within a temperate rainforest, Squamish is recognized worldwide for its culture, recreation and incredible mountain lifestyle. With a population of 17,158, Squamish has had a boom in recent years.
Squamish is home to world-renowned mountain biking, rock climbing, kiteboarding, hiking trails, and so much more. Banked by ocean, lakes and rivers against a backdrop of snowcapped mountain peaks – and set amidst SEVEN provincial parks – there are endless ways to adventure in Squamish, BC.
Forestry was traditionally the main industry in the area, with the town’s largest employer being the Western Forest Products pulp mill. However, the mill permanently closed on January 26, 2006.
In recent years, Squamish has become popular with Vancouver and Whistler residents’ escaping the increased cost of living in those places, both less than one hour away by highway and a beautiful scenic drive.
Squamish offers good employment opportunities with an unemployment rate that sits near 8%, which is average when compared to other cities. Approximately 55% of residents hold a university degree. Residents can expect good quality of life in Squamish based upon an average median family income of $72,751.
Tourism is an increasingly important part of the town’s economy, with an attraction to outdoor adventures. Squamish is known as the Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada.
Squamish is home to world-renowned mountain biking, rock climbing, kiteboarding, hiking trails, and so much more. Banked by ocean, lakes and rivers against a backdrop of snowcapped mountain peaks – and set amidst SEVEN provincial parks – there are endless ways to adventure in Squamish, BC.
According to Statistics Canada 87% of Squamish residents drive. About 17% of residents that are already established within the city will move within a year, while 51% will move within five years.
Squamish’s population is average when it comes to homeownership, with 73% owning a home and 27% renting. The median monthly mortgage cost is estimated to be about $1,584, which is average when compared to renters in other Canadian cities.
A range of education options are available to Squamish families including a strong public school system with six elementary schools, a French school, a French immersion program, a junior high school and a high school. Independent preschools and schools offer Montessori and Waldorf-inspired education, and Squamish is home to two universities – Quest University Canada and Capilano University, Squamish Campus.
A breathtaking location, combined with a population of 17,500 highly productive people, has resulted in a centre of activity that embraces continual evolution and development. As more people strive for a healthy, safe and affordable lifestyle, Squamish saw an almost 15% population increase between 2006 and 2011. Squamish hosts a variety of annual events such as Squamish Days Loggers Sports, Test of Metal, the Brackendale Fall Fair, the Farmer’s Market and the GranFondo cycling event, which runs through the community. The district also boasts the largest gathering of bald eagles in North America and hosts an annual eagle count each January that draws international attention.
Source: Squamish.ca