The latest Comparative Analysis has been published by the Town of Coaldale.
The document is an annual report that compares the Town’s financial, operational, taxation, growth and public safety performance against peer and neighbouring municipalities, including Taber and Lethbridge.
The 2025 report marks the program’s seventh year and is designed to help residents, businesses, investors, and elected officials better understand how Coaldale is performing compared to other communities.
Officials said the southern Alberta town continues to perform strongly across key categories. At roughly $1,900 per resident, Coaldale’s per capita operating expenditures are still the lowest among its peers and neighbouring municipalities, and about 28 per cent below the group average. Additionally, the report found that Coaldale spent $807 per resident on salaries, wages, and benefits in 2024, which is $217 less than Taber and $759 less per resident than Lethbridge.
TAXES
Officials noted that Coaldale continues its efforts to maintain a competitive tax environment for residents and businesses. From 2022 to 2025, the Town reduced its residential mill rate by 14.4 per cent, which marked the second-largest reduction among its peer municipalities, and more than six times the group average.
Over that same time, Coaldale dropped its non-residential mill rate by 2.7 per cent, while the group average went up by 1.4 per cent.
“Council has been very deliberate in its approach to taxation,” said Jack Van Rijn, the mayor of Coaldale.
“At a time when many families and businesses are facing increased costs, we have worked hard to keep Coaldale affordable while still funding the services and infrastructure our community relies on. This report shows that our approach is helping Coaldale remain competitive, financially responsible, and well-positioned for long-term growth.”
HOUSING GROWTH
The report showed that Coaldale ranked first in both per capita residential and per capita non-residential assessment growth from 2020 to 2026. Officials said Coaldale’s per capita residential assessment growth was 64 per cent higher the group average. Its per capita non-residential assessment growth came in 158 per cent higher than the group average.
The Town noted that this growth suggests Coaldale is continuing to benefit from a competitive housing market and a positive investment environment.
The municipality’s population grew by four per cent from 2020 to 2024. That was lower than neighbouring communities Taber and Lethbridge, with officials stating that is largely due to limited middle-market and multi-family housing availability.
“Assessment growth is one of the clearest indicators that a community is attracting investment,” said Cameron Mills, Deputy CAO and Director of Growth and Investment for the Town of Coaldale.
“Coaldale’s results are especially strong because they show growth on both sides of the tax base — residential and non-residential. While population growth was more modest during this period, the data suggests that demand for Coaldale remains strong and that additional housing supply will be important to supporting future growth.”
COMMUNITY SAFETY
The report shined a light on community safety, with officials saying that Coaldale is one of the safest communities of its size in all of Canada.
With an average Crime Severity Index score of 57.2, Coaldale is ranked as the safest municipality of its size in Alberta, the third safest in western Canada, and the 10th safest overall in the entire country.
The full 2025 Comparative Analysis is available on the Town of Coaldale website.
