Cardston, Alberta Population & Demographics: How Many People Live Here?

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

This article shows the demographic data and statistics of Cardston. It is a town in Canada that encompasses a land area of 8.58 km2. The town has a population density of 434.10 people per km2.

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

Cardston on the Map

The map and listings below are sourced from OpenStreetMap contributors, not Statistics Canada, and may be incomplete depending on how thoroughly the area has been mapped.

Cardston location on the map. View in Google Map

Population Characteristics

According to the latest census, Cardston has a population of around 3,724 people. The town's population is in increased . Between 2016 and 2021, the population of Cardston has increased by 3.88%.

Population in 2016Population in 2021Difference
3,5853,724 +3.88%

2026 Population Projection

Based on the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 0.76% observed between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, Cardston's population is projected to reach approximately 3,868 people by 2026, with a projected population density of around 450.82 people per km².

Population in 2021Projected Population in 2026Projected Density in 2026 (per km²)
3,7243,868450.82

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.

Population By Genders

The male population of Cardston is around 1,805 while the female population is around 1,920.

Of the 3,724 total population in Cardston, the largest gender is female with around 1,920 women within the population.

MaleFemaleDifference
1,8051,920 +5.99%

Is Cardston a Good Place to Live?

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

Employment & Economy

7.3%
Unemployment rate
4.2 pts below the province
50.5%
Employment rate
9.7 pts below the province
54.5%
Participation rate
13.5 pts below the province

Income & Affordability

$77,000
Median household income
$19,000 below the province
12.9%
Below low-income threshold (LIM-AT)
3.7 pts above the province

Commute

80.6%
Commute under 30 minutes
11.0 pts above the province
91.5%
Commute by car
4.2 pts above the province
0.8%
Commute by public transit
4.8 pts below the province

Housing Character

85.3%
Single-detached houses
24.4 pts above the province
5.2%
Apartments (any building size)
17.2 pts below the province

Household Composition

2.80 people
Average household size
0.20people above the province
22.6%
One-person households
3.4 pts below the province

Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population.

Other Towns Near Cardston

Population by Age Characteristics

Cardston has a young population. The majority of the population is people aged 10 to 14 years old, accounting for 8.70% of the total population. The town median age is 40.80.

DataMaleFemaleDifferenceTotal
10 to 14 years160 8.90%160 8.30% 0.00%325 8.70%
5 to 9 years165 9.10%145 7.60% 12.12%305 8.20%
15 to 19 years135 7.50%130 6.80% 3.70%265 7.10%
0 to 4 years125 6.90%115 6.00% 8.00%240 6.40%
65 to 69 years110 6.10%130 6.80% 15.38%235 6.30%
70 to 74 years95 5.30%125 6.50% 24.00%220 5.90%
60 to 64 years100 5.50%110 5.70% 9.09%215 5.80%
35 to 39 years95 5.30%100 5.20% 5.00%195 5.20%
85 years and over75 4.20%105 5.50% 28.57%185 5.00%
20 to 24 years95 5.30%80 4.20% 15.79%180 4.80%
40 to 44 years90 5.00%95 4.90% 5.26%180 4.80%
50 to 54 years95 5.30%90 4.70% 5.26%180 4.80%
30 to 34 years75 4.20%100 5.20% 25.00%175 4.70%
45 to 49 years70 3.90%105 5.50% 33.33%175 4.70%
75 to 79 years85 4.70%95 4.90% 10.53%175 4.70%
25 to 29 years105 5.80%60 3.10% 42.86%165 4.40%
55 to 59 years65 3.60%95 4.90% 31.58%160 4.30%
80 to 84 years65 3.60%85 4.40% 23.53%150 4.00%
85 to 89 years45 2.50%50 2.60% 10.00%95 2.60%
90 to 94 years20 1.10%40 2.10% 50.00%60 1.60%
Average age of the population40 40.10%44 43.70% 6.86%42 41.90%

Broader Age Groups

If the town'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 50.60% of the population. The other age groups, 65 years and over and 0 to 14 years, account for 26.20% and 23.20%, respectively.

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

DataMaleFemaleTotal
Median age of the population38.00%44.00%40.80%
65 years and over23.80%28.10%26.20%
0 to 14 years24.70%21.90%23.20%

Photos of Places & Sceneries in Cardston

Population of Cardston by Ethnicity and Origin

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

The top 5 ethnicities and origins in the province are English, which accounts for 42.18% of the total population, followed by German (17.74%), Scottish (17.18%), Canadian (13.27%), and Irish (12.43%).

Other ethnicities and origins in Newfoundland and Labrador include Danish, French, Swedish, British Isles, and American.

Ethnicity and OriginMaleFemalePercentage in Population
English42.94%41.81%42.18%
German17.73%17.80%17.74%
Scottish18.56%15.82%17.18%
Canadian13.57%12.71%13.27%
Irish12.74%12.15%12.43%
Danish9.14%9.60%9.22%
French6.93%7.91%7.40%
Swedish4.99%6.50%5.73%
British Isles4.43%5.93%5.17%
American4.43%5.65%5.03%

Immigration Profile

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

About 9.8% of Cardston's population are immigrants (350 people).

The top countries of origin for Cardston's immigrant population are United States of America (130), Philippines (90), United Kingdom (45), Mexico (20), Germany (20).

Only using 25% sample data.
Country of BirthPopulation
United States of America130
Philippines90
United Kingdom45
Mexico20
Germany20

Household and Dwelling Characteristics

About 1,075 of Cardston's population live in a single-detached house. In addition, most of them are living in 2 persons household.

Household Size

About 18.45% of the population lives in 2 persons households. 1 person households ranked second, accounting for 11.30% of the population. 5 or more persons, 3 persons, and 4 persons households account for 8.95%, 6.55%, and 5.15%, respectively.

Number of Person(s) in HouseholdTotalPercentage
2 persons46518.45%
1 person28511.30%
5 or more persons2258.95%
3 persons1656.55%
4 persons1305.15%

Income in Cardston

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

Per Capita Income

According to 2020 data, the median personal income within Cardston is $35,200.

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 town's economic performance, spread of income across individuals, quality of life, as well as disparities within its borders.

Most of Cardston population or around 390 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 290 and 265 people, respectively.

Household Income

The Cardston's median household income is $77,000, according to 2020 data.

Below national average Cardston's median household income is 7,000 dollars below the Canadian national median of $84,000 (2020 data, 2021 Census).

The data provides important insights into the town'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 town's income distribution, disparities, and trends.

Education Levels in Cardston

This data sheds light on the distribution of Cardston 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.

54.65% or most of the Cardston population has a Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree. 33.20% of the population has a High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate, 23.40% has a Bachelor's degree or higher, and 12.10% has No certificate, diploma or degree.

Only using 25% sample data.
DegreeMenWomenTotalPercentage
Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree1,1551,1252,28054.65%
High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate6457651,41533.20%
Bachelor's degree or higher53545598523.40%
No certificate, diploma or degree25531556512.10%

Below national average 23.4% of Cardston's population has a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to the national average of 32.9% (Canada, 2021 Census).

Employment in Cardston

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

The data shows that the unemployment rate in Newfoundland and Labrador is at 3.96% which is pretty low.

Only using 25% sample data.
StatusPercentage
Employment rate50.54%
Unemployment rate3.96%

Working as an Employee

The table shows the data on the total number of individuals in the town who work as an employee. The majority of Cardston's population (around 65.20%) are working permanent position as an employee.

Self-employed

In the town, there are 190 men and 95 women working as self-employed individuals, bringing the total number to 285.

Only using 25% sample data.
StatusMenWomenTotal
Self-employed19095285

Employment Industry Sectors

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

Cardston has a wide range of industries. Most of its population (23%) works in the health care and social assistance sector. The Educational services sector comes second at 13%, followed by Retail trade at 11%.

Only using 25% sample data.
IndustryMenWomenPercentage
Health care and social assistance7527523%
Educational services7512513%
Retail trade808011%
Construction105108%
Accommodation and food services65458%
Public administration55305%
Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services50205%
Other services (except public administration)45204%
Transportation and warehousing40154%
Professional, scientific and technical services30254%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting35153%
Manufacturing30102%
Finance and insurance15102%
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction2502%
Wholesale trade20101%
Real estate and rental and leasing15101%
Arts, entertainment and recreation1501%
Utilities1001%
Information and cultural industries0101%
Management of companies and enterprises000%

Labour Market Snapshot

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

Top employer sectors in Cardston: Health care and social assistance (23%), Educational services (13%), -45 Retail trade (11%)

Top occupation categories in Cardston: Sales and service occupations (30%), Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services (18%), Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations (16%)

Places of Work

The data offers insights into the commuting patterns as well as workplace distribution in the town. 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 work5005201,02072.60%
No fixed workplace address1705522015.70%
Worked at home807515511.00%
Worked outside Canada100100.70%

Commuting

The data sheds light on how Cardston 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 Cardston residents and sustainable urban planning.

Commuting Duration

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

Only using 25% sample data.
DurationPercentage
Less than 15 minutes66.10%
15 to 29 minutes14.50%
30 to 44 minutes9.30%
45 to 59 minutes5.20%
60 minutes and over4.80%

Marital Status

The statistics on marital status in Cardstonshed 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 town's social fabric. We can gain insights into Cardston's changing preferences and norms by examining the trends in marital status.

Married or living common-law
61.36%
Married or living common-law
38.64%

Language Spoken

The data below highlights town'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 Cardston. About 3,605 people living in the province speak English, 20 people speak French, 5 people speak Neither English nor French language, and 0 people speak English and French language.

LanguagePopulation
English3,605
French20
Neither English nor French5
English and French0

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
English93.8%96.8%
Non-official languages4.4%2.1%
French0.6%0.1%

Religion

Cardston is predominantly Christian. About 2,710 of its population is Christian (1,300 males and 1,300 females).

The second largest religion in the province is Hindu with 0.0% of the population adhering to the religion. There are also Jewish and Muslim, both represent 0.0% and 0.0% of the population, while Sikh represent 0.0% of the population.

ReligionPopulation
Christian75.7%
Hindu0.0%
Jewish0.0%
Islam0.0%
Sikh0.0%
Buddhist0.0%

Frequently Asked Questions about Cardston

According to the 2021 census, Cardston has a population of approximately 3,724 people.

Between 2016 and 2021, the population of Cardston increased by 3.88%.

Cardston has a population density of approximately 434.10 people per square kilometre.

Cardston covers a land area of approximately 8.58 km².

The median age of the population in Cardston is 40.80 years.

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

The median household income in Cardston is $77,000, based on 2020 data.

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

Christian is the predominant religion in Cardston.

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.