Southeastern Manitoba has a young population compared to the national average. New census data released Wednesday puts the average age of Steinbach residents at 37.5 compared to the provincial average of 39.2 and the national average of 41. Mayor Chris Goertzen says this is great news.

"We have a young city. We have a lot of people who are starting their families here, that have grown up here and so we're very excited to have a young city and a vibrant city and it bodes well for the future. It shows that we're going to continue to grow because young people tend to want to stay and have children."

Goertzen notes the average age is up by one or two years from the 2011 census and adds that's good.

"We need a well-rounded population in our city. That reflects the amount of senior's housing that's been built in Steinbach."

City council has made it a priority in recent years to stimulate the construction of more senior's housing. Goertzen also says, with a young average age, Steinbach is attractive to businesses.

In Niverville, the average age is 31.2. Mayor Myron Dyck says although they have a very young population, the growth of Niverville has also drawn in more

Niverville Mayor Myron Dyck says the town wants a new multiplex to replace the aging arena. seniors.

"While the focus is on the youth, which is very indicative of who we are, if we break it down, there are come interesting numbers. We had 225 individuals over 65, that's it, in 2011. We now have 400. That is almost double. That is because we've been able to find and build housing so people 65 and over can stay in our community."

Meanwhile, Dyck says the youth of the Niverville population reinforces the town's case for the provincial and federal governments to put money into a multiplex.

"With a young population, they need things to do. And so we see a good return on investment would be a multiplex in our area. Our message from the census; we want to take this again to the province and to the federal government and say, look, if you're really looking for return on investment for the dollars that you have to spend, which we know are limited, we are a region of young people and we are looking to give them things to do."

Elsewhere, the average age in the rural municipalities of Hanover and La Broquerie is 31. In the town of Ste. Anne, the average age is 38.5 and in the RM of Ste. Anne it is 38.9.

Steinbach's Mayor Goertzen says the southeast is in very good shape.

"We see a lot of growth happening in the southeast and that is reflected in the average age. When you have average ages in the 30's and some in the very low 30's, like our neighbours in Hanover and La Broquerie, that is good for the City of Steinbach as well because, if the region grows, the city grows."