New Westminster — Downtown Neighbourhood Guide

British Columbia's first capital, a compact riverfront city with two SkyTrain lines, a historic quay, and a mix of towers and heritage homes.

Character

New Westminster was British Columbia's first capital and remains a compact, historic city on the Fraser River. It has a population of about 78,900 and a median household income of about $82,000. Westminster Quay and the riverfront promenade anchor the downtown, while Queen's Park is known for its older, tree-lined streets.

Getting around

Two SkyTrain lines serve the city, the Expo Line and the Millennium Line, with five stations in total. Buses connect downtown with the city's other neighbourhoods and surrounding municipalities. The central location makes road travel to Burnaby, Surrey, and Coquitlam straightforward.

Homes

Downtown housing is dominated by high-rise condos near the riverfront and SkyTrain stations. In Queen's Park, the housing stock is mainly heritage houses on established streets. New Westminster has 18 schools in the open data.

Who it suits

It suits people who want strong rapid-transit access without living in Vancouver or Burnaby. It also suits those who prefer a smaller, historic city centre with a mix of condo and older house options.

Guide content is general information, not legal or financial advice. Prices and rules change — verify current figures at the official sources cited in the Knowledge Centre.