Calgary Real Estate Market Report

Calgary's housing stock includes a broad mix of detached homes, apartments and other residential property types. In the 2021 Census, 55% of occupied private dwellings in Calgary were single-detached houses and 24% were apartments. The average household size was 2.6 people.

Housing tenure also provides useful context for the local market. Approximately 69% of Calgary households owned their homes and 31% rented. Among households with income, 23% were spending 30% or more of household income on shelter costs.

These citywide figures describe Calgary as a whole. Housing mix, ownership patterns and affordability can vary considerably between communities, so property-level decisions should also consider the specific neighbourhood and property type.

The 2021 Census counted 1,291,790 Calgary residents living in private households. Calgary also had more than 500,000 private households, reflecting the scale and diversity of the city's residential market.

Median before-tax household income in Calgary was $98,000 for the 2020 income year reported through the 2021 Census. Household circumstances vary widely across the city, however, and community profiles can differ substantially in household size, tenure, housing form and income.

For buyers and sellers, this demographic context is most useful as a citywide reference point. Individual property demand and value remain dependent on factors such as location, housing type, condition, competing inventory and recent comparable sales.

Calgary's mix of detached homes, apartments and other housing forms means there is no single citywide market that describes every property equally. A detached home in an established community can face a very different competitive set from a downtown condominium or a newer suburban property.

The city's ownership and rental mix reinforces the importance of looking at the likely buyer for a particular property. Calgary's 2021 Census profile showed that approximately 69% of households owned their homes and 31% rented, while household size averaged 2.6 people.

For a seller, these figures are background rather than a pricing formula. An effective listing strategy should combine city and community context with recent comparable sales, current competing listings, property condition, features and the demand affecting the property's specific segment.