Waterloo Profile

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

National Rank:47 of 688

Level:Census subdivision

Waterloo Population

Total Population (2021)

121,436

Total Population (2016)

104,986

Population Growth

+15.7% (+16,450)

Growth Rank

#45 of 688Same geo level

Male

50.4%61,235

Female

49.6%60,200

Male-to-Female Ratio

1.017

Average Age

39.2

Median Age

Age Rank

#104 of 688Same geo level

Population Age Distribution

0–4

5,015(4.1%)

5–9

5,960(4.9%)

10–14

6,670(5.5%)

15–19

8,250(6.8%)

20–24

14,110(11.6%)

25–29

11,145(9.2%)

30–34

8,260(6.8%)

35–39

7,330(6.0%)

40–44

6,915(5.7%)

45–49

7,200(5.9%)

50–54

7,625(6.3%)

55–59

7,575(6.2%)

60–64

6,665(5.5%)

65–69

5,455(4.5%)

70–74

4,700(3.9%)

75–79

3,280(2.7%)

80–84

2,455(2.0%)

85+

2,820(2.3%)

Waterloo Households

Household Size

Average Household Size

2.5

Total Private Dwellings

52,049

Occupied Private Dwellings

47,040

Size Distribution

1 Person

12,250 (26.0%)

2 Persons

15,710 (33.4%)

3 Persons

7,560 (16.1%)

4 Persons

7,505 (16.0%)

5+ Persons

4,020 (8.5%)

Household Composition

Couples with children

13,165(28.0%)

Couples without children

11,145(23.7%)

One-parent families

3,540(7.5%)

One-person households

12,245(26.0%)

Multigenerational

1,120(2.4%)

Multiple-family

210(0.4%)

Waterloo Incomes

Summary

Avg. Household Income

$99,300After tax

Median Household Income

$82,000After tax

Avg. Individual Income

$48,840After tax

Median Individual Income

$37,600After tax

Income Rank

#224 of 688Same geo level

Income Composition

Market Income

87.2%

Employment Income

71.0%

Government Transfers

12.7%

Individual Income Distribution

Under $10k

10,450(10.9%)

$10k–$20k

11,860(12.4%)

$20k–$30k

13,380(14.0%)

$30k–$40k

10,595(11.1%)

$40k–$50k

9,020(9.4%)

$50k–$60k

7,510(7.9%)

$60k–$70k

6,030(6.3%)

$70k–$80k

5,055(5.3%)

$80k–$90k

3,925(4.1%)

$90k–$100k

3,285(3.4%)

$100k+

14,460(15.1%)

Waterloo Employment

Labour Force

Employment Rate

57.6%

Unemployment Rate

12.0%

Total Labour Force

65,955

Employed

58,050

Unemployed

7,905

Not in Labour Force

34,865

Low Income Prevalence

Overall Low-Income Rate

11.3%

Children (0–17)

10.3%

Adults (18–64)

12.1%

Seniors (65+)

9.0%

Gini Coefficient (Total)

0.3750 = perfect equality

Gini Coefficient (After-Tax)

0.324

Waterloo Languages

Language Knowledge

English Only

107,495 (89.6%)

French Only

45 (0.0%)

English & French

10,360 (8.6%)

Neither

2,075 (1.7%)

Mother Tongue

English

77,465 (64.6%)

French

1,045 (0.9%)

Non-official languages

36,050 (30.0%)

Top Mother Tongue Languages

English

77,465(64.6%)

Mandarin

7,435(6.2%)

Arabic

2,630(2.2%)

Spanish

1,770(1.5%)

Hindi

1,525(1.3%)

Persian

1,525(1.3%)

Punjabi

1,405(1.2%)

Korean

1,305(1.1%)

Urdu

1,185(1.0%)

Cantonese

1,050(0.9%)

Waterloo Dwellings

Dwelling Type

Single-detached

23,145(49.2%)

Semi-detached

2,125(4.5%)

Row house

5,375(11.4%)

Duplex

1,015(2.2%)

Apt. < 5 storeys

4,945(10.5%)

Apt. ≥ 5 storeys

10,330(22.0%)

Other attached

20(0.0%)

Movable

95(0.2%)

Community snapshot

About Waterloo

Waterloo is a city in Waterloo Region, immediately north of Kitchener in southwestern Ontario. It is known for the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University, and a dense cluster of tech and insurance employers. Uptown Waterloo is a separate commercial core from downtown Kitchener, linked by ION light rail. About 120,000 people live in Waterloo.

Known for

University of Waterloo and the tech sector
Insurance company head offices
Wilfrid Laurier University
Uptown Waterloo
Perimeter Institute and research spinoffs

See & do

Uptown Waterloo
Independent shops around Waterloo Public Square.
Waterloo Park
Central park with a lake and small zoo, beside UW.
University of Waterloo campus
Research university at the centre of the local tech cluster.
Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery
National collection of clay, glass, and stained glass.
Perimeter Institute
Theoretical physics centre with a public outreach program.

Data source → Census methodology & attribution

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Data source → Census methodology & attribution