A new housing affordability ranking is highlighting Vancouver Island communities, with Campbell River standing out among mid-sized cities in British Columbia.

Online Canadian real estate marketplace ‘Zolo’ analyzed 28 small, medium, and large cities in BC and ranked them by affordability, considering average home prices, incomes, population growth, and unemployment rates.

Campbell River is ranked the most affordable medium-sized city in BC, placing 10th overall in the study. Port Alberni placed second while Courtenay ranked 18th.

According to Zolo, Campbell River’s average home price was listed at about $674,900, Port Alberni’s $507,100, and Courtenay came in at an average home price of $834,300.

The rankings compare affordability across a range of communities throughout the province, from larger urban centres to smaller and mid-sized cities.

Zolo says single-family home prices in Campbell River are lower than average for Vancouver Island, especially compared to nearby Parksville/Qualicum, where single-family house prices were an average of $906,500 in February.

Their report notes that unemployment in the area is more in line with the provincial average of 6.6 percent, an improvement over northern areas of BC.