Cost of living and healthcare accessibility are among the top concerns for people living in Greater Victoria, according to the Victoria Foundation’s 2025 Vital Signs report.
This year marks the 20th annual Vital Signs report, which asks residents to grade the region on 13 categories, such as quality of life, the economy, health and wellness, and housing – giving each category a grade from “F,” which is poor, to “A,” for excellent.
More than 5,800 people responded to this year’s online survey, which revealed the cost of living, healthcare and housing were top the concerns – while the natural environment, air quality and climate were among the region’s best qualities.
Some 71 per cent of respondents said cost of living was the most important issue facing Greater Victoria, followed by a tie for healthcare and housing, which 57 per cent of respondents selected as a top issue.
Meanwhile, 55 per cent of respondents highlighted homelessness as a top concern.
On the flip side, 66 per cent of respondents said the “natural environment” was the best thing about Greater Victoria, followed by 47 per cent agreeing that air quality was a top attribute.
Overall quality of life
Overall, participants gave quality of life in Greater Victoria a B grade, meaning “good, but improvements could be made.”
That letter grade is the same as last year but down from a decade ago, in 2015, when respondents gave Greater Victoria a B+ grade.
This year, the lowest mark went to Greater Victoria’s housing category, which respondents gave a D, meaning “below average performance, additional work is required.”
That’s a slight improvement for Greater Victoria’s housing category from last year’s D-, but but a decline considering its C grade given to Greater Victoria 10 years ago in 2015.
“When we first published Vital Signs in 2006, the region’s population was 345,000. Today, it stands at 460,000 people, a 33 per cent increase,” reads this year’s Vital Signs report.
Since then, the region has seen the rise of social media, weathered the COVID-19 pandemic, and experienced a “growing income inequality, wealth concentration, and the financialization of housing,” according to the report.
When asked if people were satisfied with the progress the region has made on issues since they’ve lived here, a whopping 85 per cent said they were dissatisfied with efforts to address homelessness, while 80 per cent felt dissatisfied with steps taken to address addiction.
Meanwhile, 70 per cent said they were dissatisfied with the region’s response to housing, while 69 per cent felt dissatisfied with the state of healthcare.
It’s not all doom and gloom, however. The report notes that 70 per cent of respondents say they’ll likely stay in Greater Victoria for the next 10 years, while 64 per cent reported feeling “satisfied with their work and home life balance.”
However, just 22 per cent of respondents said they felt like their access to healthcare in a timely manner was “good” or “excellent.”
The Vital Signs report notes that respondents to the survey were volunteers, meaning the results may not be representative of all residents in Greater Victoria.
The full report can be found online and below:
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