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
* includes 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 - $86,945
2010 Estimated Average Family Income - $100,097
Average Employment income Male - $57,755
Average Income Female - $30,8572010 Retail Sales Estimate $1,438,133,978
2010 Estimates
Working Population – 44,712
Disposable Income per Household - $68,029
Discretionary Income per Household - $24,957
Occupations by Major Groups - 2010 Estimates
Management – 3,639
Business, Finance & Administration - 6,064
Natural & Applied Science & Related - 1,927
Health - 2,656
Social Science, Government, Religion - 1,461
Education - 1,322
Arts, Culture, Recreation & Sport - 735
Sales & Service - 10,556
Trades, Transportation and Equipment Operations - 9,246
Primary Industries - 4,564
Processing, Manufacturing & Utilities - 2,063
Level of Schooling - 2010 Estimates
Population - 25+ years of age - 50,842
Certificate, Diploma or Degree – 37,994
High school or equivalent - 13,363
Apprenticeship or Trades - 6,997
College or CEGEP certificate or diploma - 10,336
University certificate, diploma or degree - 7,298
Bachelor’s Degree - 3924
Degree in medicine, dentistry, vet, optometry
Master’s Degree - 824
Earned Doctorate - 111
Average 2010 Estimated Household Expenditures
Food $8,766
Shelter - $15,244
Clothing - $3,255
Transportation - $11,564
Health & Personal Care - $3,587
Recreation, Reading, Education - $6,804
Taxes & Securities - $19,649
Other - $12,386
Total Expenditures - $81,253
Housing - 2010 Estimates
Occupied private dwelling – 31,383
Owned - 23,183
Rented - 8,200
Single-Detached House - 21,274
Semi-Detached House - 1,377
Row Houses - 1,750
Apartments - Over 5 Stories - 178
Apartment - Fewer than Five Stories - 4,978
Apartment - Detached Duplex - 563
Other Single-Attached - 45
Moveable Dwellings - 1,218
Source: FP Markets - Canadian Demographics 2010 (Financial Post)