Prince George's population remained stable from 2010 to 2011, according to a B.C. stats report released Friday.
At 75,828 people, the figure grew by a mere 282 over the year before. Compared to the 2006 federal report, that's a 4,847-person jump.
Prince George mayor Shari Green said that's heading in the right direction but would like to see the pace more in the range of one-per-cent, compared to the 0.4 per cent seen between 2010 and 2011.
Green said there are indications the city is going to meet that goal.
"Just the vibe and the momentum, the feeling you have in the community," Green said. "It feels busier, there's a bit more traffic.
"Vacancies are low in terms of rental accommodation, which has its own challenges, but there are lots of signs and trends that you can see every day."
Initiatives Prince George (IPG) market analyst Tara Bogh viewed the modest growth as positive, saying it's the fifth consecutive year of growth. It's also a reversal from the 0.9-per-cent average annual decline over the 10 years prior.
The relatively slow pace of growth is also a good thing, she said.
"If you look at other communities in the province that have experienced quite rapid growth - Kelowna is a good example - a lot of times, what comes along with that is really rapid increase in the housing prices and those types of things."
Real estate affordability takes a hit, she says, as well as the municipality, which struggles to keep up with the need for increased services, processing development applications and policing quality construction.
"Housing units maybe don't have as much character or aren't build with as much quality because they're trying to keep pace and cut corners," she said.
"Whereas, when you see an average population growth hovering at one per cent, the community can keep up with that, the developers can keep up with that, the municipality can keep up with that and employers can growth their business at a sustainable pace."
She also noted a similar trend of slow but steady growth in northern B.C.
"Even the smaller communities are seeing an influx of population, reflective of trends in employment, economic opportunity," Bogh said.
Also reflective of the increase was the average house value in Prince George. It reached $211,807, a $11,519 jump over the year before.
The Fraser-Fort George Regional District's population was 96,928, up 380 from 2010.
Region's communities see increase:
- Mackenzie's population was 3,736, up 33 people from 2010 but still down 1,470 from 2001 when there were 5,206. Average house value was $97,254, up $20,082 from 2010.
- Valemount's population was 1,070, up eight people from 2010, but still from 1,195 in 2001. The average house value was $146,771, down $10,183 from 2010.
- Vanderhoof's population was 4,114, up 67 people from 2010 but still down 4,390 in 2001. The average house value was $168,176, up $114 from 2010.
- Fort St. James's population was 1,339, up 44 from 2010, but still down from 1,927 in 2001. The average house value was $123,700, up $19,694 from 2010.
- Quesnel's population was 9,947, up by 204 from 2010, but still down from 10,044 in 2001. The average house value was $165,607, up $8,210 from from 2010.
- Williams Lake's population was 11,006, up 8 from 2010, but still down from 11,153 in 2001. The average house value was $195,420, up $1,071 from 2010.
