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Living in Courtenay

Courtenay is a city in Canada. Foreign-born residents accounted for 16.5% of the population in 2021. Walking accounted for 6.9% of commutes in 2021. Public transport accounted for 2.6% of commutes in 2021. The unemployment rate was 8.5% in May 2021.

Which Canada-wide rules apply when you move to Courtenay?

National rules stay on the country page instead of being relabelled as city data.

Visa and entry rulesPassport-specific entry and national residence context.BenefitsCountry-wide eligibility and official application routes.Taxes in CanadaNational rates and thresholds that apply in Courtenay.Healthcare eligibilityCountry-wide insurance and residence conditions.

Housing and cost

23.6% of renter households spent at least 30% of income on housing in May 2021.

No city-level rent or cost figure is published for Courtenay yet. We do not infer one from another place.

MetricValuePeriodSource
Households spending over 30% of income on rent23.6 %11 May 2021Statistics Canada Census Profile downloads, 2021 Census of Population11Official
Dwellings13,414 dwellings31 Dec 2021Statistics Canada4Official
G05 Main Residential Dwellings12,992 dwellings31 Dec 2021Statistics Canada5Official

Work and income

What is the unemployment rate in Courtenay?

The unemployment rate is 8.5 % (May 2021). Source: Statistics Canada Census Profile downloads, 2021 Census of Population11

Unemployment across cities in CanadaUnemployment in Courtenay is 8.5%. Of 485 cities with data, 119 have unemployment of 6 to under 8%.
unemployment rate, % · measured cities in Canada per band1 city: 0% to under 2%10–210 cities: 2% to under 4%102–497 cities: 4% to under 6%974–6119 cities: 6% to under 8%1196–8103 cities: 8% to under 10%1038–10Courtenay 8.5%75 cities: 10% to under 12%7510–1251 cities: 12% to under 14%5112–1418 cities: 14% to under 16%1814–168 cities: 16% to under 18%816–181 city: 18% to under 20%118–202 cities: 20% to under 22%220–22

Unemployment rate (%)

MetricValuePeriodSource
Employment rate50.8 %31 Dec 2021Statistics Canada5Official
Median gross salary (regional)1,796 EUR/month31 Dec 2020www150.statcan.gc.ca13Official
Unemployment rate8.5 %country median 8.3%11 May 2021Statistics Canada Census Profile downloads, 2021 Census of Population11Official

Public employment service

No exact public employment office is currently linked to Courtenay. The verified national service may still offer online registration, job search or an official office finder.

Country-level information

Job Bank and public employment services — Public employment service

Government of Canada

Job SearchMigrant Support
Open official service
Open the Canada service overview

Country-level service information is not treated as proof of a physical office in Courtenay. Sources checked through 12 Aug 2026.

Mobility and administration

MetricValuePeriodSource
G09 Bicycle Commute Share Pct3 %11 May 2021Statistics Canada Census Profile downloads, 2021 Census of Population11Official
G09 Transit Commute Share Pct2.6 %11 May 2021Statistics Canada Census Profile downloads, 2021 Census of Population11Official
G09 Walk Commute Share Pct6.9 %11 May 2021Statistics Canada Census Profile downloads, 2021 Census of Population11Official
Nearest airportYPZ13 Jun 2026OurAirports — airports.csv3Official
Distance to nearest airport74.7 km13 Jun 2026OurAirports — airports.csv3Official

Language courses and integration

No exact city-level course record is currently published for Courtenay. These verified national programmes may still apply; use the official programme page to check local availability.

Country-level information

IRCC newcomer language-learning services finder — State Language Course

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

For newcomers to Canada.

English, Frenchfree
Open official information
Open the full Canada section
National programme information is not treated as proof of a course location in Courtenay.

Climate and air quality

Annual PM2.5 was 5.34 µg/m³ at the end of 2024.

Is the air quality good in Courtenay?

The annual PM2.5 mean is about 5.3 µg/m³ (2024) — above the WHO 2021 guideline of 5 µg/m³ but within the EU limit of 25 µg/m³.

Annual mean at the measuring site(s) serving the city; current-day readings differ.

  • PM2.5 — annual mean: 5.34 µg/m³ · Environment and Climate Change Canada NAPS — 2024 annual PM2.5 daily-mean summaries1
Air quality vs health guidelinesAnnual means against WHO 2021 guidelines and EU legal limits
Courtenay annual air pollutant levels against WHO 2021 guidelines and EU legal limitsCity valueWHO guidelineEU limit5255.3PM2.5µg/m³

City values from the published air-quality observations. WHO 2021 guidelines and EU limit values are published constants.

PM2.5 across cities in CanadaAnnual PM2.5 in Courtenay is 5.3 µg/m³. Of 92 cities with data, 33 have annual PM2.5 of 3 to under 4 µg/m³.
annual PM2.5, µg/m³ · measured cities in Canada per band2 cities: 1 µg/m³ to under 2 µg/m³21–216 cities: 2 µg/m³ to under 3 µg/m³162–333 cities: 3 µg/m³ to under 4 µg/m³333–413 cities: 4 µg/m³ to under 5 µg/m³134–512 cities: 5 µg/m³ to under 6 µg/m³125–6Courtenay 5.31 city: 6 µg/m³ to under 7 µg/m³16–71 city: 7 µg/m³ to under 8 µg/m³17–81 city: 8 µg/m³ to under 9 µg/m³18–92 cities: 9 µg/m³ to under 10 µg/m³29–102 cities: 10 µg/m³ to under 11 µg/m³210–111 city: 13 µg/m³ to under 14 µg/m³113–142 cities: 15 µg/m³ to under 16 µg/m³215–163 cities: 16 µg/m³ to under 17 µg/m³316–171 city: 17 µg/m³ to under 18 µg/m³117–181 city: 20 µg/m³ to under 21 µg/m³120–211 city: 40 µg/m³ to under 41 µg/m³140–41

Annual PM2.5 (µg/m³)

MetricValuePeriodSource
PM2.5 — annual mean5.34 µg/m³country median 3.731 Dec 2024Environment and Climate Change Canada NAPS — 2024 annual PM2.5 daily-mean summaries1Official
Climate Monthly Extreme High CJan 11.11 · Feb 12.89 · Mar 20.14 · Apr 25.11 · May 28.03 · Jun 31.72 · Jul 34.63 · Aug 31.6 · Sep 29.42 · Oct 22.85 · Nov 14.21 · Dec 12.16 °C31 Dec 2001NASA POWER / NASA Langley Research Center2Official
Climate Monthly Extreme Low CJan -14.68 · Feb -10.49 · Mar -7.29 · Apr -3.59 · May -1.39 · Jun 2.41 · Jul 5.29 · Aug 5.18 · Sep 1.2 · Oct -3.67 · Nov -14.99 · Dec -14.1 °C31 Dec 2001NASA POWER / NASA Langley Research Center2Official
Average temperature by monthJan 1.71 · Feb 1.77 · Mar 3.57 · Apr 6.37 · May 10.77 · Jun 13.38 · Jul 16.24 · Aug 16.28 · Sep 12.91 · Oct 8.08 · Nov 3.8 · Dec 1.11 °C31 Dec 2001NASA POWER / NASA Langley Research Center2Official

Cities of a similar size in Canada

Closest published populations, for a like-for-like comparison.

All Canada cities
Magog28,312 residentsBoisbriand28,308 residentsWhitehorse28,201 residentsGrimsby28,883 residentsLeamington29,680 residentsConception Bay South27,168 residents

Population and city profile

The city covered 27.6 km² in 2021. Population density was 876.7 people per km² in 2021.

How many people live in Courtenay?

The published population was 28,420 people in 2021. Source: Statistics Canada — Census Profile 2021, Courtenay (Census subdivision 5926010)9

Who lives hereResidents by nationality, % of population
Courtenay residents by nationalityBy nationalityNational passport95.3%Foreign residents 4.7%

Calculated from the population and foreign-resident facts on this page.

MetricValuePeriodSource
Area32.42 km²31 Dec 2021Statistics Canada5Official
City area27.6 km²2021Statistics Canada — Census Profile 2021 (Courtenay, CSD 5926005)8Official
Foreign-resident share13.64 %31 Dec 2021Statistics Canada6Official
Foreign residents1,330 people11 May 2021Statistics Canada Census Profile 2021 characteristic 1512: not Canadian citizens, population in private households, 25% sample data, at CSD grain. This is the exact foreign-citizenship interpretation used for foreign_population_total; it is not immigrant status.10Official
Population density876.7 people/km²11 May 2021Statistics Canada Census Profile 2021 characteristic 6: population density per square kilometre at CSD grain. This is the exact CSD value; it is not a CMA or province observation.10Official
Population28,420 people1 Jan 2021Statistics Canada — Census Profile 2021, Courtenay (Census subdivision 5926010)9Official
Population over time22 published observations, 2001–2022
Population in Courtenay by year, residents19,48923,21026,93230,6532001200520092015202229,883residents

Population rose 47.5% between 2001 and 2022, from 20,259 to 29,883.

International community in Courtenay

Named groups from exact city-grain official distributions. Citizenship, birthplace, language and ancestry answer different questions and stay separate.

Country of birth

Total - Place of birth for the immigrant population in private households - 25% sample data · 2021 Census

Published groupPeopleShare
Total - Place of birth for the immigrant population in private households - 25% sample data3,795100.0%
Europe2,02053.2%
United Kingdom1,10529.1%
Asia1,04027.4%
Americas50513.3%
United States of America3709.7%
Germany3007.9%
Philippines2907.6%
Other places of birth in Europe1854.9%
Viet Nam1604.2%
Africa1403.7%
Show 33 more groups
Published groupPeopleShare
India1303.4%
Korea, South1102.9%
Other places of birth in Asia1052.8%
Netherlands1002.6%
Oceania and other places of birth952.5%
China802.1%
France752.0%
Italy601.6%
South Africa, Republic of601.6%
Other places of birth in Americas501.3%
Poland451.2%
Syria401.1%
Nigeria300.8%
Hong Kong300.8%
Taiwan300.8%
Mexico250.7%
Greece250.7%
Serbia250.7%
Ukraine250.7%
Other places of birth in Africa250.7%
Eritrea200.5%
Iran200.5%
Turkey200.5%
El Salvador150.4%
Jamaica150.4%
Trinidad and Tobago150.4%
Bosnia and Herzegovina150.4%
Hungary150.4%
Romania150.4%
Russian Federation150.4%
Sri Lanka150.4%
Guyana100.3%
Portugal100.3%

Largest published groups; zero-count groups are omitted. Dimensions are source-native and are never merged. Official source12

Citizenship

Total - Citizenship for the population in private households - 25% sample data · 2021 Census

Published groupPeopleShare
Total - Citizenship for the population in private households - 25% sample data27,820100.0%
Canadian citizens26,49095.2%
Canadian citizens aged 18 and over21,99579.1%
Canadian citizens aged under 184,50016.2%
Not Canadian citizens1,3304.8%

Largest published groups; zero-count groups are omitted. Dimensions are source-native and are never merged. Official source12

Language spoken at home

Total - Language spoken most often at home for the total population excluding institutional residents - 100% data · 2021 Census

Published groupPeopleShare
Total - Language spoken most often at home for the total population excluding institutional residents - 100% data28,025100.0%
Single responses27,69598.8%
Official languages26,83095.7%
English26,62595.0%
Non-official languages8703.1%
Non-Indigenous languages8703.1%
Multiple responses3301.2%
Indo-European languages3101.1%
English and non-official language(s)2650.9%
French2050.7%
Indo-Iranian languages1700.6%
Show 57 more groups
Published groupPeopleShare
Indo-Aryan languages1600.6%
Sino-Tibetan languages1550.6%
Chinese languages1550.6%
Austro-Asiatic languages1100.4%
Vietnamese1100.4%
Austronesian languages950.3%
Punjabi (Panjabi)950.3%
Tagalog (Pilipino, Filipino)800.3%
Korean800.3%
Yue (Cantonese)750.3%
Mandarin600.2%
English and French550.2%
Germanic languages500.2%
Dravidian languages400.1%
Balto-Slavic languages400.1%
Slavic languages400.1%
Italic (Romance) languages400.1%
Malayalam350.1%
Gujarati300.1%
Spanish300.1%
Afro-Asiatic languages250.1%
High German languages250.1%
Hindi250.1%
Semitic languages200.1%
German200.1%
Low Saxon-Low Franconian languages200.1%
Arabic150.1%
Russian150.1%
Afrikaans150.1%
Iranian languages150.1%
Persian languages150.1%
Iranian Persian150.1%
Sign languages100.0%
Hakka100.0%
Min Nan (Chaochow, Teochow, Fukien, Taiwanese)100.0%
Uralic languages100.0%
Polish100.0%
Japanese100.0%
Niger-Congo languages100.0%
Shona50.0%
American Sign Language50.0%
Tai-Kadai languages50.0%
Turkic languages50.0%
Turkish50.0%
Finnish50.0%
Multiple non-official languages50.0%
Cebuano50.0%
Telugu50.0%
Albanian50.0%
Czech50.0%
Ukrainian50.0%
Swiss German50.0%
Dutch50.0%
Scandinavian languages50.0%
Swedish50.0%
Italian50.0%
Portuguese50.0%

Largest published groups; zero-count groups are omitted. Dimensions are source-native and are never merged. Official source12

Is Courtenay a good place to live?

There is no universal answer. The profile scores below show who the available published evidence may suit; they are a decision aid, not a personal recommendation.

Try your profile
Remote worker42%strong on work, weak on safety · range 33–51%
Skilled employee49%strong on work, weak on safety · range 40–58%
Student47%strong on cost, weak on safety · range 36–58%
Family43%strong on housing, weak on safety · range 32–54%
Retirement56%strong on air quality, weak on admin · range 45–67%
Foreign residents1,330 people11 May 2021Official source · Statistics Canada Census Profile 2021 characteristic 1512: not Canadian citizens, population in private households, 25% sample data, at CSD grain. This is the exact foreign-citizenship interpretation used for foreign_population_total; it is not immigrant status.
Population28,420 people1 Jan 2021Official source · Statistics Canada — Census Profile 2021, Courtenay (Census subdivision 5926010)
Households spending over 30% of income on rent23.6 %11 May 2021Official source · Statistics Canada Census Profile downloads, 2021 Census of Population
Dwellings13,414 dwellings31 Dec 2021Official source · Statistics Canada
Employment rate50.8 %31 Dec 2021Official source · Statistics Canada
Median gross salary (regional)1,796 EUR/month31 Dec 2020Official source · www150.statcan.gc.ca
Every value keeps its source, geographic scope and verification date · Last checked 2026-09-03

Additional context

MetricValuePeriodSource
Residents born abroad16.5 %11 May 2021Statistics Canada Census Profile downloads, 2021 Census of Population11Official
Households12,990 households31 Dec 2021Statistics Canada5Official
Labour force participation rate55.5 %31 Dec 2021Statistics Canada5Official
Median age48.8 years31 Dec 2021Statistics Canada7Official

Yes — migrants can receive medical care in Courtenay when the national insurance or residence conditions are met.

Healthcare access follows the country-wide insurance rules; local capacity facts remain city data and are not used as proof of eligibility.

Open the official coverage guide
Country rule verified 2026-08-03.

Common questions

Answered from the published values on this page, each with its source and date.

How many people live in Courtenay?

The published population was 28,420 people in 2021. Source: Statistics Canada — Census Profile 2021, Courtenay (Census subdivision 5926010).

Is the air quality good in Courtenay?

The annual PM2.5 mean is about 5.3 µg/m³ (2024) — above the WHO 2021 guideline of 5 µg/m³ but within the EU limit of 25 µg/m³. Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada NAPS — 2024 annual PM2.5 daily-mean summaries.

What is the unemployment rate in Courtenay?

The unemployment rate is 8.5 % (May 2021). Source: Statistics Canada Census Profile downloads, 2021 Census of Population.

What is the typical salary around Courtenay?

The median gross salary is 1,796 EUR/month. Source: www150.statcan.gc.ca.

How many foreign residents live in Courtenay?

1,330 people residents hold a foreign nationality. Source: Statistics Canada Census Profile 2021 characteristic 1512: not Canadian citizens, population in private households, 25% sample data, at CSD grain. This is the exact foreign-citizenship interpretation used for foreign_population_total; it is not immigrant status..

Is Courtenay a good place to live?

Courtenay may suit different people for different reasons. The page's profile scores compare published cost, work, housing, safety, healthcare and other available factors; they are a decision aid, not a universal recommendation.

How many people born in Total - Place of birth for the immigrant population in private households - 25% sample data live in Courtenay?

The official country of birth distribution records 3,795 people (100.0%) in the source-defined population for 2021 Census. This is a country of birth measure, not a general estimate of ethnicity or migration status.

Cite this page

Open a format to select or copy this ImmigrationDB compilation citation. The native disclosure and text fallback work without JavaScript.

APA citation
ImmigrationDB. (2026, September 12). Courtenay, Canada: rent, salary, jobs [ImmigrationDB compilation; snapshot approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0; version approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0]. ImmigrationDB. https://immigrationdb.com/cities/ca/courtenay/ Retrieved 2026-09-12. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
BibTeX citation
@misc{immigrationdb_immigrationdb_courtenay-canada-rent-salary-jobs_ec713816017e,
  author = {ImmigrationDB},
  title = {Courtenay, Canada: rent, salary, jobs},
  publisher = {ImmigrationDB},
  year = {2026},
  date = {2026-09-12},
  version = {approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0},
  snapshot = {approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0},
  url = {https://immigrationdb.com/cities/ca/courtenay/},
  note = {Retrieved 2026-09-12. ImmigrationDB compilation. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/},
}
Markdown citation
[Courtenay, Canada: rent, salary, jobs](https://immigrationdb.com/cities/ca/courtenay/) — ImmigrationDB; ImmigrationDB; snapshot approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0; version approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0; retrieved 2026-09-12; built 2026-09-12.

This citation identifies the ImmigrationDB compilation/page. Underlying source publishers and datasets retain their own terms; inspect the Sources section and cite those records separately. View the underlying source records.

Sources

JSON Markdown
  1. Environment and Climate Change Canada NAPS — 2024 annual PM2.5 daily-mean summaries Environment and Climate Change Canada NAPS · data-donnees.az.ec.gc.ca · checked 2026-07-27
  2. NASA POWER / NASA Langley Research Center power.larc.nasa.gov · checked 2026-08-03
  3. OurAirports — airports.csv OurAirports · davidmegginson.github.io · checked 2026-07-14
  4. Statistics Canada www150.statcan.gc.ca · checked 2026-08-07
  5. Statistics Canada api.statcan.gc.ca · checked 2026-08-07
  6. Statistics Canada www150.statcan.gc.ca · checked 2026-08-03
  7. Statistics Canada www150.statcan.gc.ca · checked 2026-08-07
  8. Statistics Canada — Census Profile 2021 (Courtenay, CSD 5926005) Statistics Canada · www12.statcan.gc.ca · checked 2026-07-14
  9. Statistics Canada — Census Profile 2021, Courtenay (Census subdivision 5926010) Statistics Canada · api.statcan.gc.ca · checked 2026-08-13
  10. Statistics Canada Census Profile 2021 characteristic 1512: not Canadian citizens, population in private households, 25% sample data, at CSD grain. This is the exact foreign-citizenship interpretation used for foreign_population_total; it is not immigrant status. api.statcan.gc.ca · checked 2021-05-11
Show 3 more sources
  1. Statistics Canada Census Profile downloads, 2021 Census of Population www12.statcan.gc.ca · checked 2026-07-16
  2. Statistics Canada language_spoken_at_home www12.statcan.gc.ca · checked 2026-08-29
  3. www150.statcan.gc.ca www150.statcan.gc.ca · checked 2026-08-27

Spotted a number that looks wrong? Every value here carries its source and date — tell us what you found and we will re-check it against the source.