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Occupied Dwellings

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Metro Vancouver, like other large metropolitan areas, has much higher population density and housing prices than the rest of the country. The combination of population density and high housing prices has directly impacted the types of dwelling units that are built.​

Occupied dwellings by structure type

Over the past three decades, Metro Vancouver has shifted away from single-detached homes and is building more apartments and other attached dwellings. The proportion of single-detached dwellings in the region has nearly halved since 1991, while the proportion of apartments and other attached dwellings such as duplexes and townhouses, has increased.​​

Historical distribution of occupied private dwellings by structure type in Metro Vancouver

Net new occupied private dwellings by structure type in Metro Vancouver from 2016 to 2021

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​Occupied dwellings by tenure and structure type

Metro 2050 recognizes the need for a diverse housing supply that includes different types and tenures of units, offering improved affordability across all income levels and household types.

Although the region is made up of diverse communities — small rural areas to large, dense, urban areas — the availability of diverse housing choices is an important goal to ensure that residents live in healthy and complete communities with access to the type of housing that meets their needs.

Distribution of occupied private dwellings by structure type in Metro Vancouver in 2021

Occupied private dwellings by structure type and tenure in 2021

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Key observations

  • The number of apartments in Metro Vancouver increased by 12.6% since the last census in 2016, representing 43.4% of the occupied housing stock in 2021.
  • Single-detached homes represented 27.7% of the housing stock in 2021 and increased by 2.3% since 2016.
  • Row houses, or townhouses, despite representing the smallest segment of the housing stock at 10.2%, outpaced all other structure types — increasing by 13.4% since 2016.
  • Although apartments are becoming more common, the type of apartments varies significantly across the region. Apartments in member jurisdictions including the City of Langley, the City of North Vancouver, White Rock, Port Coquitlam, Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge, Delta, and scəẃaθən məsteyəxʷ (Tsawwassen First Nation) were mainly low-rise units. In contrast, Electoral Area A, Burnaby, New Westminster, Vancouver, and West Vancouver had most of their apartment units in high-rise buildings.
  • A large proportion of secondary suites (apartments and duplexes) were renter-occupied (42%).

Occupied private dwellings by structure type and tenure in 2021

Notes

  • The glossary​ provides definitions of each technical term, ensuring consistent interpretation.
  • Data is based on Census counts and does not include undercount estimates.
  • Jurisdiction and Metro Vancouver totals may not equal the sum of individual values due to rounding, data suppression, or the omission of smaller data points to maintain visual readability. If a geography is not listed or appears missing, the associated data was either unavailable or did not meet reporting thresholds.​
  • Proportion percentages are calculated using available data and may exclude instances of missed or suppressed data.
  • Electoral Area A includes UBC/UEL (University of British Columbia / University Endowment Lands).
  • "Other" category includes duplexes, secondary suites, mobile homes, and other types of structures.
  • "Other ground oriented" includes semi-detached, apartment-duplex, row house, and other single detached and moveable dwellings.
  • In 2006, "apartment or flat in a duplex" replaced "apartment or flat in a detached duplex" and includes duplexes attached to other dwellings or buildings. This is a change from the 2001 Census where duplexes attached to other dwellings or buildings were classified as an apartment in a building that has fewer than five storeys.
  • When examining increases and decreases among specific structural types, it cannot be determined how much of the change is a result of the improved enumeration methods, the additional classification instructions, or actual increases since the last Census.
  • ​In 2011, Metro Vancouver staff identified that some seniors’ apartment buildings may have been identified as "collective dwellings", whereas in 2006 they may have been reported as "apartment" units.
  • Private dwelling occupied by usual residents refers to a private dwelling in which a person or a group of persons is permanently residing. It includes private dwellings whose usual residents were temporarily absent on May 11, 2021. Unless otherwise specified, all Census data in housing products are private dwellings occupied by usual residents — ​not unoccupied private dwellings or those occupied solely by foreign residents or temporarily present persons.​ ​

Source​
This information is from Statistics Canada census data. ​​

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