Hamilton vs Burlington: Population & Income Compared

Hamilton and Burlington sit on the western edge of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area — one a major industrial city, the other a smaller, higher-income neighbour. Here is a clear head-to-head.

Population & growth

Hamilton counted 569,353 residents in 2021, compared with Burlington at 186,948. Size, however, is not the same as momentum. Hamilton's population rose 6% from 2016 to 2021, while Burlington grew 2% over the same period.

In short: Hamilton remains more than twice as large; Hamilton added people faster from 2016 to 2021.

Income

Median after-tax household income tells another part of the story. Burlington households sat at $94,000 (median after tax), versus $75,500 in Hamilton. That gap matters for cost-of-living and labour-market conversations across the two cities.

Age profile

Average age was 41.5 years in Hamilton and 43.3 in Burlington. Hamilton's younger profile contrasts with Burlington in this census snapshot.

Quick comparison table

• Population (2021): Hamilton 569,353 · Burlington 186,948
• Growth 2016–2021: Hamilton 6% · Burlington 2%
• Median HH income (after tax): Hamilton $75,500 · Burlington $94,000
• Average age: Hamilton 41.5 · Burlington 43.3

Hamilton leads on population and recent growth; Burlington posts substantially higher median household income and an older average age — all from the same 2021 data release.

Explore the full datasets

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

• Hamilton demographic profile
• Burlington demographic profile
• Location Comparison tool — select Census subdivision, then Hamilton and Burlington