North Cowichan Profile

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

National Rank:149 of 688

Level:Census subdivision

North Cowichan Population

Total Population (2021)

31,990

Total Population (2016)

29,696

Population Growth

+7.7% (+2,294)

Growth Rank

#207 of 688Same geo level

Male

48.3%15,465

Female

51.7%16,530

Male-to-Female Ratio

0.936

Average Age

47.3

Median Age

51.2

Age Rank

#583 of 688Same geo level

Population Age Distribution

0–4

1,275(4.0%)

5–9

1,535(4.8%)

10–14

1,640(5.1%)

15–19

1,545(4.8%)

20–24

1,305(4.1%)

25–29

1,330(4.2%)

30–34

1,645(5.1%)

35–39

1,780(5.6%)

40–44

1,745(5.5%)

45–49

1,730(5.4%)

50–54

1,980(6.2%)

55–59

2,490(7.8%)

60–64

2,815(8.8%)

65–69

2,865(9.0%)

70–74

2,620(8.2%)

75–79

1,720(5.4%)

80–84

1,080(3.4%)

85+

890(2.8%)

North Cowichan Households

Household Size

Average Household Size

2.3

Total Private Dwellings

14,266

Occupied Private Dwellings

13,741

Size Distribution

1 Person

3,895 (28.3%)

2 Persons

5,680 (41.3%)

3 Persons

1,885 (13.7%)

4 Persons

1,425 (10.4%)

5+ Persons

860 (6.3%)

Household Composition

Couples with children

2,605(19.0%)

Couples without children

4,565(33.2%)

One-parent families

1,045(7.6%)

One-person households

3,895(28.3%)

Multigenerational

335(2.4%)

Multiple-family

105(0.8%)

North Cowichan Incomes

Summary

Avg. Household Income

$82,000After tax

Median Household Income

$71,000After tax

Avg. Individual Income

$42,960After tax

Median Individual Income

$36,800After tax

Income Rank

#446 of 688Same geo level

Income Composition

Market Income

78.2%

Employment Income

56.8%

Government Transfers

21.9%

Individual Income Distribution

Under $10k

1,980(7.5%)

$10k–$20k

3,135(11.9%)

$20k–$30k

4,225(16.1%)

$30k–$40k

3,780(14.4%)

$40k–$50k

3,230(12.3%)

$50k–$60k

2,565(9.8%)

$60k–$70k

1,825(6.9%)

$70k–$80k

1,465(5.6%)

$80k–$90k

1,055(4.0%)

$90k–$100k

825(3.1%)

$100k+

2,205(8.4%)

North Cowichan Employment

Labour Force

Employment Rate

51.9%

Unemployment Rate

7.1%

Total Labour Force

15,085

Employed

14,025

Unemployed

1,065

Not in Labour Force

11,920

Low Income Prevalence

Overall Low-Income Rate

10.0%

Children (0–17)

12.3%

Adults (18–64)

8.6%

Seniors (65+)

11.1%

Gini Coefficient (Total)

0.3040 = perfect equality

Gini Coefficient (After-Tax)

0.272

North Cowichan Languages

Language Knowledge

English Only

29,715 (93.6%)

French Only

5 (0.0%)

English & French

1,910 (6.0%)

Neither

125 (0.4%)

Mother Tongue

English

28,520 (89.8%)

French

330 (1.0%)

Non-official languages

2,410 (7.6%)

Top Mother Tongue Languages

English

28,520(89.8%)

Punjabi

395(1.2%)

French

330(1.0%)

Tagalog

185(0.6%)

Arabic

90(0.3%)

Spanish

90(0.3%)

Mandarin

80(0.3%)

Cantonese

65(0.2%)

Polish

65(0.2%)

Korean

60(0.2%)

North Cowichan Dwellings

Dwelling Type

Single-detached

8,590(62.5%)

Semi-detached

1,005(7.3%)

Row house

955(7.0%)

Duplex

765(5.6%)

Apt. < 5 storeys

1,740(12.7%)

Apt. ≥ 5 storeys

10(0.1%)

Other attached

70(0.5%)

Movable

610(4.4%)

Community snapshot

About North Cowichan

North Cowichan is a district municipality in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island, wrapping around the separate City of Duncan rather than forming a city of its own. Chemainus, Crofton, Maple Bay, and Westholme sit among farms, forested hills, and the Cowichan River. Chemainus is known for outdoor murals and a theatre festival. About 32,000 people live in North Cowichan.

Known for

District municipality, not a city, surrounding Duncan
Chemainus murals and the Chemainus Theatre Festival
Crofton ferry to Salt Spring Island
Maple Bay and the Cowichan River
Cowichan Valley farms and forested hills

See & do

Chemainus murals
Outdoor mural walk through the former mill town.
Chemainus Theatre Festival
Year-round professional theatre in Chemainus.
Maple Bay
Harbour village, waterfront, and trails on the east side of the district.
Crofton
Mill town and BC Ferries terminal for Salt Spring Island.
Cowichan River
River parks and trails through the valley floor of the district.

Data source → Census methodology & attribution

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Data source → Census methodology & attribution