Sarnia Profile

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

National Rank:82 of 688

Level:Census subdivision

Sarnia Population

Total Population (2021)

72,047

Total Population (2016)

71,594

Population Growth

+0.6% (+453)

Growth Rank

#548 of 688Same geo level

Male

48.7%35,105

Female

51.3%36,945

Male-to-Female Ratio

0.950

Average Age

44.8

Median Age

Age Rank

#460 of 688Same geo level

Population Age Distribution

0–4

3,310(4.6%)

5–9

3,515(4.9%)

10–14

3,750(5.2%)

15–19

3,565(4.9%)

20–24

3,945(5.5%)

25–29

4,610(6.4%)

30–34

4,490(6.2%)

35–39

4,250(5.9%)

40–44

3,925(5.4%)

45–49

3,945(5.5%)

50–54

4,150(5.8%)

55–59

5,145(7.1%)

60–64

5,770(8.0%)

65–69

5,375(7.5%)

70–74

4,530(6.3%)

75–79

3,280(4.6%)

80–84

2,135(3.0%)

85+

2,360(3.3%)

Sarnia Households

Household Size

Average Household Size

2.2

Total Private Dwellings

33,902

Occupied Private Dwellings

32,188

Size Distribution

1 Person

10,790 (33.5%)

2 Persons

11,790 (36.6%)

3 Persons

4,335 (13.5%)

4 Persons

3,495 (10.9%)

5+ Persons

1,780 (5.5%)

Household Composition

Couples with children

6,630(20.6%)

Couples without children

9,030(28.1%)

One-parent families

3,015(9.4%)

One-person households

10,795(33.5%)

Multigenerational

540(1.7%)

Multiple-family

85(0.3%)

Sarnia Incomes

Summary

Avg. Household Income

$81,700After tax

Median Household Income

$69,000After tax

Avg. Individual Income

$45,120After tax

Median Individual Income

$37,200After tax

Income Rank

#461 of 688Same geo level

Income Composition

Market Income

79.8%

Employment Income

58.5%

Government Transfers

20.2%

Individual Income Distribution

Under $10k

4,580(7.8%)

$10k–$20k

7,335(12.6%)

$20k–$30k

8,920(15.3%)

$30k–$40k

7,690(13.2%)

$40k–$50k

6,580(11.3%)

$50k–$60k

5,215(8.9%)

$60k–$70k

4,105(7.0%)

$70k–$80k

3,180(5.4%)

$80k–$90k

2,210(3.8%)

$90k–$100k

1,885(3.2%)

$100k+

6,740(11.5%)

Sarnia Employment

Labour Force

Employment Rate

47.6%

Unemployment Rate

13.0%

Total Labour Force

33,035

Employed

28,760

Unemployed

4,280

Not in Labour Force

27,340

Low Income Prevalence

Overall Low-Income Rate

11.2%

Children (0–17)

12.8%

Adults (18–64)

10.9%

Seniors (65+)

10.9%

Gini Coefficient (Total)

0.3370 = perfect equality

Gini Coefficient (After-Tax)

0.292

Sarnia Languages

Language Knowledge

English Only

65,670 (92.1%)

French Only

50 (0.1%)

English & French

5,270 (7.4%)

Neither

275 (0.4%)

Mother Tongue

English

62,345 (87.5%)

French

1,535 (2.2%)

Non-official languages

6,080 (8.5%)

Top Mother Tongue Languages

English

62,345(87.5%)

French

1,535(2.2%)

Italian

730(1.0%)

Spanish

515(0.7%)

Portuguese

415(0.6%)

Gujarati

300(0.4%)

Punjabi

265(0.4%)

Arabic

250(0.4%)

Polish

245(0.3%)

Hindi

200(0.3%)

Sarnia Dwellings

Dwelling Type

Single-detached

21,685(67.4%)

Semi-detached

1,315(4.1%)

Row house

1,765(5.5%)

Duplex

765(2.4%)

Apt. < 5 storeys

2,615(8.1%)

Apt. ≥ 5 storeys

3,945(12.3%)

Other attached

55(0.2%)

Movable

40(0.1%)

Community snapshot

About Sarnia

Sarnia is in southwestern Ontario, where the St. Clair River leaves Lake Huron toward Lake St. Clair. It is a petrochemical and refining city—often called Chemical Valley—linked to Port Huron, Michigan, by the Blue Water Bridge. Beaches, a wide river, and prevailing southwest winds shape the waterfront. About 72,000 people live in Sarnia.

Known for

Chemical Valley refining and petrochemical plants
Blue Water Bridge to Port Huron, Michigan
Lake Huron and St. Clair River waterfront
Canatara Park and the lake beach
Southwestern Ontario industrial port

See & do

Canatara Park
Lake Huron beach, trails, and a small animal farm at the river mouth.
Centennial Park
Downtown riverfront park facing the St. Clair.
Blue Water Bridge viewpoint
Lookout toward the international span and Lake Huron.
Germain Park
Large central park with gardens and sports fields.
Sarnia Bay Marina
Harbour and walk along the river downtown.

Data source → Census methodology & attribution

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Data source → Census methodology & attribution