Kent, British Columbia Population & Demographics: Is It a Good Place to Live?

Data source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population — View the official Kent census dataset on Statistics Canada

This article shows the demographic data and statistics of Kent. It is a township in Canada that encompasses a land area of 168.59 km2. The township has a population density of 37.40 people per km2.

We highlight the Kent township's various population characteristics. From gender, age distribution, ethnicity, household and dwelling, and income to spoken languages, occupation, and religion.

Kent on the Map

Kent location on the map. View in Google Map

Population Characteristics

According to the latest census, Kent has a population of around 6,300 people. The township's population is in increased. Between 2016 and 2021, the population of Kent has increased by ▲ 3.84%.

Population in 2016Population in 2021Difference
6,0676,300 +3.84%

2026 Population Projection

Based on the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 0.76% observed between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, Kent's population is projected to reach approximately 6,542 people by 2026, with a projected population density of around 38.80 people per km².

Population in 2021Projected Population in 2026Projected Density in 2026 (per km²)
6,3006,54238.80

This projection is an estimate calculated by CAPopulation from the compound annual growth rate between the 2016 and 2021 censuses. Official 2026 complete census data expected to be released in late 2027.

Kent Population Trend & Context

Kent had a 2021 census population of 6,300 — an increase of 233 (▲ 3.84%) people from the 6,067 recorded in 2016.

The township's population has grown slightly over this period, reflecting broader growth trends among British Columbia townships. The township's median age of 48 years — above the national median of 41.9 — suggests a mature, established community rather than a rapidly growing one.

Population By Genders

The male population of Kent is around 3,430 while the female population is around 2,870.

Of the 6,300 total population in Kent, the largest gender is male with around 3,430 male within the population.

MaleFemaleDifference
3,4302,870 +16.33%

Is Kent a Good Place to Live?

Based on 2021 Statistics Canada Census data, here's how Kent compares across key quality-of-life indicators — measured against British Columbia, its own province. Draw your own conclusions from the actual numbers.

Employment & Economy

7.1%
Unemployment rate
1.3 pts below the province
53.5%
Employment rate
4.4 pts below the province
57.6%
Participation rate
5.7 pts below the province

Income & Affordability

$78,000
Median household income
$7,000 below the province
11.4%
Below low-income threshold (LIM-AT)
0.6 pts above the province

Commute

66.6%
Commute under 30 minutes
0.8 pts above the province
88.5%
Commute by car
8.6 pts above the province
1.2%
Commute by public transit
8.1 pts below the province

Housing Character

70.6%
Single-detached houses
28.2 pts above the province
10.0%
Apartments (any building size)
33.5 pts below the province

Household Composition

2.40 people
Average household size
About the same as the province
26.2%
One-person households
3.2 pts below the province

Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population.

Kent Population Compared to British Columbia

British Columbia's population in 2021 was 5,000,879, spread across the area. Here's how Kent compares to the township's key indicators:

IndicatorKentBritish Columbia
Median household income$78,000$85,000
Unemployment rate7.1%8.4%
Median age4842.8
Bachelor's degree or higher14.9%31.8%
Immigrants (%)16.0%29.0%

Population by Age Characteristics

Kent has an aging population. The majority of the population is people aged 60 to 64 years old, accounting for 8.40% of the total population. The township median age is 48.00.

DataMaleFemaleDifferenceTotal
60 to 64 years270 7.90%265 9.20% 1.85%530 8.40%
55 to 59 years265 7.70%230 8.00% 13.21%495 7.90%
65 to 69 years220 6.40%245 8.50% 10.20%470 7.50%
70 to 74 years225 6.60%200 7.00% 11.11%430 6.80%
25 to 29 years220 6.40%160 5.60% 27.27%385 6.10%
30 to 34 years240 7.00%140 4.90% 41.67%385 6.10%
35 to 39 years220 6.40%155 5.40% 29.55%370 5.90%
50 to 54 years200 5.80%165 5.70% 17.50%360 5.70%
40 to 44 years220 6.40%130 4.50% 40.91%350 5.60%
0 to 4 years185 5.40%155 5.40% 16.22%340 5.40%
45 to 49 years185 5.40%135 4.70% 27.03%325 5.20%
10 to 14 years170 5.00%145 5.10% 14.71%310 4.90%
75 to 79 years165 4.80%140 4.90% 15.15%300 4.80%
20 to 24 years155 4.50%130 4.50% 16.13%290 4.60%
5 to 9 years145 4.20%140 4.90% 3.45%285 4.50%
15 to 19 years125 3.60%115 4.00% 8.00%240 3.80%
85 years and over125 3.60%115 4.00% 8.00%235 3.70%
80 to 84 years90 2.60%105 3.70% 14.29%195 3.10%
85 to 89 years105 3.10%60 2.10% 42.86%160 2.50%

Broader Age Groups

If the township's population is divided into broader age groups, most of the population falls into the 15 to 64 years age group. The group accounts for 59.20% of the population. The other age groups, 65 years and over and 0 to 14 years, account for 26.00% and 14.80%, respectively.

If we look at the population data from the broader age groups, we can see that most people in Kent are within the 15 to 64 years age group.

DataMaleFemaleTotal
15 to 64 years61.20%56.60%59.20%
65 years and over24.20%28.00%26.00%
0 to 14 years14.40%15.30%14.80%

Population of Kent by Ethnicity and Origin

The population of Kent is quite diverse, which contributes to the township's vibrant cultural landscape. Kent is inclusive and accepts various ethnic groups with open arms. Furthermore, the township appreciates the unique contributions that each ethnicity brings.

The top 5 ethnicities and origins in Kent are English, which accounts for 23.72% of the total population, followed by Scottish (20.23%), German (18.62%), Dutch (17.10%), and Irish (16.74%).

Other ethnicities and origins in Kent include French, Canadian, British Isles, Ukrainian, and Russian.

Ethnicity and OriginMaleFemalePercentage in Population
English25.93%21.48%23.72%
Scottish20.07%20.40%20.23%
German19.01%18.23%18.62%
Dutch16.16%18.41%17.10%
Irish15.99%17.51%16.74%
French11.72%12.82%12.26%
Canadian12.61%11.73%12.18%
British Isles5.33%6.68%6.00%
Ukrainian5.33%5.60%5.37%
Russian3.37%2.53%2.86%

Indigenous Identity in Kent

About 7.52% of Kent's population (420 people) identify with an Indigenous identity, compared to 92.48% who report a non-Indigenous identity.

Of the Indigenous population, 185 people (3.30% of the total population) hold Registered or Treaty Indian status.

Indigenous identity
7.52%
Non-Indigenous identity
92.48%

Immigration Profile

Immigration patterns vary a great deal from one area to another, which makes this data one of the more distinctive parts of Kent's population profile.

About 16.0% of Kent's population are immigrants (895 people).

The top countries of origin for Kent's immigrant population are United Kingdom (175), Netherlands (130), Germany (80), United States of America (55), India (50).

Only using 25% sample data.
Country of BirthPopulation
United Kingdom175
Netherlands130
Germany80
United States of America55
India50

95.6% of Kent's residents (5,335 people) are Canadian citizens, and 4.4% are not.

By generation status, 17.4% of residents are first generation (born outside Canada), 23.8% are second generation, and 58.7% are third generation or more.

Household and Dwelling Characteristics

About 1,660 of Kent's population live in a single-detached house. In addition, most of them are living in 2 persons household.

Household Size

About 21.05% of the population lives in 2 persons households. 1 person households ranked second, accounting for 13.10% of the population. 3 persons, 4 persons, and 5 or more persons households account for 7.15%, 4.45%, and 4.25%, respectively.

Number of Person(s) in HouseholdTotalPercentage
2 persons99021.05%
1 person61513.10%
3 persons3357.15%
4 persons2104.45%
5 or more persons2004.25%

Family and Household Structure in Kent

Of census families in Kent, 87.2% are couple families and 12.8% are one-parent families. The average census family has 2.7 people.

Couple families
87.24%
One-parent families
12.76%

26.2% of households in Kent are one-person households, 57.2% are couple-family households, 6.8% are one-parent-family households, and 2.1% are multigenerational households.

Household TypeHouseholdsPercentage
One-person households61526.2%
Couple-family households1,34557.2%
One-parent-family households1606.8%
Multigenerational households502.1%

Income in Kent

Analyzing income distribution in Kent can help us better understand its socioeconomic dynamics.

Per Capita Income

According to 2020 data, the median personal income within Kent is $38,000.

A region's per capita data sheds light on the average income earned per person living in it. Since per capita income is calculated by dividing the region's total income by its population, it quantifies the population's economic situation on an individual basis.

Such data offers insights into the township's economic performance, spread of income across individuals, quality of life, as well as disparities within its borders.

Most of Kent population or around 670 people falls in the $10,000 to $29,999 group. The next largest groups are the $50,000 to $79,999, and $30,000 to $49,999 with around 595 and 560 people, respectively.

Household Income

The Kent's median household income is $78,000, according to 2020 data.

Below national average Kent's median household income is 6,000 dollars below the Canadian national median of $84,000 (2020 data, 2021 Census).

The data provides important insights into the township's economic landscape as well as the living standards of its population.

Analyzing such data enables researchers, policymakers, and businesses to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the township's income distribution, disparities, and trends.

Education Levels in Kent

This data sheds light on the distribution of Kent residents across educational milestones.

Such information is crucial in shaping the province’s policies on education, workforce development strategies, and initiatives that aim to improve access to quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities.

55.00% or most of the Kent population has a Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree. 32.80% of the population has a High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate, and 12.20% has a No certificate, diploma or degree. (Individual figures may not sum to exactly 100% due to Statistics Canada's random rounding of small-area 25% sample data.)

Population aged 25 to 64 years, using 25% sample data. Individual values may not sum exactly to totals due to Statistics Canada's random rounding.
DegreeMenWomenTotalPercentage
Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree6908051,49055.00%
High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate42547089032.80%
No certificate, diploma or degree21012033012.20%

Below national average 15.9% of Kent's population has a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to the national average of 32.9% (Canada, 2021 Census).

Employment in Kent

This dataset provides a snapshot of employment trends in Kent. It encompasses a wide range of sectors, industries, as well as job categories.

The data shows that the unemployment rate in Kent is at 7.09% which is quite high.

Only using 25% sample data.
StatusPercentage
Employment rate53.55%
Unemployment rate7.09%

Work Activity During the Reference Year

Of the population aged 15 and over in Kent, 31.3% worked full year full time in the reference year, 26.2% worked part year and/or part time, and 42.4% did not work.

Only using 25% sample data.
Work ActivityPopulationPercentage
Worked full year full time1,45531.3%
Worked part year and/or part time1,22026.2%
Did not work1,97042.4%

Working as an Employee

The table shows the data on the total number of individuals in the township who work as an employee. The majority of Kent's population (around 67.70%) are working permanent position as an employee.

Self-employed

In the township, there are 300 men and 245 women working as self-employed individuals, bringing the total number to 545.

Only using 25% sample data.
StatusMenWomenTotal
Self-employed300245545

Employment Industry Sectors

The Kent industry employment sector census data offers insights into the region's economic landscape. The distribution of employment in Kent is categorized and quantified, which reveals the region's economic composition.

Kent has a wide range of industries. Most of its population (10%) works in the agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting sector. The Construction sector comes second at 10%, followed by Health care and social assistance at 10%.

Only using 25% sample data.
IndustryMenWomenPercentage
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting1709510%
Construction2253510%
Health care and social assistance7519510%
Retail trade851659%
Accommodation and food services1001359%
Public administration140959%
Educational services451407%
Professional, scientific and technical services70856%
Manufacturing110405%
Transportation and warehousing95355%
Other services (except public administration)50755%
Wholesale trade60304%
Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services35603%
Arts, entertainment and recreation20452%
Finance and insurance10402%
Real estate and rental and leasing25101%
Information and cultural industries2001%
Utilities1000%
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction000%
Management of companies and enterprises000%

Labour Market Snapshot

A quick snapshot of where Kent residents work — the leading industry sectors employing them, and the broad occupation categories they work in.

Top employer sectors in Kent: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (10%), Construction (10%), Health care and social assistance (10%)

Top occupation categories in Kent: Sales and service occupations (25%), Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations (20%), Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services (14%)

Places of Work

The data offers insights into the commuting patterns as well as workplace distribution in the township. It provides a snapshot of workplaces, showing their geographic distribution and the flow of workers across different areas.

Only using 25% sample data.
Work LocationMenWomenTotalPercentage
Usual place of work8108151,62565.30%
Worked at home18524543517.50%
No fixed workplace address31012043017.30%
Worked outside Canada0000.00%

Commuting

The data sheds light on how Kent residents travel to school or work. It highlights the frequency of different modes of transportation like walking, cycling, carpooling, and public transit.

The data is pivotal in the making of transportation policies as well as the development of transit systems. Ultimately commuting data contributes to improving the quality of life of Kent residents and sustainable urban planning.

Commuting Duration

This data reveals the average time that the residents of Kent spend traveling to their workplaces. It also sheds light on the efficiency of the township's public transit systems, and road networks, as well as the accessibility of the township.

Only using 25% sample data.
DurationPercentage
Less than 15 minutes36.60%
15 to 29 minutes30.00%
30 to 44 minutes17.30%
60 minutes and over10.70%
45 to 59 minutes5.40%

Marital Status

The statistics on marital status in Kent shed light on its societal dynamics. It captures the diverse types of marital statuses of the population.

Long-term commitments, such as common-law partnerships, civil unions, and marriages, reflect the township's social fabric. We can gain insights into Kent's changing preferences and norms by examining the trends in marital status.

Married or living common-law
57.56%
Married or living common-law
42.44%

Language Spoken

The data below highlights township's linguistic diversity, showing elegances of solo language as well as bilingual harmonies. Other than language, it also shows the cultural landscape in Canada.

English is the most spoken official language in Kent. About 5,575 people living in the township speak English, 55 people speak French, 35 people speak Neither English nor French language, and 10 people speak English and French language.

LanguagePopulation
English5,575
French55
Neither English nor French35
English and French10

Knowledge of Official Languages

About 3.6% of Kent's population is bilingual, knowing both English and French. 95.7% know English only, 0.0% know French only, and 0.6% know neither official language.

Knowledge of Official LanguagesPopulationPercentage
English only5,43095.7%
French only00.0%
English and French2053.6%
Neither English nor French350.6%

Mother Tongue & Home Language

Useful for newcomers researching an area: this shows the language residents first learned at home in childhood (mother tongue) and the language they speak most often at home now, which can differ as families settle in.

LanguageMother TongueSpoken Most Often at Home
English85.4%94.8%
Non-official languages11.5%3.5%
French1.1%0.4%

Religion

Kent is predominantly Christian. About 2,810 of its population is Christian (1,310 males and 1,500 females).

The second largest religion in the township is Sikh with 0.9% of the population adhering to the religion. There are also Muslim and Buddhist, both represent 0.5% and 0.4% of the population, while Hindu represent 0.2% of the population.

ReligionPopulation
Christian50.3%
Sikh0.9%
Islam0.5%
Buddhist0.4%
Hindu0.2%
Jewish0.0%

Points of Interest in Kent

Schools

Parks

Libraries

Community Centres

Places to Visit in Kent

Museums

Attractions

Historic Sites

Green Spaces in Kent

NameTypeApprox. Area
Centennial ParkParks14.0 ha
Dr. McCaffery ParkParks0.1 ha
Pioneer ParkParks1.3 ha
Evergreen ParkParks0.3 ha
Vimy ParkParks0.2 ha
Westlin ParkParks0.4 ha
Schep ParkParks0.4 ha
Spring ParkParks1.1 ha
Rendall ParkParks1.6 ha
Alm ParkParks1.0 ha
Woods ParkParks0.2 ha
Eagle Point Community ParkParks4.6 ha
Qwólts ParkParks0.3 ha
Kilby Provincial ParkNature Reserves3.2 ha
Green Point Day Use AreaNature Reserves17.2 ha
Francis Lake Harrison Recreation SiteNature Reserves19.8 ha
East Sector LandsNature Reserves127.9 ha
Harrison Knob Conservation AreaNature Reserves22.4 ha
Bear Lake Recreation ReserveNature Reserves30.7 ha
Wahleach Campsite (s. End) Recreation ReserveNature Reserves9.8 ha
Jones Lake Recreation ReserveNature Reserves8.7 ha
Echo Lake Recreation ReserveNature Reserves43.7 ha
Chehalis River Recreation SiteNature Reserves234.1 ha

Areas are approximate, calculated from OpenStreetMap boundary data.

Nearest Townships to Kent

Frequently Asked Questions about Kent

According to the 2021 Statistics Canada Census, Kent has a population of 6,300 people, making it the 69th township in British Columbia. The population increased moderately from 6,067 in 2016, an increase of 233 people or 3.84%. The township has a population density of 37.4 people per km² across a land area of 168.59 km². The 2026 Census results are expected from Statistics Canada beginning February 2027.

Kent's population grew by 3.84% between the 2016 and 2021 censuses — from 6,067 to 6,300 people, a gain of 233 residents. This modest growth reflects patterns seen in many other British Columbia townships during this period. The median age of 48.00 years suggests an aging population. Official 2026 Census data, which will confirm whether this trend continued, is expected from Statistics Canada in February 2027.

Kent has a population density of approximately 37.40 people per square kilometre.

Kent covers a land area of approximately 168.59 km².

The median age of the population in Kent is 48.00 years.

The largest ethnic or cultural origin group in Kent is English.

The median household income in Kent is $78,000, based on 2020 data.

English is the most common first official language spoken in Kent.

Christian is the predominant religion in Kent.

According to the 2021 Census, 7.5% of Kent's population identifies with an Indigenous identity.

95.6% of Kent's residents are Canadian citizens, based on 2021 Census data.

One-parent families make up 12.8% of census families in Kent, according to the 2021 Census.

Multigenerational households make up 2.1% of all households in Kent, per the 2021 Census.

3.6% of Kent's population knows both English and French, based on 2021 Census data on knowledge of official languages.

Of the population aged 15 and over in Kent, 31.3% worked full year full time in the 2021 Census reference year.

Statistics Canada (statcan.gc.ca) conducted the 2026 Census of Population in May 2026. However, census data goes through an extensive processing, validation, and quality-assurance period before public release. Based on the release plan, the 2026 Census results begin rolling out on February 10, 2027, with complete community-level profiles available by December 1, 2027. Until then, this page uses 2021 Census data as its primary source, supplemented by a population projection estimate for 2026 calculated using the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from the 2016–2021 Census period.