I'm Devin Desaulniers, a REALTOR® and Real Estate Associate at Axford Real Estate in Port Moody, licensed since 2020, with 28 years living in the Greater Vancouver area. I work with buyers and sellers in the Tri-Cities, BC, buyers relocating to the Vancouver area, and tenants relocating anywhere in Greater Vancouver who need a rental lined up before they arrive.
This page answers common questions about Port Coquitlam: where it sits, how transit actually works there, which neighbourhoods people ask about, and what to check before you buy or move here from another province or country.
Call or text me at 604-809-1032, or email devin@axfordrealestate.ca. My office is at Axford Real Estate, 2326 Clarke St, Port Moody, BC V3H 1Y8.
Where is Port Coquitlam?
Port Coquitlam is one of the three Tri-Cities, BC municipalities (with Coquitlam and Port Moody) in Metro Vancouver. The City's Official Community Plan describes it as bounded by the Fraser, Pitt and Coquitlam Rivers, with the mountains to the north. Coquitlam borders it to the north and west, and Pitt Meadows is across the Pitt River to the east. The Lougheed Highway and the CP rail line run through the middle of the city, which is why locals often talk about the north side and the south side of PoCo.
According to Statistics Canada's 2021 Census, Port Coquitlam had a population of 61,498 (up 4.9% from 58,612 in 2016), 23,671 total private dwellings and a land area of 29.16 km². The 2021 Census also counted 22,885 households, with a homeownership rate of 77.1% (22.9% renters), compared with 62.1% ownership across Greater Vancouver.
The City describes itself as having 271 hectares of parkland, including the 25-km Traboulay PoCo Trail, a gravel-and-paved loop that encircles the community along the rivers, creeks and dikes.
West Coast Express, buses and the nearest SkyTrain
This is the part relocating buyers most often get wrong, so here it is plainly:
- There is no SkyTrain station inside Port Coquitlam. The Millennium Line ends in Coquitlam. The nearest stations for most of PoCo are Coquitlam Central Station (2920 Barnet Hwy, Coquitlam) and Lincoln Station (Coquitlam), with Lafarge Lake–Douglas as the line's terminus.
- Port Coquitlam Station (2125 Kingsway Ave, at the foot of Wilson Ave, near downtown PoCo) is a West Coast Express commuter rail station. The West Coast Express runs weekday trains toward Waterfront Station in downtown Vancouver in the morning and back toward Mission in the evening, stopping at Coquitlam Central and Moody Centre on the way. TransLink's weekday schedule shows five morning departures from Port Coquitlam (6:04–8:04 a.m.) and five evening returns. There is park-and-ride at the station, with overflow parking signed at the Recreation Centre. Schedules change, so check TransLink before you rely on a specific train.
- Buses connect Port Coquitlam Station and the rest of PoCo to Coquitlam Central Station for SkyTrain transfers. Check TransLink for current route numbers and frequencies.
If a daily SkyTrain commute matters to you, we map your door-to-platform time first (walk or bus to Coquitlam Central or Lincoln, or drive to a park-and-ride) before we look at listings. If you commute to downtown Vancouver during weekday peak hours, the West Coast Express from Port Coquitlam Station may be the better fit.
Neighbourhoods people ask about
The City's Official Community Plan names Lincoln Park and Mary Hill as established neighbourhoods built from the 1950s onward, Riverwood and Citadel Heights as 1980s–90s neighbourhoods, the Dominion Avenue and Fremont areas as newer development, and the Downtown as a developing mixed-use neighbourhood. In plain terms:
- Downtown PoCo — the historic core around Shaughnessy Street, City Hall (2580 Shaughnessy St) and Port Coquitlam Station. Walkable to the West Coast Express, with a mix of older homes, low-rise condos and newer mixed-use buildings.
- Citadel Heights — south-side hillside neighbourhood (1980s–90s), mostly detached homes and townhomes, near the Pitt and Fraser River dike sections of the PoCo Trail. Expect to drive or bus for most errands and transit.
- Mary Hill — established south-side neighbourhood (1950s onward). The OCP notes the Mary Hill area rises and drops toward the Fraser River.
- Lincoln Park — established north-side neighbourhood (1950s onward). Not to be confused with Lincoln SkyTrain Station, which is in Coquitlam.
- Riverwood — north-side neighbourhood (1980s–90s) near the Pitt River and the Fremont area.
- Dominion Avenue and Fremont — newer development in the north-east, near the Dominion Triangle. The OCP notes most of the Dominion Triangle is designated for light industrial and commercial use, with some residential land along Dominion Avenue.
Other north-side pockets buyers mention include Oxford Heights, Birchland Manor and Glenwood. Each area has a different commute, school catchment (School District 43) and strata or non-strata profile, so I compare them against your shortlist rather than recommending one blind.
SkyTrain living is a different search. See the Port Moody guide and the Burquitlam neighbourhood guide.
Buying in Port Coquitlam: practical checks
- Floodplain and dikes. The City's OCP states that about 45% of Port Coquitlam is within the floodplain of the Pitt, Fraser and Coquitlam Rivers, protected by a system of dikes and pump stations. For lower-lying properties, check the City's floodplain mapping, ask your insurer about overland-flood coverage early, and have your home inspector look at drainage.
- Strata documents matter for most condos and townhomes: bylaws, minutes, depreciation report, Form B and contingency fund. I review those with you before you remove subjects.
- Zoning and what can be built nearby. Provincial housing rules and the City's own plans are allowing more homes on many lots. Before you buy, check the property's zoning and land-use designation with City of Port Coquitlam planning staff or on the City's mapping tools.
- Secondary suites. Many detached homes in the Tri-Cities, BC have suites. Confirm with the City whether a suite is permitted and registered before you count on rental income.
- Renting first? If you're relocating and want a rental lined up before you arrive, I also offer a tenant-side relocation rental service ($1,500 + GST, paid by the tenant in two parts: $750 at the start, non-refundable, and $750 once a rental is secured). Reach out 4–6 weeks before your move. Details are on the tenants page.
Recent Greater Vancouver REALTORS® benchmark prices for Port Coquitlam are not on this page. Ask me for comparable sales on the street or building you're considering.
Relocating to Port Coquitlam from another province or country
Clarify the brief
Buy-versus-rent timing, budget, commute (West Coast Express, SkyTrain via Coquitlam Central, or driving) and must-haves: schools, parking, a yard, pets, a suite.
Shortlist
Neighbourhoods and streets that match, with door-to-transit times mapped.
Showings
In person if you're here, or live video walkthroughs and floor plans if you're not.
Offer or lease
Strata review on purchases and lease review on rentals.
See also relocating to Greater Vancouver, buying a home, and first-time buyer questions for the Tri-Cities, BC.
Port Coquitlam FAQ
Who is a Port Coquitlam realtor who also helps with rentals?
I'm Devin Desaulniers at Axford Real Estate in Port Moody. I help buyers and sellers in Port Coquitlam and the rest of the Tri-Cities, BC, and I also represent relocating tenants who need a Greater Vancouver rental before they arrive.
Is Port Coquitlam part of the Tri-Cities, BC?
Yes. The Tri-Cities, BC are Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody.
Does Port Coquitlam have a SkyTrain station?
No. The nearest SkyTrain stations are Coquitlam Central and Lincoln on the Millennium Line, both in Coquitlam. Port Coquitlam has a West Coast Express commuter rail station (Port Coquitlam Station, 2125 Kingsway Ave) with weekday peak trains to downtown Vancouver.
How many people live in Port Coquitlam?
Statistics Canada's 2021 Census counted 61,498 people in Port Coquitlam.
Is flooding a concern when buying in Port Coquitlam?
The City says about 45% of Port Coquitlam is in the floodplain of the Pitt, Fraser and Coquitlam Rivers and is protected by dikes and pump stations. Check the City's floodplain information and your insurance options for the specific property before you remove subjects.
Can you help me rent in Port Coquitlam before I move?
Yes. My tenant-side relocation rental service is $1,500 + GST, paid by the tenant in two parts, and covers live video walkthroughs, floor plans, negotiation help and lease review. Details are on my tenants page.
Sources
City boundaries, neighbourhood ages, the floodplain figure, the trail and the 2021 Census counts come from the City of Port Coquitlam and Statistics Canada. West Coast Express times come from TransLink and can change.