Surrey BC Projected to See Strong Population Growth

The official slogan for the City of Surrey is "The Future Lives Here".  It is a moniker that couldn’t be any more true.  Surrey, BC has been one of the fastest-growing cities in Canada for a long time now.  Surrey currently welcomes approximately 1,000 new residents each month.  As of 2021, the population of the city was about 585,000.  Incredibly, the population is projected to grow to about 850,000 by 2046. In fact, by 2046, it is estimated that 1 of every 4 residents of Metro Vancouver will be a resident of Surrey.  There are many good reasons why people choose and will continue to choose Surrey as their new home city.

Historically, Surrey had been the brunt of many bad jokes amongst Metro Vancouver residents.  But in recent years, I believe that the city has evolved to a point where it has been able to shake off many of the old stigmas that may have existed.  I chose to move to Surrey in 2007 primarily for affordability reasons, but also as a suitable place to start and raise a family.  I have no regrets with my decisions whatsoever.  Surrey has a lot of positive attributes.

I truly believe that the amenities this city offers its residents are second to none in the region and are often underappreciated.  Many of our schools and community centres are fairly new, clean and modern.  Facilities such as these are often recently built and reflect a lot of the new developments that have been built out only in recent years.  The parks in Surrey are plentiful, diverse and easily accessible.  Many offer wonderful playgrounds, waterparks and gardens to retreat into nature.  There are also many walkways, trails and even a few nice beaches to enjoy peaceful strolls or sunsets along.

Because Surrey has much more developable land than some other nearby cities in Metro Vancouver, industrial development in the city is creating lots of new jobs.  Where new jobs are generated, people tend to gravitate to.  And this is yet another reason why Surrey will continue to grow and boom over time.

Perhaps the biggest attraction of Surrey for new residents, is it’s relative affordability.  Your purchasing power is much greater in Surrey than in Vancouver.  Dollar for dollar, you are likely to come out way ahead in terms of more home (and if applicable, more land under your home) for less money.  And unlike some other more distant suburbs, Surrey Centre to downtown Vancouver is only about 40-45 minutes away by Skytrain.  In other words, you are well within a reasonable distance and time to Vancouver and are even closer to other communities like New Westminster, Richmond, Burnaby, Delta, Coquitlam, Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge, Langley etc.  Surrey really is at the centre of the region geographically.

Having noted many of the positive aspects of living in Surrey, there is one paramount concern that has been lingering for many years amongst residents.  Like any big city, public safety is top of mind for many concerned residents.  Gang activity and brazen shootings are putting a stain on this community’s reputation.  The frequency of gangland shootings does ebb and flow, but there is this constant overhanging concern about public safety.  Having said that, most times, people do feel safe in their neighbourhoods and the degree of risk to innocent ordinary people may be overblown.

Looking ahead, I believe that the City of Surrey has the land base to support continued housing development and the ability to absorb an even greater population.  Granted, the pace of this growth needs to be measured in order to allow the appropriate road, transit and school infrastructure to keep pace.  But in the not so distant future, Surrey will have a population that is greater than that of Vancouver, and will become the largest city in British Columbia.  It’s not a matter of if, but rather when, this inevitability occurs.  A result may be that Surrey gains more economic clout, over time.

If you are considering a move to Surrey B.C., please don’t hesitate to contact me and I can assist you in finding a suitable home in a suitable community.  I have lived here for more than a decade and intimately know the different neighborhoods and areas.  I can help you find a good home at a good price.