Barrie vs Oshawa: Population & Income Compared

Barrie and Oshawa are frequently compared across central and eastern Ontario. The numbers put population, growth, income, and age side by side. Here is a clear head-to-head.

Population & growth

Barrie counted 147,829 residents in 2021, compared with Oshawa at 175,383. Size, however, is not the same as momentum. Barrie's population rose 4.5% from 2016 to 2021, while Oshawa grew 10% over the same period.

In short: Oshawa leads on municipal population; Oshawa grew faster during the last census cycle.

Income

Median after-tax household income tells another part of the story. Barrie households sat at $82,000 (median after tax), versus $76,000 in Oshawa. That gap matters for cost-of-living and labour-market conversations across the two cities.

Age profile

Average age was 40.2 years in Barrie and 40.3 in Oshawa. Barrie's younger profile contrasts with Oshawa in this census snapshot.

Quick comparison table

• Population (2021): Barrie 147,829 · Oshawa 175,383
• Growth 2016–2021: Barrie 4.5% · Oshawa 10%
• Median HH income (after tax): Barrie $82,000 · Oshawa $76,000
• Average age: Barrie 40.2 · Oshawa 40.3

Oshawa leads on population; Oshawa grew faster over 2016–2021; Barrie posts higher median after-tax household income, with Barrie slightly younger on average age.

Explore the full datasets

Dig into every section (households, labour, languages, dwellings) on the location profiles, or build your own side-by-side:

• Barrie demographic profile
• Oshawa demographic profile
• Location Comparison tool — select Census subdivision, then Barrie and Oshawa