Medicine Hat is one of Western Canada’s lowest-cost business centres offering a robust labour force with skill sets ranging from general labour to engineering. The population is young, with a median age of 42 and a workforce of nearly 22,000 people between the ages of 20-44. The city’s average hourly wage represents a 15% discount over Alberta’s average.

Medicine Hat Regional Airport (YXH) is the region’s main airport, offering daily service to Calgary. In 2019, the airport managed 18,000 aircraft movements (primarily for flight training), while also serving 80,000 passengers via Air Canada and WestJet. In 2017, the airport underwent a $12 million upgrade to the taxiway and 5,000 foot runway.

Medicine Hat is strategically located on the Trans-Canada Highway, which serves 29,000 vehicles per day. The Crowsnest Highway (8,700+ vehicles per day) connects Medicine Hat to Lethbridge and Vancouver. Highway 41 connects Medicine Hat to the north and southeast areas of Alberta, and the Wild Horse Border crossing into the United States.

As a department of the City of Medicine Hat, the Economic Development team has access to the best advisors and professionals for conducting business. We are here to support you from planning and development right through to ribbon cutting as a convenient, effective one-stop-shop.

The City of Medicine Hat owns and operates its own utilities including gas and electricity, providing amongst the most competitive tax and utility rates in all of Western Canada.

Strategically positioned on the Trans-Canada Highway, Medicine Hat boasts prime transportation links, including major highways, railways, a regional airport, and access to Calgary, Vancouver, and the U.S. border.

Medicine Hat is served by Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway (CPKC). CPKC's mainline splits at Medicine Hat, running south to Lethbridge and north to Calgary.

We have a number of unique and creative incentives and grants available to our businesses.

The average price of a home in Medicine Hat is $379,945 compared to the provincial average of $528,261. Each of our city’s neighbourhoods is built with thoughtful purpose offering close access to schools, trail system, and shops.

Data Source (July 2025):
wowa.ca/alberta-housing-market

Medicine Hat is known for its abundance of first-class amenities for residents and guests alike, including a trail system of over 115 kilometres that winds through both residential areas and the beautiful river valley and coulees. Medicine Hat offers a vibrant scene for recreational activities, historical interests, culinary experiences and entertainment.

Medicine Hat Regional Hospital is an acute care facility offering 73 services. Core programs include surgical services, mental health, critical care, pediatrics, 24-hour emergency, ambulatory care, obstetrics, neonatal intensive care, geriatric services, community health, home care, X-ray and lab.

The recent 30,800 sq. foot expansion includes an outpatient family maternity clinic, a cancer clinic, day medicine, the laboratory, six operating rooms, 10 NICU suites, and a rooftop helipad. Families receiving medical care at the Regional Hospital for their children can now book accommodations at Medicine Hat’s, Ronald McDonald House.

Medicine Hat also has several private and speciality clinics servicing the region.

Our city is home to a growing hub of education institutions for all members of the family. Elementary and secondary schools include a variety of learning environments including: one charter school, French Immersion, and a virtual school to meet the ever-changing needs of students.

Medicine Hat College proudly serves over 6,000 learners each year. Offering a variety of certificate, diploma, degree, university transfer and trades programs with collaborative agreements in place with University of Calgary and Mount Royal University.