A new report reveals that several BC cities ranked among Canada’s most popular moving destinations in 2024.
However, the annual U-Haul Growth Index report also shows that Vancouver isn’t one of them.
Recent data from U-Haul shows that Chilliwack is one of Canada’s top growth cities. It landed at number 16, a jump of 17 places on the list.
U-Haul calculates the index report by each city’s net gain or loss of one-way equipment from customer transactions in a calendar year.
BC ranked number two in Canadian Growth Provinces for the second year in a row, coming behind only Alberta.
U-Haul
“People are moving to Alberta because of the opportunities and investments being made in the province,” said Naga Chennamsetty, vice president of U-Haul Area District, in a release. “The cost of living is not as bad as compared to some other provinces. You have the Canadian Rockies and lots of recreational activities. It’s all of these factors. And it’s not really international migration that brings people to Alberta — it’s interprovincial migration.
“I also think people are still moving to British Columbia because it is beautiful and offers a slower, laid-back lifestyle.”
Four other BC cities cracked the top 25 growth cities for 2024, including Sidney (20), Trail (22), Kelowna (23) and Nanaimo (25)
Kelowna (Ronnie Chua/Shutterstock)
U-Haul points out that the data is not meant to reflect population or economic growth.
“The U-Haul Growth Index is an effective gauge of how well provinces and cities are attracting and maintaining residents.”
Growth is calculated by each city or province’s net gain or loss of one-way equipment from customer transactions. It’s not just a handful of transactions; the data was compiled from over 2.5 million.
The Government of BC’s most recent Quarterly Population Highlights also shows that the province continues to be an attractive moving destination.
Drazen Zigic/Shutterstock
“As of October 1, 2024, the population of British Columbia reached an estimated 5,719,594, a net increase of 21,164 individuals compared to the previous quarter,” stated the report. “In the previous 12 months, the population of B.C. grew by 125,633, an annual growth rate of 2.2%.”
The provincial government added that the total was the lowest annual population growth rate in BC since the first quarter of 2022.
Are you surprised that any of these BC cities are popular growth destinations? Let us know in the comments.