Population
According to Statistics Canada as at May 2006, the population of Red Deer stood at 82,772. This represents an increase of 22.0 % from 67,829 in 2001 and an upswing which almost doubles the previous five-year period (1996 to 2001) when the population rose by 12.7%.Housing Tenure
Housing tenure predominantly reflects increased home ownership. Between 1986 and 2006, the percentage of residents of Red Deer living in dwellings where someone in the household was the owner steeply rose from 52.7% in 1986 to 66% in 2006. In sharp contrast, the percentage of residents who rent declined from 43.7% in 1986 to 34% in 2006.
The structure of housing types reflects low diversity with a dominance of single detached dwellings. The data also indicates that tenant households had a greater proportion of household spending (30% or more of their income) on shelter compared to owner occupied households between 1991 and 2006.
| Housing Tenure | 1986 | 1991 | 1996 | 2001 | 2006 |
| Owned | 10,345 | 12,045 | 13,315 | 16,085 | 21,545 |
| Rented | 9,295 | 9,405 | 9,100 | 9,905 | 11,105 |
| Total Private Dwelling | 19,640 | 21,450 | 22,415 | 25,990 | 32,650 |
Source: Statistics Canada Censuses of Population, 1986-2006
Table 7. 2 – Structural type of dwellings in Red Deer, 1991 to 2006
Number of Dwelling Type and Percentage
|
Structural Type of Dwellings |
1991 |
% |
1996 |
% |
2001 |
% |
2006 |
% |
|
Single-detached house |
10,720 |
50.0 |
11,435 |
51.0 |
13,260 |
51.0 |
16,730 |
51.2 |
|
Semi-detached house |
1,320 |
6.2 |
1730 |
7.7 |
2,110 |
8.1 |
2,690 |
8.2 |
|
Row house |
2,690 |
12.5 |
2,785 |
12.4 |
2,800 |
10.8 |
3,285 |
10.2 |
|
Apartment detached duplex* |
365 |
1.7 |
535 |
2.4 |
465 |
1.8 |
1,050 |
3.2 |
|
Apartment building* five or more stories |
695 |
3.2 |
585 |
2.6 |
760 |
2.9 |
595 |
1.8 |
|
Apartment building* less than five stories |
4,845 |
22.6 |
4,530 |
20.2 |
5,635 |
21.7 |
7385 |
22.6 |
|
Other single detached |
15 |
0.1 |
10 |
0.0 |
20 |
0.1 |
25 |
0.1 |
|
Movable dwellings |
800 |
3.7 |
800 |
3.6 |
940 |
3.6 |
900 |
2.8 |
|
Total Private Dwellings |
21,450 |
100 |
22,410 |
100 |
25,990 |
100 |
32,650 |
100 |
Source: Statistics Canada Censuses of Population, 1991-2006
Single detached dwellings are the predominant type of dwelling in Red Deer. It accounts for just over half of all the housing stock in the city. Residential construction has been concentrated on this type of dwelling over the years resulting in this trend. In 1991, there were 10,720 single detached dwellings in Red Deer, it increased by 6.7% to 11,435 in 1996, the smallest growth over the period between 1991 and 1996. It jumped by 16% between 1996 and 2001 to 13,260. In 2006, the supply of single detached homes increased by 3,470 registering a growth rate of 26.2% and brought the total of single detached dwellings in Red Deer to 16,730.
Apartment buildings less than five stories is the second largest type of dwelling in Red Deer. It accounts for an average of 21.8% of all dwelling types. There is greater expansion of this dwelling compared to other structural types as it recorded the highest growth rate over the period (1991-2006). In 1991, there were 4,845 Apartment buildings less than five stories in Red Deer, part of the stock declined in 1996 recording a negative growth rate of 6.5% resulting in a total number of 4,530.
This trend was reversed in 2001 with a positive growth rate of 24.3% with a total inventory of 5,635. This figure increased by 31.1% to a total of 7,385 in 2006. However, this figure must be treated with caution as it forms part of the changes made to classification of dwelling types in 2006 census.
Row houses are the third most popular type of dwelling in Red Deer accounting for an average of 11.5% of all dwellings. However, the proportion of row houses has been declining in favour of semi-detached dwellings. There were 2,690 row houses in Red Deer in 1991, it increased by 3.5% between 1991 and 1996 to 2,785. Row houses increased again by 0.5% between 1996 and 2001 and registered its highest growth over the period between 2001 and 2006 of about 17.3% bringing the total of all row houses to 3,285 in 2006.
Semi-detached dwelling comprise an average of 7.6% all dwelling types and registered the most impressive growth over the period (1991-2006). In 1991, there were 1,320 semi-detached dwellings in Red Deer. Between 1991 and 1996 they increased by 31.1% to 1,730 and the growth rate declined to 21.9% between 1996-2001. Yet semi-detached dwellings recorded positive absolute numbers and their proportion of total dwellings increased. A marked growth of 27.5% was recorded for this dwelling type bringing the total number of semi-detached houses to 2,690 in 2006.
Other types of dwelling units account for the rest of all total dwellings types. Most of them had fluctuating rates except for mobile homes which were stable over the period. The average number of rooms per dwellings was 6.4 while the average number of bedrooms per dwellings was 2.8 over the period.