Sylvan Lake Profile

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

National Rank:271 of 688

Level:Census subdivision

Sylvan Lake Population

Total Population (2021)

15,995

Total Population (2016)

14,816

Population Growth

+8.0% (+1,179)

Growth Rank

#198 of 688Same geo level

Male

49.4%7,905

Female

50.6%8,090

Male-to-Female Ratio

0.977

Average Age

36.3

Median Age

Age Rank

#34 of 688Same geo level

Population Age Distribution

0–4

995(6.2%)

5–9

1,190(7.4%)

10–14

1,240(7.8%)

15–19

1,060(6.6%)

20–24

925(5.8%)

25–29

1,080(6.8%)

30–34

1,250(7.8%)

35–39

1,385(8.7%)

40–44

1,230(7.7%)

45–49

1,055(6.6%)

50–54

950(5.9%)

55–59

955(6.0%)

60–64

915(5.7%)

65–69

710(4.4%)

70–74

510(3.2%)

75–79

260(1.6%)

80–84

175(1.1%)

85+

105(0.7%)

Sylvan Lake Households

Household Size

Average Household Size

2.5

Total Private Dwellings

7,141

Occupied Private Dwellings

6,396

Size Distribution

1 Person

1,635 (25.6%)

2 Persons

2,205 (34.5%)

3 Persons

1,070 (16.7%)

4 Persons

965 (15.1%)

5+ Persons

525 (8.2%)

Household Composition

Couples with children

1,785(27.9%)

Couples without children

1,555(24.3%)

One-parent families

695(10.9%)

One-person households

1,635(25.6%)

Multigenerational

105(1.6%)

Multiple-family

25(0.4%)

Sylvan Lake Incomes

Summary

Avg. Household Income

$89,100After tax

Median Household Income

$80,000After tax

Avg. Individual Income

$47,520After tax

Median Individual Income

$40,400After tax

Income Rank

#244 of 688Same geo level

Income Composition

Market Income

82.8%

Employment Income

71.0%

Government Transfers

17.3%

Individual Income Distribution

Under $10k

975(8.2%)

$10k–$20k

1,115(9.4%)

$20k–$30k

1,720(14.4%)

$30k–$40k

1,485(12.5%)

$40k–$50k

1,295(10.9%)

$50k–$60k

1,020(8.6%)

$60k–$70k

900(7.6%)

$70k–$80k

705(5.9%)

$80k–$90k

535(4.5%)

$90k–$100k

525(4.4%)

$100k+

1,645(13.8%)

Sylvan Lake Employment

Labour Force

Employment Rate

60.3%

Unemployment Rate

14.7%

Total Labour Force

8,830

Employed

7,535

Unemployed

1,300

Not in Labour Force

3,670

Low Income Prevalence

Overall Low-Income Rate

9.4%

Children (0–17)

12.0%

Adults (18–64)

8.3%

Seniors (65+)

10.4%

Gini Coefficient (Total)

0.3050 = perfect equality

Gini Coefficient (After-Tax)

0.269

Sylvan Lake Languages

Language Knowledge

English Only

14,920 (93.7%)

French Only

5 (0.0%)

English & French

980 (6.2%)

Neither

25 (0.2%)

Mother Tongue

English

14,915 (93.6%)

French

195 (1.2%)

Non-official languages

605 (3.8%)

Top Mother Tongue Languages

English

14,915(93.6%)

French

195(1.2%)

Tagalog

110(0.7%)

Spanish

55(0.3%)

Korean

35(0.2%)

Russian

30(0.2%)

Punjabi

20(0.1%)

Polish

20(0.1%)

Cantonese

15(0.1%)

Italian

15(0.1%)

Sylvan Lake Dwellings

Dwelling Type

Single-detached

4,210(65.8%)

Semi-detached

310(4.8%)

Row house

775(12.1%)

Duplex

235(3.7%)

Apt. < 5 storeys

535(8.4%)

Apt. ≥ 5 storeys

135(2.1%)

Other attached

5(0.1%)

Movable

190(3.0%)

Community snapshot

About Sylvan Lake

Sylvan Lake is a town in central Alberta on the south shore of Sylvan Lake, west of Red Deer. Summer beach crowds, a lakeside boardwalk, and year-round neighbourhoods make it one of the province’s best-known recreation lakes within an easy drive of the QEII Highway. About 16,000 people live in Sylvan Lake.

Known for

Beach town on Sylvan Lake west of Red Deer
Summer boardwalk and waterfront crowds
Central Alberta recreation and cottage gateway
Year-round residential community by the lake
Short drive from the Queen Elizabeth II Highway

See & do

Sylvan Lake beach and boardwalk
Sandy beach, pier, and lakeside promenade.
Marina and water sports
Boating, paddling, and rental activity on the lake.
Downtown lakeside streets
Cafés, shops, and ice cream near the shore.
NexSource Centre / recreation facilities
Indoor aquatics and community sports.
Lakeshore parks and pathways
Walking and cycling along the water.

Data source → Census methodology & attribution

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Data source → Census methodology & attribution