Chilliwack City Guide

Chilliwack is the seventh largest city in British Columbia, with an estimated population of 107,800 as of 2024, having grown by approximately 8,400 residents (8.5%) between 2019 and 2024. Located one hour east of Vancouver in the Fraser Valley, the city is bounded by the Fraser River to the north, the Vedder River to the south, and the Coast and Cascade ranges on either side. Agriculture occupies approximately 67% of city land - more farmland than any other Lower Mainland community - and generates an estimated $685 million in economic activity annually across 721 reporting farms. Dominant sectors include dairy, poultry, greenhouse, and blueberry production. Manufacturing employs nearly 8% of the labour force, anchored by a Molson Coors 400,000 sq.ft. brewery (opened 2019) and a Red Bull North American premix facility. Logistics employers including Kal Tire, Nestle, and Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers benefit from the city's Highway 1 location one hour east of Metro Vancouver. The cost of living sits approximately 22% below the BC average, and the median household income is approximately $85,000 annually. Browse all Chilliwack listings, explore market trends, or compare the best neighbourhoods.

Chilliwack's market has shifted toward buyer-friendly conditions, with months of inventory at 8.4 in February 2026 (up from 5.4 a year earlier). The average MLS home price is approximately $637,480 as of March 2026. By type: benchmark detached approximately $900,000-$950,000, median townhouse $615,000 (down 4.7% year-over-year), median apartment $382,500 (down 6.7%). Active listings total approximately 963 homes (431 houses, 183 condos, 229 townhouses). The city has 11 communities. Chilliwack Proper (about 31% of residents) has older heritage-style homes. Sardis is a newer suburban area with larger lots and mountain views. Promontory averages approximately $808,000 with contemporary elevated-terrain homes. Rural communities - Greendale, Yarrow, Ryder Lake - offer farming lifestyles at lower density. The affordability gap with Metro Vancouver is significant: detached homes average $886,400 here versus $1,879,800 in Greater Vancouver, townhouses $599,500 versus $1,056,600, apartments $412,500 versus $710,000. Property taxes average $5,197 annually (versus Vancouver's $10,811). Rental rates: one-bedroom $1,500/month, two-bedroom $1,800/month. Ownership rate is 72%. For current pricing, see our market trends analysis.

Chilliwack is well known for hiking, water sports, camping, mountain biking, and fishing, with more than 180 km of bicycle lanes and the Vedder River Rotary Trail for walking, jogging, and cycling. Cultus Lake Provincial Park, 11 km southwest off Highway 1, is the regional recreation anchor, offering beaches, swimming, fishing for rainbow trout and Dolly Varden, kayaking, paddle-boarding, boat rentals, waterslides, two golf courses, and a marina. The Vedder River is a celebrated salmon and steelhead destination. Sasquatch Mountain Resort, approximately 40 minutes from the city, offers skiing and snowboarding. The Chilliwack Cultural Centre presents theatrical productions, concerts, and visual art year-round. The Prospera Centre hosts the Chilliwack Chiefs (WHL) and touring concerts. The annual Chilliwack Circle Farm Tour connects visitors with local dairy, blueberry, and specialty crop producers.

Chilliwack relies primarily on personal vehicles - 44% of residents commute by car, with only 1% using public transit. Highway 1 provides direct access to Metro Vancouver in approximately 1 hour 16 minutes. BC Transit serves Chilliwack with a single adult fare of approximately $2.00 and a 30-day pass near $44. The FVX express route links downtown Chilliwack to Lougheed Town Centre SkyTrain Station, connecting commuters to Expo and Millennium lines. Abbotsford International Airport (YXX) is approximately 30 minutes west. Chilliwack Municipal Airport (YCW) has a 1,219-metre paved runway and approximately 20 aviation businesses including flight training schools. More than 180 km of cycling infrastructure supports local active transportation.

Chilliwack School District 33 serves approximately 15,500 K-12 students and 1,100 pre-K students through approximately 2,400 staff. Specialized programs include French Immersion, Advanced Placement, Sports Academies, Trades Program, School of Film, Integrated Arts and Technology, and Outdoor Education. Early French Immersion begins in Kindergarten at Cheam Elementary; all French Immersion students complete the program at Sardis Secondary, earning a Dual Dogwood certificate. The district graduation rate is 83%. The University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) at Canada Education Park enrolls more than 16,000 students per year and offers over 100 programs including 17 bachelor degrees, three master degrees, and more than a dozen trades and technology programs. The LEED Gold-certified Chilliwack campus houses the Trades and Technology Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, Agriculture Centre of Excellence, dental clinic, library, and black box theatre. BCIT also operates trades apprenticeship programs at Canada Education Park.

Cottonwood Centre (45585 Luckakuck Way) offers more than 70 stores including Save-On-Foods, Old Navy, Club 16 Fitness, BC Liquor, and a Starbucks drive-thru with EV rapid charging. Chilliwack General Hospital (Fraser Health Authority) sits 2.5 km north. The Prospera Centre hosts the Chilliwack Chiefs (WHL) and touring concerts. The Chilliwack Cultural Centre presents theatrical productions, concerts, and exhibitions year-round. Recreation includes the Chilliwack Leisure Centre, multiple golf courses, and trail networks through Promontory and Eastern Hillsides. Over 100 businesses serve tourism visitors. Molson Coors operates a 400,000 sq.ft. brewery, and Red Bull runs its first North American premix facility here. Banking, legal, dental, and professional services fully cover resident needs, making Chilliwack self-sufficient without regular Lower Mainland commutes.