Why Investors Are Looking at Chilliwack, BC in 2026

Chilliwack has quietly become one of the Fraser Valley's most-watched markets for real estate investors in 2026, and the reasons come down to three numbers: a population growing faster than almost anywhere else in B.C., home prices that have cooled from their 2022 peak, and a city hall that is putting tens of millions of dollars into the infrastructure a growing community needs. For investors who have been priced out of Metro Vancouver or are simply looking for a Fraser Valley market with more room to grow, Chilliwack is earning a closer look.

I'm Stephanie Wong, a REALTOR® with Luxmore Realty working across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, and investment-minded clients have been asking me more questions about Chilliwack this year than almost any other submarket. Here's what the data actually shows, and how to think about it.

Key Takeaways

• Chilliwack's population reached an estimated 112,500 in 2025, up about 11.6% since 2020, and the City of Chilliwack projects it will climb to roughly 132,000 by the mid-2030s.
• Roughly four in five people who moved to Chilliwack in the past year came from elsewhere in B.C., and most of those came from Metro Vancouver, according to Statistics Canada data reported by the Business Examiner.
• The benchmark price for a single-family home in Chilliwack was $859,200 in August 2026, down 5.8% year over year, per Chilliwack & District Real Estate Board data compiled by the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA).
• The City of Chilliwack's 2026 capital budget allocates about $68.4 million to infrastructure, including a $23.7 million wastewater treatment plant upgrade and $14.3 million in road improvements.
• Average sale prices ticked up about 1% year over year in August 2026 even as benchmark prices softened, a sign that buyer activity is returning gradually rather than all at once.

Chilliwack's Population Boom Is Reshaping Demand

A real estate market is only as strong as the number of people who want to live there, and Chilliwack's growth curve has been hard to ignore. The City of Chilliwack's own population estimates put the city at roughly 112,500 residents in 2025, up from about 102,300 at the 2021 census — an increase of more than 11% in just five years. The city's long-range projections call for growth to continue, reaching somewhere between 132,000 residents by 2035 (at a 2% annual growth rate) or by 2040 (at 1.5% annually).

Where are these new residents coming from? According to Statistics Canada migration data reported by the Business Examiner in July 2026, Chilliwack added roughly 3,300 net new residents in the most recent year measured, and about four in five of them moved from somewhere else in B.C. — the largest share from Metro Vancouver. That lines up with a broader pattern across the Fraser Valley: as Metro Vancouver recorded a net loss of residents to other parts of the province, communities about 60 to 90 minutes east along Highway 1, including Chilliwack, Abbotsford-Mission, and Mission, have been among the top landing spots.

For an investor, population growth of this kind matters because it is the clearest long-term signal of future housing demand — for both ownership and rental stock. It's one of the first things I walk clients through when they ask whether a Fraser Valley submarket like Chilliwack deserves a place on their shortlist.

Home Prices in Chilliwack, BC: Where Things Stand in 2026

The second part of the story is price, and here the picture has shifted meaningfully since the market's 2022 peak. Chilliwack & District Real Estate Board data compiled by CREA shows that, as of August 2026, the composite MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) benchmark for Chilliwack sat at $704,600, down 5.2% from a year earlier. Broken out by housing type:

• Single-family detached: $859,200 benchmark, down 5.8% year over year
• Townhouse/row: $582,900 benchmark, down 5.4% year over year
• Apartment/condo: $401,000 benchmark, down 2.7% year over year

At the same time, average sale prices tell a slightly different story: the average sale price in August 2026 was $742,897, up about 1% from August 2025, and the year-to-date average through August was $766,774, up 0.2%. Sales volume, however, was softer — 159 units sold in August 2026, down 17.6% from the same month a year earlier, with year-to-date sales down 17.4% through the first eight months of the year.

Put together, this is a market where benchmark values have eased from their highs, overall sales activity has slowed, but prices in the upper end of the market have held up or inched higher. For an investor, that combination — a cooling benchmark alongside resilient average pricing — often signals a market that has absorbed its correction and is waiting for the next leg of demand, which is exactly what the population numbers above suggest is coming.

Infrastructure Investment Signals Long-Term Confidence

Price and population growth tell you where a market has been and where demand is heading. A city's own capital spending tells you how confident local government is in that trajectory, and Chilliwack's 2026 numbers are telling. The City of Chilliwack's 2025–2034 Capital Plan allocates approximately $68.4 million in 2026 alone across transportation, utilities, and parks.

The single largest piece is a $23.7 million upgrade to the city's wastewater treatment plant — the kind of unglamorous but essential investment that has to happen before a community can support meaningfully more housing. On the transportation side, roughly $14.3 million is earmarked for road improvements across the city, including corridors like Vedder Road, Keith Wilson Road, and Chilliwack Mountain Road, plus further funding for active transportation infrastructure such as bike lanes and pedestrian facilities. The plan also includes flood-protection work on the Skwah Dyke and continued investment in parks, including the development of North Sardis Park.

None of this guarantees future appreciation — no city budget can — but it does show a municipality building ahead of its population curve rather than playing catch-up, which is generally a healthier sign for long-term property values than growth with no accompanying infrastructure.

What Kind of Investment Works Best in Chilliwack Right Now

Every Fraser Valley submarket has its own entry points, and Chilliwack's current pricing creates a few that are worth understanding before you buy.

With the apartment/condo benchmark at $401,000 and the townhouse benchmark at $582,900 — both well below the single-family benchmark of $859,200 — Chilliwack's attached housing stock is currently the more accessible way into the market, particularly for investors who want rental income without single-family-level carrying costs. Established and growing pockets like Sardis, Vedder, Promontory, and Garrison Crossing continue to see new construction and resale activity, reflecting the broader population growth described above, though each has its own character and price point worth evaluating individually.

Investors should also factor in that Chilliwack's recent sales-volume decline (down double digits year over year) means less competition at the offer table right now than during the market's 2021–2022 peak, which can translate into more negotiating room on price and conditions. That window won't necessarily stay open as population growth continues to build.

Who Should (and Shouldn't) Consider Investing in Chilliwack

Chilliwack tends to make the most sense for investors with a multi-year horizon rather than a quick flip — the city's story right now is about population and infrastructure catching up to each other over the next decade, not an overnight price spike. It can be a good fit for buy-and-hold rental investors, Metro Vancouver owners looking to diversify into a more affordable Fraser Valley market, and buyers who are comfortable with a commute-dependent tenant or resident base along the Highway 1 corridor.

It's a less natural fit for investors expecting rapid short-term appreciation, or for anyone who hasn't budgeted for the realities of owning rental property at a distance from Metro Vancouver, including property management and local tenancy rules. As with any real estate investment, returns are never guaranteed, and I'd always encourage clients to speak with a qualified accountant, mortgage professional, or financial advisor about how a Chilliwack property fits their broader portfolio and tax situation before making a decision.

Frequently Asked Questions About Investing in Chilliwack, BC

Q: Is Chilliwack a good place to invest in real estate in 2026?
It depends on your strategy. Chilliwack's population growth, relative affordability compared to Metro Vancouver, and significant municipal infrastructure spending make it attractive for long-term, buy-and-hold investors, though benchmark prices have declined over the past year and returns are never guaranteed.

Q: How much does a house cost in Chilliwack, BC right now?
As of August 2026, the single-family benchmark price in Chilliwack was $859,200, according to Chilliwack & District Real Estate Board data compiled by CREA, down 5.8% from a year earlier. Townhouses benchmarked at $582,900 and apartments at $401,000.

Q: Why are so many people moving to Chilliwack?
Chilliwack added an estimated 11,700 residents between 2020 and 2025, an 11.6% increase. Statistics Canada data reported by the Business Examiner shows most recent newcomers came from elsewhere in B.C., with Metro Vancouver as the largest single source, likely drawn by relative affordability and a more spacious lifestyle within commuting distance of the Lower Mainland.

Q: What infrastructure projects is Chilliwack investing in?
The City of Chilliwack's 2026 capital budget includes about $68.4 million in spending, led by a $23.7 million wastewater treatment plant upgrade and $14.3 million in road improvements, along with parks and flood-protection work.

Q: Is now a good time to buy investment property in Chilliwack?
Sales volume has slowed over the past year, which can mean less competition and more negotiating room for buyers, while population growth continues to build underlying demand. Whether it's the "right" time depends on your own financial situation and goals — a conversation worth having with a local REALTOR® and your financial advisor.

Ready to Explore Investing in Chilliwack?

Chilliwack's combination of strong population growth, a price correction from its 2022 peak, and serious municipal investment in infrastructure is why more investors are putting it on their radar in 2026. Whether you're evaluating your first rental property in the Fraser Valley or looking to diversify a Metro Vancouver portfolio, I'd be glad to walk you through what's actually available right now and whether it fits your goals.

I'm Stephanie Wong, PREC, with Luxmore Realty. Schedule a free consultation or call me directly at (778) 960-8269 to talk through Chilliwack — or any other Fraser Valley submarket — as part of your investment plan.