Bruce County Council got to hear a presentation about housing demographics in the region.
During Thursday’s council meeting, they were presented with information about population demographics, which drew information from the most recent census, the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, and analytics from Environics.
The goal of the study is to present a meaningful sense of the housing market, as well as an understanding of key housing issues and the impact these issues have on the housing system.
Mathieu Laberge, Lead Engagement Partner at KPMG says that “You have to have the right type of unit, the right type of tenure, the right size, in the right place, to meet demand.”
He shared statistics such as that between 2016 and 2021, the population increased by over 5,500 residents in the county, but housing units increased by almost 1,600.
Laberge also explained they found a lot of instances where there were people living in homes that were bigger than their needs, and one- and two-bedroom units are in higher demand.
“Sixty percent of the households have two or [fewer] people. So, this is really critical when you think in terms of[the] size of the housing — single detached, predominantly — and two people living in [them], maybe there [are] areas for some policy consideration here.”
KMPG also found that Saugeen Shores municipality had the most significant growth of 12% within the years of focus for the study.
It was followed by Northern Bruce Peninsula and Brockton with 4% growth each.
Regional Statistics
• Between 2016 and 2021, Bruce County’s population increased by 8.3% accounting for a total of 5,526 additional residents
• Average age in the County is 48.5 years, higher than the provincial average of 44.8 years
• 60% of Bruce County’s population falls in the working age group (15 to 64 years)
• Between 2014 and 2019, the County attracted 15,200 new residents, aged between 18-64
• The population is expected to reach 86,000 by 2046, a growth of 19.4% between 2021 and 2046
• Projected 10-25% increase in the number of children under the age of 14 between 2020 and 2046