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Census shows Langley becoming older, more urbanized

There are more condo-dwellers and residents over age 85.
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Langley residents are changing in where they live and how old they are, according to the data released by the Canadian Census on Wednesday.

Langley Township’s fast-growing population of 117,285 people live in 41,985 dwellings, according to the data gathered last year by Statistics Canada.

Although Langley is seen as a community largely of single-family subdivisions, almost half of local homes are now condos, townhouses, or duplexes.

There are 21,685 single-detached homes in the Township, according to the numbers, a very slight decrease from five years before. But 17,485 people live in a semi-detached house, a row house, or a low-rise apartment. That’s up sharply from the 13,410 people who reported living in rowhomes and duplexes before.

Another 1,095 people live in a building with five or more storeys. In the last census, in 2011, that number was zero, as there were no residential buildings taller than four stories in the Township. Changes to the B.C. building code allowing five- and six-storey condos were just coming into effect.

More Langley residents are seniors, particularly among those 85 and older.

In 2015, there were 1,770 people aged 85 and older in the Township. In the new census, that number has risen to 2,375.

The new census also records residents over the age of 100. As of the time the survey was taken, there were 25 in Langley Township, and another 165 residents aged 95 to 99.

Although there are more seniors, there are also more children in the Township.

In 2011, there were 19,345 kids 14 and under. In 2016, there were 21,580.

Langley City, which saw its population grow by just a few hundred (25,888 in 2016 compared to 25,080 in 2011) saw much less dramatic changes to its population of elderly. There are five centennarians in Langley City, and 855 residents over the age of 85. That’s up from 835 five years before.

Langley City has 3,915 children under 14, compared to 3,965 five years earlier.

Langley City, more urbanized, already had more apartments and other attached homes than the Township. Just 40 residents live in five-storey or higher building, but another 9,060 live in row houses, condos, or apartments of some kind. That’s up from 8,465 in 2011.

For more information on census results across the region, read HERE about the shift to condos and duplexes, and HERE about the aging population.



Matthew Claxton

About the Author: Matthew Claxton

Raised in Langley, as a journalist today I focus on local politics, crime and homelessness.
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