Assessing our community's social well-being

We define social well-being as a state of positive social relationships in a community, built upon social capital, inclusion, acceptance, support and contribution. This means that people have a sense of belonging, have strong relationships, do not face barriers to participation and are free from discrimination. When social well-being improves, so too does quality of life.

The City’s first Social Well-Being Survey was conducted in March 2023, to help us understand the baseline level of social well-being in Airdrie. These results can help us with long-term planning and allow us to better serve our residents as we grow.

Highlights 1

Below are a few key highlights of the results. For additional details, please see the full report.

  • 71%

    of residents report feeling a sense of belonging in Airdrie.



    Airdrie City Council is committed to ensuring that all residents can feel a sense of belonging.

  • 42%

    of residents feel that they do not have a voice in decisions that impact Airdrie.


    One of Council’s goals is to make sure that community stakeholders feel heard and that their input has been considered in decision-making.

  • 92%

    of residents believe that their friends and family will be there if needed.


    When times are tough, Airdrie residents can rely upon their social circle for support.

  • 85%

    of residents have helped members of their community when they have needed it.



    Airdrie comes together as a community to help those in need.

  • 61%

    of residents believe they can access the resources and supports they need here in Airdrie.


    Airdrie Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) works with and supports local agencies in delivering preventive social programming here in Airdrie. Further, the City is consistantly advocating to other levels of government for more supports to be accessible in Airdrie.

  • 33%

    of residents believe that government works in the best interests of everyone.



    While this speaks to government overall, as a local government, we recognize that we have work to do to earn your trust.

Social well-being

When social well-being is high people have a sense of belonging and do not face barriers in their ability to participate in community life; they are free from discrimination; they have strong relationships with others and can rely on them when needed; they desire to give back to the community and help others; and they possess the tools, knowledge, and relationships necessary to access the resources they need.

  • 3.8/5 for social well-being overall

    Social well-being is the average of respondents' scores for social inclusion, acceptance, support, contribution, and capital (see below).


    This suggests that on the whole, residents have fairly high levels of social well-being and that Airdrie is a city where they can thrive.

  • 3.5/5 for social inclusion

    Those who report a high level of social inclusion are more likely to say, "I feel a sense of belonging and am able to participate in community life.”


    48% of residents reported that financial limitations were a barrier to participation in community life.

  • 4.3/5 for social acceptance

    Those who report a high level of social acceptance are more likely to say, “I feel accepted and part of my community.”


    Of those who reported experiencing discrimination, 33% said it was due to gender, 31% said it was due to age and 20% said it was due to their race or ethnicity.

  • 4.4/5 for social support

    Those who report a high level of social support are more likely to say, “I feel supported and have people who are there for me.”


    85% of residents have family or friends who can provide practical assistance in their everyday lives.

  • 3.4/5 for social contribution

    Those who report a high level of social contribution are more likely to say, “I feel like I make a positive contribution when I give back to my community."


    59% of residents have volunteered (either formally or informally) in the

    past year.

  • 3.3/5 for social capital

    Those who report a high level of social capital are more likely to say, “I feel that I have the knowledge and tools I need to access resources in my community.”


    69% of residents report that they are aware of what’s happening in

    Airdrie.

Who lives in Airdrie

This section will provide a brief overview of residents who completed the survey. Although these demographic characteristics are based upon a random sample of Airdrie residents, overall, the sample is generally representative of Airdrie's population aged 15-years and older. However, there may be some small discrepancies compared to Federal Census data. For additional demographic information, please see the full report.

Airdrie is a home to a relatively young population, with over half of the population aged 15-years and older being between 25 and 50 years old. Youth (ages 15 to 24) account for around 14% of this population, while seniors account for approximately 12%.Roughly 51% of Airdrie residents are women, while 49% are men, and non-binary/non-conforming/genderqueer residents make up less than one percent of Airdrie’s population aged 15-years and older.

Airdrie is home to many young couples and families, with an average household size of 3.22.

Nearly two-thirds (64%) of Airdrie's population aged 15-years and older are married or in a common-law relationship, while around one-quarter are single and never married (24%). Around 6% of Airdrie residents are divorced, while around 3% are separated, and 3% are widowed.

40% of the respondents were parents/guardians of children under the age of 18.

Airdrie’s population is also growing more diverse, with Indigenous residents accounting for roughly 5%, Francophone residents accounting for around 2%, and racialized residents making up 20% of the population aged 15-years and older. Amongst racialized residents, the most common ethnic or cultural backgrounds are South Asian, Black, and Southeast Asian.

56% of the population aged 15-years and older have beyond a high school diploma, with 34% having a trades or other non-university education, and 19% having a bachelor’s degree or higher.


72% of the population aged 15-years and older are employed (full time, part time, or self-employed), 8% are students, and 13% are retired.

The average annual household income in Airdrie is $117,910.40, while the median was $122,499.50. Around 25% of households earn less than $70,000, and approximately 30% earn $140,000 or more.

Further, approximately one quarter (24.7%) of residents struggle to pay day-to-day expenses at least half of the time.