Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam or Port Moody? Choosing Your Tri-Cities Home

Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody sit side by side, share a school district and are often grouped together as the Tri-Cities. Each one has its own character, though, and the right fit depends on how you get around, how you like to spend your weekends and the kind of home you want. Here is how I describe them to buyers who are deciding.

The short version

At a glance

Population figures are from the 2021 Census.

Getting around

The Evergreen Extension of the Millennium Line opened in December 2016, with six stations running from Burquitlam through Port Moody to Coquitlam's City Centre. It links into the rest of the SkyTrain network toward Burnaby and Vancouver.

The West Coast Express commuter train is another option for downtown commuters. It runs on weekdays only, toward downtown Vancouver in the morning and back out in the afternoon and evening, with stops at Moody Centre, Coquitlam Central and Port Coquitlam.

Port Coquitlam does not have a SkyTrain station, so many residents drive, take the West Coast Express or catch a bus to Coquitlam Central. For drivers, the Lougheed Highway runs through Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam, the Barnet Highway connects Port Moody toward Burnaby, and Highway 1 is close by.

Coquitlam: the most variety

As the largest of the three, Coquitlam offers the widest range of homes, from highrise and mid-rise condos near the SkyTrain in City Centre and Burquitlam to townhouses and detached homes on Burke Mountain and Westwood Plateau. City Centre has Coquitlam Centre and Town Centre Park, where a loop trail circles Lafarge Lake. Mundy Park, the city's largest park, has about 400 acres of forest and trails, and Minnekhada Regional Park sits in the city's northeast corner.

If you are weighing Coquitlam's two best-known hillside neighbourhoods, I compared them in Burke Mountain vs Westwood Plateau. You can also browse homes for sale in Coquitlam.

Port Moody: water, arts and a village feel

Port Moody wraps around the eastern end of Burrard Inlet, and life here often centres on the water. Rocky Point Park is the summer gathering spot, and the Shoreline Trail follows the inlet from Rocky Point to Old Orchard Park. A row of craft breweries along Murray Street, known as Brewers Row, sits right beside the park, and the city calls itself the City of the Arts.

Homes range from condos and townhouses near Moody Centre and Inlet Centre stations to detached homes on the hillsides, in neighbourhoods like Heritage Mountain and College Park. With two SkyTrain stations and a West Coast Express stop, it suits commuters who want a smaller-city feel. Browse homes for sale in Port Moody.

Port Coquitlam: trails and a hometown feel

Port Coquitlam, or PoCo, has a strong community identity and a compact downtown of its own. It is Terry Fox's hometown, and the city holds the Terry Fox Hometown Run every September. For getting outdoors, the Traboulay PoCo Trail makes a 25 km loop around the city, with long stretches along the rivers and through parks and neighbourhoods.

Housing is a mix of detached homes, townhouses and condos, many of them in established neighbourhoods. Commuters can take the West Coast Express from Port Coquitlam station or connect to SkyTrain at Coquitlam Central. Browse homes for sale in Port Coquitlam.

What they share

All three cities, along with the villages of Anmore and Belcarra, are served by School District 43. A move within the Tri-Cities can keep your children in the same school district, although the school they attend depends on your address, so check the catchment before you buy.

How to choose

• Your commute. SkyTrain every day, the West Coast Express on weekdays, or mostly driving?
• The home you want. A condo near a station, a townhouse, or a detached home with a yard?
• Your weekends. The waterfront and breweries, river and forest trails, or mountain views?
• Schools. Which catchment the address falls in, and how far it is to walk.
• What is planned nearby. Areas around SkyTrain stations are changing quickly, which brings new shops and services, and also construction.

Questions buyers often ask me

Which of the Tri-Cities have SkyTrain?

Coquitlam has four Millennium Line stations: Burquitlam, Coquitlam Central, Lincoln and Lafarge Lake-Douglas. Port Moody has two: Moody Centre and Inlet Centre. Port Coquitlam has no SkyTrain station, but it does have a West Coast Express stop.

Does the West Coast Express run on weekends?

No. It runs on weekdays only, toward downtown Vancouver in the morning and back in the afternoon and evening. Check TransLink for current schedules and holiday service.

Are Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody in the same school district?

Yes. School District 43 serves all three cities, plus Anmore and Belcarra. Your child's school depends on your address, so check the catchment for any home you are considering.

Which is bigger, Coquitlam or Port Coquitlam?

Coquitlam is much larger, with 148,625 residents in the 2021 Census, compared with 61,498 in Port Coquitlam and 33,535 in Port Moody.

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Transit details reflect TransLink service as of October 2026. For current schedules, visit TransLink.