The City of Pitt Meadows continues to grow at a steady pace, with single-parent families accounting for the largest increase, according to figures from the latest census.
Between 2006 and 2011, the number of households in the city increased by 13 per cent, from 5,820 to 6,720.
Of those, 74 per cent were one-family households; 24 per cent were non‐family households, and two per cent of the homes held more than one family.
Single parents are also on the increase in the city, growing by 24 per cent between 2006 and 2011.
Families with no children, meanwhile, grew by 15.3 per cent, while couples with kids increased by 5.6 per cent.
When compared with neighbouring municipalities – including Maple Ridge, Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam, Township of Langley, City of Langley and Port Moody – it appears that Pitt Meadows had the highest growth of single-parent families between 2006 and 2011.
In a report to council, city planner Dana Parr said the findings from 2011 Census indicate a tendency towards an increasing diversity in family characteristics.
"In looking at changes between 2006 and 2011, it appears that traditional family unit, consisting of married couples with children, is changing with an increasing number of lone parent families and families with no children," said Parr.
"The changing family structures might have implications on housing and other city services in the future."
The city is currently working on a "Housing Action Plan," which will take stock of the kind of housing available in Pitt Meadows.
In keeping with a Canada-wide trend, the share of married residents in the city declined, while the share of common law couples increased.
In Pitt Meadows, 80 per cent of residents spoke English as a mother tongue, compared to just 56 per cent for Metro Vancouver.
The most common unofficial first languages were Punjabi, Spanish and Tagalog.
The trend of an increasing population was reflected in the number of homes being built in the city – a figure that saw a 13.4 per cent increase between 2006 and 2011.
In 2011, 46.5 per cent of dwelling structures were single detached houses.
Census figures on incomes will be released later in the year.