Peterborough Profile

Explore population, households, income, employment, languages, and dwellings for Peterborough. Compare trends since 2016 and dig into the full demographic profile below.

National Rank:72 of 688

Level:Census subdivision

Peterborough Population

Total Population (2021)

83,651

Total Population (2016)

81,032

Population Growth

+3.2% (+2,619)

Growth Rank

#426 of 688Same geo level

Male

47.2%39,490

Female

52.8%44,160

Male-to-Female Ratio

0.894

Average Age

44.1

Median Age

43.2

Age Rank

#417 of 688Same geo level

Population Age Distribution

0–4

3,635(4.3%)

5–9

4,170(5.0%)

10–14

4,155(5.0%)

15–19

4,195(5.0%)

20–24

5,985(7.2%)

25–29

6,020(7.2%)

30–34

5,450(6.5%)

35–39

5,185(6.2%)

40–44

4,505(5.4%)

45–49

4,430(5.3%)

50–54

4,545(5.4%)

55–59

5,375(6.4%)

60–64

5,750(6.9%)

65–69

5,455(6.5%)

70–74

5,125(6.1%)

75–79

3,685(4.4%)

80–84

2,690(3.2%)

85+

3,310(4.0%)

Peterborough Households

Household Size

Average Household Size

2.3

Total Private Dwellings

38,006

Occupied Private Dwellings

35,977

Size Distribution

1 Person

11,680 (32.5%)

2 Persons

12,785 (35.5%)

3 Persons

5,165 (14.4%)

4 Persons

4,035 (11.2%)

5+ Persons

2,305 (6.4%)

Household Composition

Couples with children

6,940(19.3%)

Couples without children

9,060(25.2%)

One-parent families

3,620(10.1%)

One-person households

11,685(32.5%)

Multigenerational

865(2.4%)

Multiple-family

205(0.6%)

Peterborough Incomes

Summary

Avg. Household Income

$75,500After tax

Median Household Income

$64,500After tax

Avg. Individual Income

$40,360After tax

Median Individual Income

$34,000After tax

Income Rank

#535 of 688Same geo level

Income Composition

Market Income

76.2%

Employment Income

57.4%

Government Transfers

23.9%

Individual Income Distribution

Under $10k

4,870(7.2%)

$10k–$20k

9,395(13.9%)

$20k–$30k

12,155(18.0%)

$30k–$40k

9,915(14.7%)

$40k–$50k

8,190(12.2%)

$50k–$60k

6,010(8.9%)

$60k–$70k

4,380(6.5%)

$70k–$80k

3,240(4.8%)

$80k–$90k

2,260(3.4%)

$90k–$100k

1,785(2.6%)

$100k+

5,175(7.7%)

Peterborough Employment

Labour Force

Employment Rate

48.8%

Unemployment Rate

14.7%

Total Labour Force

39,845

Employed

34,000

Unemployed

5,845

Not in Labour Force

29,795

Low Income Prevalence

Overall Low-Income Rate

12.8%

Children (0–17)

14.2%

Adults (18–64)

12.5%

Seniors (65+)

12.7%

Gini Coefficient (Total)

0.3150 = perfect equality

Gini Coefficient (After-Tax)

0.277

Peterborough Languages

Language Knowledge

English Only

75,595 (91.7%)

French Only

20 (0.0%)

English & French

6,510 (7.9%)

Neither

290 (0.4%)

Mother Tongue

English

74,330 (90.2%)

French

840 (1.0%)

Non-official languages

5,885 (7.1%)

Top Mother Tongue Languages

English

74,330(90.2%)

French

840(1.0%)

Arabic

440(0.5%)

Spanish

365(0.4%)

Mandarin

315(0.4%)

Gujarati

295(0.4%)

Polish

290(0.4%)

Hindi

270(0.3%)

Punjabi

245(0.3%)

Tagalog

215(0.3%)

Peterborough Dwellings

Dwelling Type

Single-detached

20,560(57.2%)

Semi-detached

775(2.2%)

Row house

3,010(8.4%)

Duplex

2,605(7.2%)

Apt. < 5 storeys

6,400(17.8%)

Apt. ≥ 5 storeys

2,585(7.2%)

Other attached

45(0.1%)

Movable

5(0.0%)

Community snapshot

About Peterborough

Peterborough is in central Ontario, on the Otonabee River and Little Lake at the edge of the Kawarthas. It is a college and university city on the Trent–Severn Waterway, known for the large hydraulic lift lock. Canoe-building, provincial offices, and a compact downtown around the river shape the core. About 84,000 people live in Peterborough.

Known for

Peterborough Lift Lock on the Trent–Severn Waterway
Trent University and Fleming College
Gateway to the Kawartha lakes
Canadian Canoe Museum
Little Lake and a riverside downtown

See & do

Peterborough Lift Lock
Historic hydraulic lift lock, among the world’s highest of its type.
Canadian Canoe Museum
National collection of canoes and kayaks.
Little Lake and Millennium Park
Downtown waterfront, fountain, and the path around the lake.
Jackson Park
Creek-valley park with trails and a historic swinging bridge.
Trent University Symons Campus
Riverside campus and nature areas on the Otonabee.

Data source → Census methodology & attribution

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Data source → Census methodology & attribution