Medicine Hat is widely known as the Gas City, a moniker derived from the sole ownership of its own gas and electric utility.
Short commute times, proximity to Canadian Forces Base Suffield and location at the centre of Highway 1, Highway 3 and Highway 41 to the United States border are factors that make Medicine Hat a location of advantage.
Benefits of Living in Medicine Hat
- Short commute times
- No provincial sales taxes
- No business taxes
- Some of the lowest property taxes in Canada
- Utility prices that are consistently among the lowest in Alberta
- Some of the highest basic and spousal exemptions in Canada
- Alberta has one of the lowest gasoline tax rates
Quick Facts
Population and Demographics
Official Population Count – June 1, 2009 - 61,097 (2009 City Census)
2009 Census Overview - by Age Categories (Male/Female Combined)
Birth to 1 year
1,331
2 years
819
3 years
737
4 years
800
5 years to 14 years
7,062
15 years to 19 years
3,782
20 years to 24 years
4,302
25 years to 44 years
16,896
45 years to 54 years
9,181
55 years to 64 years
6,659
65 years to 74 years
4,704
75 years to 84 years
3,377
85 years and over
1,320*
Total
61,097
* inlcudes a small number that would not provide an age.
2009
- 31% are under 24 years
- 28% are between 25 and44 years
- 41% are over 45 years2009 - THERE ARE MORE FEMALES THAN MALES!
- Females 51%
- Males 49%
Marital Status
Single – Never Married – 14,601
Married (legal & common law) – 39,236
Separated (legally married) – 1,442
Widowed – 3,938
Divorced – 3,698English Speaking – 2009 Estimate from Census Agglomeration population of 76,442
Cost of Living
- There is no business tax.
- Resident’s city-owned utility dividend benefits by offering some of the lowest property taxes in AB
Utility Rates Information and Brochure
Estimated Average Household Income - $78,000
2009 Estimated Average Family Income - $90,622
Average Employment income Male - $52,345
Average Income Female - $27,9652009 Retail Sales Estimate $1,358,000,000
2009 Estimates
Working Population - 46,093
Disposable Income per Household - $62,712
Discretionary Income per Household - $22, 688
Occupations by Major Groups - 2009 Estimates
Management - 3568
Business, Finance & Administration - 6,010
Natural & Applied Science & Related - 1,885
Health - 2,646
Social Science, Government, Religion - 1,455
Education - 1,308
Arts, Culture, Recreation & Sport - 731
Sales & Service - 10,429
Trades, Transportation and Equipment Operations - 9,036
Primary Industries - 4,469
Processing, Manufacturing & Utilities - 2,018
Level of Schooling - 2009 Estimates
Population - 25+ years of age - 50,048
Certificate, Diploma or Degree - 37,386
High school or equivalent - 13,154
Apprenticeship or Trades - 6,884
College or CEGEP certificate or diploma - 10,179
University certificate, diploma or degree - 7,169
Bachelor’s Degree - 3,852
Degree in medicine, dentistry, vet, optometry
Master’s Degree - 809
Earned Doctorate - 107
Average 2009 Estimated Household Expenditures
Food $8,167
Shelter - $14, 201
Clothing - $3,032
Transportation - $10,768
Health & Personal Care - $3,341
Recreation, Reading, Education - $6,333
Taxes & Securities - $18,297
Other - $11,537
Total Expenditures - $75,676
Total Dwellings 2009 - 26,475
Housing - 2009 Estimates
Occupied private dwelling - 30,999
Owned - 22,899
Rented - 8,100
Single-Detached House - 21,014
Semi-Detached House - 1,361
Row Houses - 1,730
Apartments - Over 5 Stories - 187
Apartment - Fewer than Five Stories - 4,916
Apartment - Detached Duplex - 556
Other Single-Attached - 44
Moveable Dwellings - 1,202
Source: FP Markets - Canadian Demographics 2009 (Financial Post)