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Colchester Profile

Explore population, households, income, employment, languages, and dwellings for Colchester. Compare trends since 2016 and dig into the full demographic profile below.

National Rank:223 of 688
Level:Census subdivision

Colchester Population

Total Population (2021)
19,806
Total Population (2016)
19,534
Population Growth
+1.4% (+272)
Growth Rank
#516 of 688Same geo level
Male
48.9%9,685
Female
51.1%10,120
Male-to-Female Ratio
0.957
Average Age
45.6
Median Age
48.8
Age Rank
#499 of 688Same geo level

Population Age Distribution

0–4
795(4.0%)
5–9
960(4.8%)
10–14
1,125(5.7%)
15–19
1,055(5.3%)
20–24
995(5.0%)
25–29
915(4.6%)
30–34
995(5.0%)
35–39
1,030(5.2%)
40–44
1,110(5.6%)
45–49
1,255(6.3%)
50–54
1,365(6.9%)
55–59
1,660(8.4%)
60–64
1,655(8.4%)
65–69
1,550(7.8%)
70–74
1,305(6.6%)
75–79
950(4.8%)
80–84
590(3.0%)
85+
480(2.4%)

Colchester Households

Household Size

Average Household Size
2.3
Total Private Dwellings
9,836
Occupied Private Dwellings
8,700

Size Distribution

1 Person
2,430 (27.9%)
2 Persons
3,660 (42.1%)
3 Persons
1,175 (13.5%)
4 Persons
980 (11.3%)
5+ Persons
450 (5.2%)

Household Composition

Couples with children
1,925(22.1%)
Couples without children
2,920(33.6%)
One-parent families
750(8.6%)
One-person households
2,435(28.0%)
Multigenerational
150(1.7%)
Multiple-family
40(0.5%)

Colchester Incomes

Summary

Avg. Household Income
$72,000After tax
Median Household Income
$62,000After tax
Avg. Individual Income
$38,560After tax
Median Individual Income
$33,600After tax
Income Rank
#555 of 688Same geo level

Income Composition

Market Income
78.4%
Employment Income
62.4%
Government Transfers
21.6%

Individual Income Distribution

Under $10k
1,200(7.4%)
$10k–$20k
2,225(13.7%)
$20k–$30k
2,915(17.9%)
$30k–$40k
2,360(14.5%)
$40k–$50k
2,120(13.0%)
$50k–$60k
1,525(9.4%)
$60k–$70k
1,130(7.0%)
$70k–$80k
760(4.7%)
$80k–$90k
610(3.8%)
$90k–$100k
420(2.6%)
$100k+
985(6.1%)

Colchester Employment

Labour Force

Employment Rate
52.7%
Unemployment Rate
10.6%
Total Labour Force
9,860
Employed
8,815
Unemployed
1,050
Not in Labour Force
6,870

Low Income Prevalence

Overall Low-Income Rate
14.2%
Children (0–17)
15.0%
Adults (18–64)
11.0%
Seniors (65+)
21.3%
Gini Coefficient (Total)
0.3040 = perfect equality
Gini Coefficient (After-Tax)
0.264

Colchester Languages

Language Knowledge

English Only
18,380 (93.6%)
French Only
5 (0.0%)
English & French
1,235 (6.3%)
Neither
15 (0.1%)

Mother Tongue

English
18,780 (95.7%)
French
195 (1.0%)
Non-official languages
500 (2.5%)

Top Mother Tongue Languages

English
18,780(95.7%)
French
195(1.0%)
Punjabi
55(0.3%)
Mandarin
40(0.2%)
Arabic
30(0.2%)
Spanish
30(0.2%)
Tagalog
15(0.1%)
Hindi
10(0.1%)
Urdu
10(0.1%)
Polish
10(0.1%)

Colchester Dwellings

Dwelling Type

Single-detached
6,465(74.3%)
Semi-detached
235(2.7%)
Row house
150(1.7%)
Duplex
255(2.9%)
Apt. < 5 storeys
745(8.6%)
Other attached
20(0.2%)
Movable
830(9.5%)

Community snapshot

About Colchester

Colchester Subdivision B is a county subdivision in Colchester County, Nova Scotia, covering rural and semi-rural communities rather than a single incorporated town. Settlements, farms, and highway corridors share the Cobequid and central Nova Scotia landscape with neighbouring towns such as Truro, which are counted separately. About 20,000 people live in Colchester Subd. B.

Known for

  • County subdivision, not one incorporated town
  • Rural and highway communities in Colchester County
  • Surrounds or neighbours separate towns such as Truro
  • Central Nova Scotia farms and forest settlement
  • Commuter and service ties into nearby urban centres

See & do

  • Rural community halls and recreation fields

    Village sports and gatherings in unincorporated settlements.

  • County countryside drives

    Farms and forest roads across the subdivision.

  • Nearby Truro amenities (separate town)

    Service town widely used by subdivision residents.

  • Cobequid / Fundy-edge landscapes

    Tidal and upland scenery on the subdivision’s natural edges.

  • Local trails and day-use parks

    Outdoor recreation outside town boundaries.

Data source → Census methodology & attribution

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Data source → Census methodology & attribution