Archived Content

Information identified as archived is provided for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It is not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards and has not been altered or updated since it was archived. Please contact us to request a format other than those available.

Archived Content

Content is archived.

Focus on Geography Series, 2011 Census

Census subdivision of Amherst, T - Nova Scotia

Map of Amherst, T (shaded in green), Nova Scotia

Map of Amherst, T

Interactive version of map

Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Chart A: Amherst, T - Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Chart A description: Amherst, T - Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Prov. rank
14
Nat. rank
411

In 2011, Amherst (Town) had a population of 9,717, representing a percentage change of 2.2% from 2006. This compares to the national average growth of 5.9%.

Land area is 12.02 square kilometres with a population density of 808.4 persons per square kilometre. This compares to the provincial land area of 52,939.44 square kilometres with a population density of 17.4 persons per square kilometre.

In 2011, Amherst (Town) had 4,403 private dwellings occupied by usual residents. The change in private dwellings occupied by usual residents from 2006 was 6.0%. For Canada as a whole, the number of private dwellings occupied by usual residents increased 7.1%.

Population and dwelling counts

Amherst (Town) – Neighbouring census subdivisions

Table 1 Amherst (Town) – Neighbouring census subdivisions, population change, 2006 to 2011
Census subdivision (CSD) name CSD type Population
2011 2006 % change
Cumberland, Subd. C, N.S. SC 5,325 5,525 -3.6

Nova Scotia – Census subdivisions with 5,000-plus population with the highest population growth

Table 2 Nova Scotia – Census subdivisions with 5,000-plus population with the highest population growth, population change, 2006 to 2011
Census subdivision (CSD) name CSD type Population
2011 2006 % change
Antigonish, Subd. A SC 8,253 7,730 6.8
Kentville T 6,094 5,815 4.8
Halifax RGM 390,096 372,679 4.7
Bridgewater T 8,241 7,944 3.7
East Hants MD 22,111 21,397 A 3.3

Nova Scotia – Census subdivisions with 5,000-plus population with the lowest population growth

Table 3 Nova Scotia – Census subdivisions with 5,000-plus population with the lowest population growth, population change, 2006 to 2011
Census subdivision (CSD) name CSD type Population
2011 2006 % change
Inverness, Subd. A SC 5,280 5,859 -9.9
Digby MD 7,463 7,986 -6.5
Yarmouth T 6,761 7,162 -5.6
Clare MD 8,319 8,813 -5.6
Kings, Subd. D SC 5,201 5,499 -5.4

Age and sex

Amherst, T – Age distribution

Chart C: Amherst, T - Population by broad age groups

Chart C description: Amherst, T - Population by broad age groups

Table 4 Amherst, T – Age distributions by broad age groups and sex, 2011 Census
Age groups Both sexes Males Females
0 to 14 15.4% 17.6% 13.5%
15 to 64 63.5% 64.6% 62.6%
65 and over 21.1% 17.8% 24.0%

In 2011, the percentage of the population aged 65 and over in Amherst, T was 21.1%, compared with a national percentage of 14.8%. The percentage of the working age population (15 to 64) was 63.5% and the percentage of children aged 0 to 14 was 15.4%. In comparison, the national percentages were 68.5% for the population aged 15 to 64 and 16.7% for the population aged 0 to 14.

Amherst, T – Population by broad age groups and sex

Table 5 Amherst, T – Population by broad age groups, sex and population change between 2006 and 2011, 2006 to 2011 censuses
Broad age groups by sex Population
2011 2006 change % change
Both sexes
Total 9,715 9,505 210 2.2
0 to 14 1,495 1,540 -45 -2.9
15 to 64 6,170 6,070 100 1.6
65 and over 2,050 1,900 150 7.9
Males
Total 4,520 4,385 135 3.1
0 to 14 795 790 5 0.6
15 to 64 2,920 2,870 50 1.7
65 and over 805 730 75 10.3
Females
Total 5,195 5,120 75 1.5
0 to 14 700 750 -50 -6.7
15 to 64 3,250 3,200 50 1.6
65 and over 1,245 1,170 75 6.4

Amherst, T – Population by five-year age groups and sex

Chart D: Amherst, T - Population by five-year age groups and sex

Chart D description: Amherst, T - Population by five-year age groups and sex

Table 6 Amherst, T – Population by five-year age groups and sex, 2011 Census
Age groups Both sexes Males Females
Total - Age groups 9,715 4,520 5,195
0 to 4 years 525 265 255
5 to 9 years 470 245 230
10 to 14 years 500 285 215
15 to 19 years 515 270 250
20 to 24 years 510 240 270
25 to 29 years 460 205 255
30 to 34 years 545 255 290
35 to 39 years 585 290 300
40 to 44 years 595 300 300
45 to 49 years 755 350 410
50 to 54 years 770 345 425
55 to 59 years 730 345 385
60 to 64 years 700 330 375
65 to 69 years 485 230 255
70 to 74 years 455 220 240
75 to 79 years 380 130 245
80 to 84 years 315 115 200
85 years and over 410 110 300
Median age 45.9 43.5 47.8

Amherst, T – Median age1 of the population

Chart E: Canada, Nova Scotia and Amherst, T - Median age, 2006 and 2011 censuses

Chart E description: Canada, Nova Scotia and Amherst, T - Median age, 2006 and 2011 censuses

In 2011, the median age in Amherst, T was 45.9 years. In comparison, the median age of Nova Scotia was 43.7 years.

Table 7 Canada, Nova Scotia and Amherst, T – Median age, 2006 and 2011 censuses
  Median age
2006 2011
Canada 39.5 40.6
Nova Scotia 41.8 43.7
Amherst, T 42.8 45.9

Families and households

In 2011, the number of census families2 in Amherst was 2,795, which represents a change of 3.7% from 2006. This compares to a growth rate for Canada of 5.5% over the same period.


In Amherst, 61.0% of census families were married couples in 2011, while 15.9% were common-law-couples and 23.1% were lone-parent families.

Chart F: Amherst - Census families by family structure

Chart F description: Amherst - Census families by family structure

Amherst – Family structure

Table 8 Canada, Nova Scotia, CSD of Amherst, T and neighbouring census subdivisions – Distribution of census families by family structure, 2011 Census
Geographic name Total families Married-couple families Common-law-couple families Lone-parent families % change, census families, 2006 to 2011
number % number % number %
Canada † 9,389,695 6,293,950 67.0 1,567,905 16.7 1,527,840 16.3 5.5
Nova Scotia 270,065 184,870 68.5 38,460 14.2 46,735 17.3 1.0
Amherst, T 2,795 1,705 61.0 445 15.9 645 23.1 3.7
Cumberland, Subd. C, SC 1,740 1,330 76.4 210 12.1 205 11.8 -2.5

Amherst – Presence of children within couple families

Among couples (married and common-law) in the census subdivision of Amherst, 37.6% were couples with children aged 24 and under at home. In comparison, as a whole, 46.9% of couples in Canada had children aged 24 and under at home.

Presence of children within couple families
* Children aged 24 and under at home
Married couples with children * 625
Married couples without children * 1,080
Common-law-couples with children * 180
Common-law-couples without children * 260

Amherst – Marital status

Chart H: Amherst - Marital status

Chart H description: Amherst - Marital status

In Amherst, 53.2% of the total population aged 15 and over were either married (42.4%) or living with a common-law partner (10.9%).

The remaining 46.8% were not married and not living with a common-law partner, including those who were single (never-married), separated, divorced or widowed.

Note: Percentages may not total 100 percent due to random rounding.

Table 9 Canada, Nova Scotia, Amherst, T – Population 15 years and older by marital status, 2011 Census
Marital status Amherst, T Nova Scotia Canada
number % number % number %
Total - Population 15 years and over 8,220 100.0 783,510 100.0 27,869,345 100.0
Married or living with a common-law partner 4,375 53.2 453,095 57.8 16,084,490 57.7
Married (and not separated) 3,485 42.4 376,020 48.0 12,941,965 46.4
Living common-law 895 10.9 77,075 9.8 3,142,525 11.3
Not married and not living with a common-law partner 3,845 46.8 330,420 42.2 11,784,855 42.3
Single (never legally married) 1,970 24.0 209,180 26.7 7,816,045 28.0
Separated 340 4.1 23,545 3.0 698,245 2.5
Divorced 650 7.9 46,060 5.9 1,686,035 6.0
Widowed 880 10.7 51,625 6.6 1,584,525 5.7

Amherst – Types of private households

There were 4,405 private households3 in Amherst in 2011, a change of 6.1% from 2006. Of these, 18.0% of households were comprised of couples with children aged 24 and under at home, a change of -11.2% compared with five years earlier.

Table 10 Canada, Nova Scotia, Amherst, T – Distribution of households by household type, 2011 Census
Household type4 Amherst, T Nova Scotia Canada
number % number % number %
Total private households 4,405 100.0 390,280 100.0 13,320,615 100.0
Couple-family households with children
aged 24 and under at home5		 795 18.0 88,450 22.7 3,524,915 26.5
Couple-family households without children
aged 24 and under at home6		 1,305 29.6 128,065 32.8 3,935,540 29.5
Lone-parent family households7 610 13.8 42,445 10.9 1,375,450 10.3
One-person households 1,545 35.1 108,795 27.9 3,673,310 27.6
Multiple family households8 45 1.0 5,495 1.4 268,060 2.0
Other households9 110 2.5 17,030 4.4 543,340 4.1

Amherst – Structural type of dwelling

In Amherst, 50.5% of private households lived in single-detached houses and 0.0% lived in apartments in buildings that have five or more storeys. The rest lived in other types of dwelling structures.

Table 11 Canada, Nova Scotia, Amherst, T – Distribution of private households by structural type of dwelling, 2011 Census
Structural type of dwelling Amherst, T Nova Scotia Canada
number % number % number %
Total - Structural type of dwelling 4,405 100.0 390,280 100.0 13,320,615 100.0
Single-detached house 2,225 50.5 260,435 66.7 7,329,150 55.0
Semi-detached house 195 4.4 19,450 5.0 646,240 4.9
Row house 205 4.7 9,175 2.4 791,600 5.9
Apartment, building that has five or more storeys 0 0.0 17,880 4.6 1,234,770 9.3
Apartment, building that has fewer than five storeys 890 20.2 56,485 14.5 2,397,555 18.0
Apartment, duplex 335 7.6 11,970 3.1 704,485 5.3
Other single-attached house10 60 1.4 705 0.2 33,310 0.3
Movable dwelling11 495 11.2 14,175 3.6 183,510 1.4

Language

Amherst, T – Mother tongue

Chart J: Amherst, T - Mother tongue and language spoken most often at home

Chart J description: Amherst, T - Mother tongue and language spoken most often at home

Note: Counts for mother tongue as well as those for language spoken most often at home include single responses only.

In Amherst, 96.6% of the population reported English only as mother tongue, 1.7% reported French only, and 1.2% reported a non-official language only, in 2011. In comparison, the provincial / territorial percentages were 91.8% for English only, 3.4% for French only and 4.1% for only non-official languages.

In 2011, 99.1% of the population spoke only English most often at home, 0.1% spoke only French and 0.4% spoke only a non-official language. In comparison, the provincial / territorial percentages were 95.4% for only English, 1.8% for only French and 2.0% for only a non-official language.

Table 12 Amherst, T – Mother tongue and language spoken most often at home, 2011 Census
Selected languages Mother tongue Language spoken most often at home
number % number %
Total 9,540 100.0 9,535 100.0
English 9,215 96.6 9,450 99.1
French 165 1.7 10 0.1
Non-official language 115 1.2 40 0.4
Multiple responses 40 0.4 30 0.3
Table 13 Amherst, T – Mother-tongue retention, 2011 Census
Mother tongue Mother-tongue retention12
(in percentage)
Total retention; language spoken at home at least on a regular basis Complete retention; language spoken most often at home Partial retention; language spoken at home on a regular basis
Note: Counts for mother tongue and home language include single response of a language as well as multiple responses of a language with English and/or French.
English 99.9 99.9 0.0
French 33.3 10.3 23.1
Non-official language 77.8 37.0 40.7

Amherst, T – Non-official languages

In Amherst, the three most common mother tongues were Dutch (0.3%), Arabic (0.2%) and German (0.2%), in 2011. In comparison, the most common mother tongues at the provincial / territorial level were Arabic (0.7%), Mi'kmaq (0.5%) and German (0.4%).

Table 14 Amherst, T – The most common non-official-language mother tongues, 2011 Census
Mother tongue Number Percentage of non-official language mother-tongue population Percentage of total population
Note: Counts for mother tongue and home language include single response of a language as well as multiple responses of a language with English and/or French.
Dutch 25 18.5 0.3
Arabic 15 11.1 0.2
German 15 11.1 0.2
Polish 15 11.1 0.2
Hindi 10 7.4 0.1
Spanish 10 7.4 0.1

Amherst, T – Bilingualism

Table 15 Amherst, T – Rate of English-French bilingualism by mother tongue and age groups, 2011 Census
Age groups Mother tongue
Total English French Non-official language
Note: Counts for mother tongue include single responses only. Consequently, the total excludes multiple responses.
Total 6.3 4.9 72.7 12.5
0 to 19 11.5 11.1 100.0 33.3
20 to 44 6.9 5.7 100.0 20.0
45 to 64 4.1 2.5 75.0 0.0
65 and over 3.4 1.4 53.8 12.5
Table 16 Amherst, T – Knowledge of official languages, 2011 Census
Knowledge of official languages Number Percentage
Total 9,540 100.0
English only 8,925 93.6
French only 0 0.0
English and French 605 6.3
Neither English nor French 0 0.0

Symbols:

···
not applicable
†
excludes census data for one or more incompletely enumerated Indian reserves or Indian settlements. For further information, refer to Notes.
incompletely enumerated Indian reserve or Indian settlement. For further information, refer to Notes.
A
adjusted figure due to boundary change. For further information, refer to Content considerations.
E
use with caution. For further information, refer to Cautionary note.


Source:

Statistics Canada. 2012. Focus on Geography Series, 2011 Census. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 98-310-XWE2011004. Ottawa, Ontario. Analytical products, 2011 Census. Last updated October 24, 2012.
 

Related data:

Date modified: