The Whistlerites o The resident population was 6,800 in 1995. o Average age is 28 years; largest single group is between 20 and 24 years. o 50 per cent of the population is under 27 years and 80 per cent is under 37 years. o The average amount of time that an adult Whistlerite has been in Whistler is four years and nine months. o About two-thirds of Whistler’s adult population rents their home. o The average household size in Whistler is 2.6 people. o The majority of resident jobs are in the accommodation, food and beverage sector or the sport and recreation sector. Combined these two sectors comprise almost 60 per cent of the jobs in Whistler. Construction is the third largest sector, employing about 10 per cent of the population. o 87 per cent of residents surveyed are very satisfied (39 per cent) or satisfied with Whistler as a place to live or have a second home. Only 5 per cent indicated they were not at all satisfied. o 38 per cent of respondents indicated they have become more satisfied with the community during the time they have lived or had a second home in Whistler, 26 per cent reported they have become less satisfied. The biggest reasons for this lesser satisfaction were the amount of development, the higher cost of living and changes in the natural environment. o More than 90 per cent of residents surveyed indicate support for controlling the rate of growth. o More than 80 per cent of residents support affordable resident housing. o The abortion rate in Whistler is among the highest in the province. o The percentage of the population comprised of non-family persons is declining. The population is becoming more diversified with an increase in the "dependency" ratio, which includes those under 15 and those over 64 years. o The number of people receiving income assistance is much lower than the provincial average. This may be due to the high cost of living which makes low income living more difficult than in other communities.
