Oakville vs Burlington: Population & Income Compared

Choosing between Oakville and Burlington in the western GTA / Halton corridor? These metrics — population, growth, median after-tax household income, and average age — offer a factual starting point. Here is a clear head-to-head.

Population & growth

Oakville counted 213,759 residents in 2021, compared with Burlington at 186,948. Size, however, is not the same as momentum. Oakville's population rose 10.3% from 2016 to 2021, while Burlington grew 2% over the same period.

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

Income

Median after-tax household income tells another part of the story. Oakville households sat at $108,000 (median after tax), versus $94,000 in Burlington. That gap matters for cost-of-living and labour-market conversations across the two cities.

Age profile

Average age was 40.4 years in Oakville and 43.3 in Burlington. Oakville's younger profile contrasts with Burlington in this census snapshot.

Quick comparison table

• Population (2021): Oakville 213,759 · Burlington 186,948
• Growth 2016–2021: Oakville 10.3% · Burlington 2%
• Median HH income (after tax): Oakville $108,000 · Burlington $94,000
• Average age: Oakville 40.4 · Burlington 43.3

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

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