“Canadians move every five years.”
You've probably heard it before.
It's one of those real estate statistics that gets repeated so often that it starts sounding like a rule of nature. Like Alberta weather: wait five minutes and it will change.
But is it actually true?
Not quite.
The latest detailed Statistics Canada analysis tells a more interesting story. According to the 2022 Canadian Housing Survey, 33.3% of Canadian households reported moving to their current home within the previous five years. That's about one in three households—not every Canadian packing up and moving when the five-year mark hits.
And when Canadians do move, the reasons can tell us a lot about how people's housing needs change.
So, Where Did the “Every Five Years” Idea Come From?
The phrase probably comes from taking a five-year measurement period and turning it into a catchy real estate sound bite.
The actual Statistics Canada data doesn't say Canadians move every five years.
It says that one-third of Canadian households had moved within the five years leading up to the 2022 survey.
That's an important difference.
Of the approximately 15.45 million households included in the survey, about 5.14 million were classified as moving households. The remaining 66.7% had not moved during that five-year period.
So if you've been in the same house for 10, 15 or even 25 years, congratulations—you have officially ruined the statistic.
Well, not really. But you get the point.
Why Are Canadians Moving?
This is where things get particularly interesting for anyone thinking about buying or selling a home.
The number one reason reported by households that moved was wanting a larger or better-quality home.
Statistics Canada found that 25.3% of moving households cited upgrading to a larger or better-quality dwelling as one of their reasons for moving.
Other reasons included:
Becoming a homeowner — 19.2%
Change in household size — 13.5%
Wanting a more desirable neighbourhood — 13.5%
Forming their own household — 10.9%
Employment — 9.1%
Being closer to family — 9.0%
Reducing housing costs — 8.6%
Reducing commuting time — 7.7%
Households could report more than one reason, so these percentages aren't meant to add up to 100%.
The bigger takeaway?
People don't necessarily move because five years have passed. They move because life changes.
Your First Home May Not Be Your Forever Home
This is especially important for first-time buyers.
When you buy your first home, you may be focused on what works right now.
Maybe it's a condo.
Maybe it's a townhouse.
Maybe it's a smaller detached home.
Maybe it's the place you can actually afford without surviving exclusively on instant noodles.
But life has a funny habit of changing.
You get married.
You have kids.
You start working from home.
You need another bedroom.
You need a garage.
You suddenly own approximately 47 things that need to live in that garage.
Statistics Canada found that among households that moved from one owned home to another owned home, 36% cited wanting a larger or better-quality dwelling as a reason for moving.
That means moving up isn't just a real estate cliché.
For many homeowners, it's part of the natural progression of life.
Most Canadians Aren't Moving Across the Country
Here's another myth worth clearing up.
When Canadians move, they're generally not packing everything into a U-Haul and heading thousands of kilometres away.
Statistics Canada found that 94.4% of households that moved within the previous five years stayed within the same province, while only 5.6% moved to another province.
And among households that stayed within the same province, 65.8% moved within the same municipality.
That means a lot of moves are actually pretty local.
For an Okotoks homeowner, that could mean moving from a townhouse into a detached home, moving into a different neighbourhood for more space, downsizing after the kids leave or simply finding a home that better fits the next stage of life.
You don't necessarily need to leave Alberta—or even Okotoks—to make a big housing change.
Sometimes your next home is only a few streets away.
What Does This Mean for Okotoks Homeowners?
The important lesson isn't that you should plan to sell your home in five years.
It's that your housing needs can change.
When buying a home in Okotoks, it's worth thinking beyond the immediate checklist.
Ask yourself:
Will this home still work if my family grows?
Will the location still make sense if my commute changes?
Could I eventually need another bedroom or a larger garage?
Does the neighbourhood fit the lifestyle I expect to have in the next few years?
Would this property appeal to other buyers when I'm eventually ready to sell?
Nobody knows exactly what the future holds.
And if you do know, please call me because I have questions about mortgage rates.
But thinking ahead can make your next real estate decision a lot easier.
What About Sellers?
The statistics are useful for sellers too.
People move because their needs change.
That means today's buyer isn't necessarily looking for the same things as yesterday's buyer—or the same things they'll want five years from now.
A home that offers flexible living space, a practical layout, a desirable location and features that appeal to a broad range of buyers may have advantages when it eventually comes time to sell.
That's one reason resale value should be part of the conversation when you're buying, not something you think about for the first time when you're putting a FOR SALE sign on the lawn.
So, Do Canadians Really Move Every Five Years?
No—not literally.
The latest Statistics Canada data shows that one in three Canadian households had moved within the previous five years.
And the most common reason was wanting a larger or better-quality home.
So instead of saying:
“Canadians move every five years.”
A more accurate way to put it would be:
“A significant number of Canadian households move within any given five-year period, often because their housing needs have changed.”
And honestly, that's probably the more useful statistic anyway.
Because real estate isn't really about a five-year clock.
It's about life.
Your first home might be perfect for you today.
Five years from now, you might need something completely different.
And that's okay.
Thinking about buying or selling in Okotoks? Matt Burnham, your Top Okotoks Realtor®, can help you look beyond today's market and consider how your next move fits into the bigger picture.
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