World-renowned alpine skiing destination and host of the 2010 Winter Olympics, Whistler also holds the attention of many real estate buyers. Chalets and condos give aficionados of the slopes a base from which to enjoy all the resort town has to offer.
In Whistler, the average list price is $1,236,885, but that figure doesn’t really tell you anything. Home prices for Whistler studio condos start at about $160,000, townhouses at $429,000 and detached dwellings at the $800K point. A number of investment hotel units and fractional ownership offerings are also available. If you’re looking at the high end, $15 million is not unheard of. View Whistler MLS® listings and upcoming open houses
Regardless of the kind of real estate purchased, however, buyers can count on a West Coast resort experience complete with top-ranked restaurants, including Araxi and the Bearfoot Bistro, spas and regular events ranging from WinterPride, Western Canada’s largest gay and lesbian ski and snowboard event, to the annual Cornucopia festival of food and wine that takes place each November.
Whistler Amenities
Whistler Shopping
Whistler Village offers plenty of shopping opportunities for those seeking slope-oriented items and regional giftware, but there’s also a major grocer and other staples on offer. Creekside offers the ever-popular Creekside Market. During the summer through Thanksgiving weekend (second weekend in October), the Whistler Farmers’ Market runs on Sundays in the upper village.
Schools and Education in Whistler
Primary schools
Secondary schools
Whistler Cafés and Restaurants
Whistler, with its mix of globetrotters and rambling workers (and yes, even some who call the mountains home), caters to a variety of tastes. While prices may be a cut above budget eats in Vancouver, the diversity in menus reflects those who call the village home. Araxi, Rimrock Café and Quattro at Whistler may top the list, but there are also bars offering brunch and late-night brews, as well as coffee shops.
Whistler Sports and Recreation
The existing Meadow Park Sports Centre has been joined by a number of new sports facilities developed for the 2010 Winter Olympics, including the Whistler Sliding Centre. Still, winter sports are not all – the summers offer trail riding, mountain biking, hiking, fishing as well as golfing. Acreages in the nearby Pemberton Valley also offer equestrian activities.
Whistler Transportation
Whistler has a municipal bus service. Visitors travelling from Vancouver will have to book space on one of the shuttle services (about a two-hour ride) or better yet, take their own vehicle (a 90-minute journey). The recently upgraded Sea-to-Sky Highway offers a picturesque journey along Howe Sound into the mountains.
Whistler Property Statistics
| Home Prices* | |
| Detached | $2,000,000 |
| Townhouses | $775,884 |
| Condos | $399,000 |
* Source: Whistler Real Estate Listings – current median price for November 2011
Whistler Demographics
Population* – 10,531 (2010)
*Source: BC Stats
| Age* | |
| 60+ | 7.1% |
| 40 to 59 | 27.2% |
| 20 to 39 | 48.5% |
| 5 to 19 | 13.6% |
| 0 to 4 | 3.8% |
*Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census
| Occupancy* | |
| Fully owned | 54.9% (“Owners”) |
| Rented | 45.1% |
*Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census
| Dwellings* | |
| Detached | 24.8% (“Houses”) |
| Semi-detached | 30.2% |
| Apartments | 43.6% |
*Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census
