Photo: Laslovarga · CC BY-SA 3.016% of households live in a building of five or more storeys, more than in 84% of Canadian towns
Across Canada’s towns, the share of visible minority residents is 15%; Hamilton has 25%. More one-parent families than in 79% of Canadian towns: 10%. The latest estimate, for July 2025, is 640,465 residents; the 2021 Census found 222,810 households. Here, just over a quarter of residents are immigrants.
A growing town: +6% since 2016, faster than 62% of Canadian towns
Unless a figure says otherwise, it is from the 2021 Census. Residents at the 2016 and 2021 censuses and the latest estimate, with the 2016–2021 change beside other towns.
Change, 2016 to 2021
Statistics Canada’s estimate for July 2025 is 12% higher again.
Younger than 58% of Canadian towns: half of Hamilton is under 40.8
Every five-year age group as a share of residents; ticks mark the typical town.
30–34 is the most common age band: 7.3% of residents. Compared with other places, residents aged 15 to 24 are common here: 12%, more than in just over two thirds of Canadian towns. The figure for residents aged 65 and over is 18% in Hamilton and 19% across Canada’s towns.
Broad ages · share of residents
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
About an even split.
2.5 people per household, more than in 58% of Canadian towns
Household types, then household sizes.
Against Ontario’s towns and Canada’s towns
People per household
Canada’s towns.
In Hamilton, 28% of households are one person living alone.
In Hamilton, 9.2% of residents 15 and over live common-law, fewer than in 63% of Canadian towns
How adults live as couples, or don’t, with common-law unions shown on their own.
Marital status · residents 15 and over
30% of adults have never married and don’t live common-law (typical: 27%). As a reference point, 11% of residents 15 and over live common-law across Canada’s towns.
34% of households rent their home, a share 67% of Canadian towns don’t reach
The kinds of homes people live in, who owns and who rents, and how old the homes are. Prices, rents and shelter costs are on Cost of living.
Type of home
Owners and renters · share of households
When homes were built · share of homes
Older homes outnumber new: 33% predate 1961, 18% date from 2001 or later. Compared with other places, households in single-detached houses are scarce here: 56%, fewer than in three fifths of Canadian towns. Renter households make up 25% across Canada’s towns.
The median household brings in $86,000 a year
Incomes here are for 2020, the year before the census, CERB and other pandemic benefits included. Income per household, before tax, with the groups it falls into.
Households by income · share of households
The median across Canada’s towns is $86,000, and Hamilton’s, at $86,000, is close to it. The median across Ontario’s towns is $91,600. 29% of income recipients received COVID-19 emergency or recovery benefits (typical: 28%).
Hamilton ranks above 61% of Canadian towns on residents without Canadian citizenship: 8.1%
Birthplaces and arrival years of immigrants, citizenship and recent moves.
Immigrants, by continent of birth · share of all residents; the bar runs to 35%
When immigrants arrived · share of immigrants
Citizenship and moving · share of residents
Of the immigrants living here, 24% came between 2011 and 2021; across Canada’s towns the share is 27%. Residents without Canadian citizenship make up 5.8% across Canada’s towns. The largest groups of immigrants were born in Asia (39%) and in Europe (39%). 11% lived at another address a year earlier, fewer than the typical 11% across Canada’s towns.
33% of residents said they have no religion, below 57% of Canadian towns
Visible minority and Indigenous identity, then religion.
Visible minority and Indigenous identity · all residents
Religion · all residents
Among other religions: Muslim (6.8%). The share of residents with no religion across Canada’s towns is 35%. At 2.2%, the share of Indigenous residents is in line with the figure across Canada’s towns.
71% have English as their mother tongue; 5.8% also speak French
Who can speak English and French, mother tongue, and the language spoken most at home.
Can hold a conversation in · share of all residents
Mother tongue · share of all residents
At home, 13% mostly speak another language; 1.9% speak neither English nor French. Residents whose mother tongue is French are rarer here than in two thirds of Canadian towns. Across Canada’s towns, the share of bilingual residents is 7.5%; Hamilton has 5.8%.
Hamilton sits above 58% of Canadian towns for degree holders aged 25 to 64 (31%)
Highest certificate, diploma or degree of residents aged 25 to 64.
Highest qualification · residents 25 to 64
Holding no credential: 10% (typical 9.5%). The usual figure: 27% of residents 25 to 64 hold a bachelor’s degree or higher across Canada’s towns.
54% of residents 15 and over were in work
May 2021 was still a pandemic month: the census’s work figures reflect that. Four labour figures from the census. Jobs, industries and the commute are on Work & commute.
With 18% of residents 65 or over, the employment rate of 54% sits under the typical 58% across Canada’s towns.
From a median age of 28 in Ainslie Wood East to 56 in Central Business Dis
The city’s 106 neighbourhoods, youngest first; each links its own page.
Central Business Dis is the oldest area, with 39% aged 65 or over; Ainslie Wood East the youngest (median age 28). Riverdale West has the largest immigrant share, 44%.
Nearby, 1 of 6 towns have older populations than Hamilton
The closest towns, coloured by how old their residents are.
Health, work, housing and schools
What this data can and can’t tell you
- What these tables don’t give. The Census Profile has no unpaid care, cars or internet access, and no change by age since 2016; ethnic origins beyond visible minority and Indigenous identity aren’t charted here.
- The census’s own words. These are self-reported answers: Indigenous identity, immigrant status, religion. The census’s “visible minority” comes from the Employment Equity Act (non-white in colour or race, Indigenous peoples aside), and the page sets each beside other towns without labelling any.
- Against Ontario’s towns and Canada’s towns. Two medians frame each figure: one for Ontario’s towns and neighbourhoods of 2,500 or more, one for all Canadian towns of that size, with whole cities and First Nations reserves left out. Percentiles rank the town within Canada.
Questions about Hamilton’s residents
What is the average age in Hamilton?
The median age is 40.8. 16% are under 15 and 18% 65 or older.
Is Hamilton bilingual?
English and French: 5.8% speak both (Canada’s towns: 7.5%). English only: 92%. French only: 0.1%. French mother tongue: 1.1%.
How diverse is Hamilton?
Immigrants: 26% (Canada’s towns: 17%). Visible minority: 25%. Indigenous identity: 2.2%.
What religion are people in Hamilton?
33% said they have no religion and 55% that they are Christian; 12% named another faith.
Is Hamilton good for families?
16% of residents are under 15 (Canada’s towns: 16%); couple families are 50% of households and one-parent families 10%. Schools near Hamilton are on its Schools page.
What is the median income in Hamilton?
Half of Hamilton’s households had more than $86,000 in 2020, before tax; across Canada’s towns the median was $86,000.
What is the population of Hamilton?
About 640,465, by Statistics Canada’s estimate for July 2025. The 2021 Census found 569,353 people in Hamilton, 6% more than 2016.
Sources: Statistics Canada, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population · Statistics Canada, population estimates for 1 July 2025 (table 17-10-0155). Under the Statistics Canada Open Licence.
Adapted from Statistics Canada (Census of Population 2021, population estimates 2025, 2021 census boundaries) under the Statistics Canada Open Licence; this does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada. Neighbourhood names in some cities © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).