According to the latest available census data, Sapperton’s population growth is somewhat slow compared to the rest of New Westminster.
From 2001 to 2006, the population increased by just two per cent to 4,485, but the neighbourhood has more adults in their mid-30s and 40s.
Residents tend to work in areas of business, finance, administration, sales and service. Health is another sector where Sapperton residents outnumber the rest of the city, which is not surprising, given that Royal Columbian Hospital is in the neighbourhood.
While English is the most common language spoken, Sapperton also has a significant number of immigrants from the Philippines, and, interesting to note, Bulgarian is the second-most common language spoken in the home.
The divide between renters and homeowners is roughly 46 and 53 per cent, respectively.
For the majority of Sapperton residents, roughly two-thirds, housing is affordable, while approximately one-third of both renters and homeowners spend more than 30 per cent of their income on rent or mortgage payments. The average Sapperton household income is just under $63,000.
The City of New Westminster has data on Sapperton from 1970, but it’s a bit like comparing apples and oranges, because the area includes Massey-Victory Heights, a more affluent neighbourhood. Four decades ago, Sapperton residents mostly worked in industrial or institutional jobs.
In the manufacturing sector, wood and paper were the top industries. The average family income in 1970 was $11,706, which was the highest in New Westminster and more than the Canadian average at the time, which was roughly $6,400 – again, that data covers Sapperton and Massey-Victory Heights.
– Jennifer Moreau
