Montréal vs Québec: Population & Income Compared

Montréal and Québec sit in Quebec and often compete for talent and investment. 2021 figures show how they stack up on size, momentum, and household income. Here is a clear head-to-head.

Population & growth

Montréal counted 1,762,949 residents in 2021, compared with Québec at 549,459. Size, however, is not the same as momentum. Montréal's population rose 3.4% from 2016 to 2021, while Québec grew 3.3% over the same period.

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

Income

Median after-tax household income tells another part of the story. Québec households sat at $60,800 (median after tax), versus $56,000 in Montréal. That gap matters for cost-of-living and labour-market conversations across the two cities.

Age profile

Average age was 40.6 years in Montréal and 43.8 in Québec. Montréal's younger profile contrasts with Québec in this census snapshot.

Quick comparison table

• Population (2021): Montréal 1,762,949 · Québec 549,459
• Growth 2016–2021: Montréal 3.4% · Québec 3.3%
• Median HH income (after tax): Montréal $56,000 · Québec $60,800
• Average age: Montréal 40.6 · Québec 43.8

Montréal leads on population; Montréal grew faster over 2016–2021; Québec posts higher median after-tax household income, with Montréal 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:

• Montréal demographic profile
• Québec demographic profile
• Location Comparison tool — select Census subdivision, then Montréal and Québec