Chilliwack Real Estate & Homes for Sale
The city of Chilliwack is located in the Upper Fraser Valley, British Columbia, 102 kilometres (63 mi) Southeast of Vancouver. On the North it's bounded by the Fraser River, and on the South by the Canada-US border. Tall mountain peaks like Slesse Mountain and Mount Cheam, and recreational areas such as Chilliwack Lake Provincial Parks and Cultas Lake, surround the city.
Once a small agricultural town, Chilliwack was the third municipality to be incorporated in British Columbia in 1873. In 1881 a large new subdivision was built, called Centreville. The new area was incorporated in 1908, as a separate municipality called the City of Chilliwack. For 72 years, the township and city co-existed, finally merging to become the District of Chilliwack in 1980. Early in 1999, the district became the City of Chilliwack.
It has been challenging for the city to control the sprawl of suburbia, and retain its valuable farmland. The majority of Chilliwack's more than 101,512 residents (2016 census) are now city-dwellers, instead of farmers. The median household income is $65,603 (2015). The median age is 43.2, with 18.0% 14 and under, 61.8% ages 15 to 64, and retirees age 65 and older making up 20.2%.
The soil and mild weather made Chilliwack a great place to farm, with outstanding growing conditions for a wide variety of crops. When averaged from 1981 through 2010, Chilliwack had the warmest mean temperature for any city in all of Canada. Most of the precipitation falls as rain. Snow is typically limited to the surrounding mountains, except for about two or three weeks per year.
Chilliwack Homes For Sale
| All Listings | $100,000 - $200,000 | $200,000 - $300,000 |
|---|---|---|
| $400,000 - $500,000 | $500,000 - $600,000 | $600,000 - $700,000 |
| $700,000 - $800,000 | $800,000 - $900,000 | $900,000 - $1,000,000 |
| Over $1,000,000 |
Employment Opportunities
Chilliwack has a highly skilled workforce, with the University of the Fraser Valley and Canada Education Park offering local opportunities for education and training. Local employment opportunities include the service industry, retail, professional services, government and civil jobs, and farming.
46.5% of Chilliwack adult residents have a post secondary education. 42,065 (2015), or 63%, are involved in Chilliwack's labour force, and a work force of 144,000 is within a 30-minute commute.
Education
Chilliwack has two pre-kindergarten schools: Unsworth StrongStart Centre and Little Mountain StrongStart Centre. There are 20 elementary schools, covering kindergarten through grade 6 or 7, 6 middle schools, 3 secondary schools, and 4 alternative schools. Private schools include Cascade Christian School, Chilliwack Adventist Christian School, Highroad Academy, Mount Cheam Christian School and Timothy Christian School.
For post secondary continuing education, Chilliwack has some great options: a University of the Fraser Valley campus, Chilliwack ElderCollege, Continuing Education (CE) and Fraser Valley Distance Education School.
The University of the Fraser Valley Chilliwack is a state-of-the-art accredited university facility on 85 acres in Canada Education Park. ElderCollege provides adults 50 years and older with education and learning opportunities, to expand their knowledge and enrich their lives. Continuing Ed. offers classes for students 17 years of age or older. Attending classes twice a week for sixteen weeks, allows students to receive credit for ministry approved secondary school courses.
Shopping/Dining
In addition to the many large retailers, and smaller specialty shops, Chilliwack has several larger shopping centres. Chilliwack Mall has over 20 retailers and is located in the heart of the retail district at Vedder Rd. and Luckakuck Way. Cottonwood Mall offers 77 stores, and is strategically located on the Trans Canada Highway. Holland Shopping Centre carries a wide selection of foods and gift products originating from Holland, and Salish Plaza is a grocery-anchored neighbourhood retail plaza right in Downtown Chilliwack.
At the time of this writing, Yelp lists 142 restaurants in Chilliwack. Popular spots include Frankie's Italian Kitchen & Bar, Corner Nook Cafe, Bubba's Big Bites and Earls Kitchen + Bar. For a real taste of Chilliwack, Curly Kale Eatery offers up local-sourced organic ingredients. For that special evening, you might consider Greek Islands Restaurant.
Transportation
Chilliwack is located along the Trans Canada Highway, about a 25 minute drive from Abbotsford, and an hour and 15 minute drive from Vancouver. The city is located next to the CN Railway and Southern Railway of BC. There's a USA border crossing within 34 km (21 mi). Chilliwack Airport (YCW) is home to more than 20 aviation businesses. The Abbotsford International Airport (YXX) is 42 km (26 mi) away, with daily domestic scheduled services and seasonal international scheduled services.
Chilliwack Transit System provides regularly scheduled bus service throughout the city. Fraser Valley Express (FVX) offers scheduled trips to Abbotsford and Langley, and connection with TransLink's transit system. And the Agassiz-Harrison Transit System connects Chilliwack with Rosedale, Agassiz and Harrison Hot Springs.
In May 2017, counsel approved CycleVision, and update of the 2014 Bicycle Transportation Plan. CycleVsion's focus is on the development and maintenance of a continuous and functional bicycle routes throughout Chilliwack.
Arts and Entertainment
Classical music lovers will enjoy performances by the Chilliwack Symphony Orchestra and Chilliwack Metropolitan Orchestra. Several young ska and punk rock bands have originated from Chilliwack. During July and August, the Downtown Chilliwack Business Improvement Association hosts free concerts and activities in the downtown core every Friday evening.
Located in downtown Chilliwack, Chilliwack Cultural Centre is a performing arts venue that is home to the Chilliwack Players' Guild and the Chilliwack Academy of Music. The University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) Theatre Department's UFV Theatre produces three or four mainstage shows each year, as well as the annual Directors' Festival. The Chilliwack School of Performing Arts offers instruction in acting, singing and dancing.
Chilliwack has three museums: the Chilliwack Sports Hall of Fame, Canadian Military Education Centre and Chilliwack Museum and Archives.
Sports and Recreation
Chilliwack has 12 parks, including Bridal Veil Falls Provincial Park, Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park and Cultus Lake Provincial Park. The area is an outdoor enthusiast's paradise for biking, hiking, trail running, horseback riding, fishing, camping, golf and more.
Community sports include swimming, hockey, softball, soccer, football, field hockey lacrosse, baseball, ice hockey, skating and swimming. Chilliwack's Prospera Centre is a 5,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Chilliwack; home of the Chilliwack Chiefs, of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). Exhibition Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium; home of the Chilliwack Huskers of the Canadian Junior Football League.
Investing in Chilliwack
Affordable real estate, a strong economy, and skills-focused education position Chilliwack on the Top 10 List of BC Cities for Investment, according to the British Columbia Investment Towns Report by the Real Estate Investment Network. Chilliwack boasts a stable 3% growth rate, and the area continues to attract new employers in retail/wholesale, professional services, tourism, creative industries and technology, manufacturing, agriculture and food processing, and more.
Between the 2011 census and 2016 census, Chilliwack experienced 8.1% population growth. Chilliwack has earned top ranks for lowest taxes and fastest approvals, according to the 2017 Industrial Development Report Card, produced by NAIOP.#
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