Photo: Pierre Bona · CC BY-SA 3.0A lower share of residents who moved in within the year than 93% of Canadian towns, at 6.5%
20% of residents are under 15 (Canada’s towns: 16%). The census found that 0.6% of residents belong to a visible minority in Compton. On immigrants, Compton sits lower than 89% of Canadian towns: 3.1%. There are 4% more residents than in 2016.
What stands out about the people of Compton
Common-law couples
32% of residents 15 and over live common-law, more than in 96% of Canadian towns; 34% are married. Couples ↓
Written from the data on this page: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census.
Compton ranks above 86% of Canadian towns on bilingual residents: 39%
The figures are the 2021 Census’s, except where another date is given. Knowledge of the two official languages, first languages, and the language of home.
Can hold a conversation in · share of all residents
Mother tongue · share of all residents
At home: French 87%, English 10%. Across Canada’s towns, the share of bilingual residents is 7.5%. Lower than in 84% of Canadian towns: 9.6% of residents have English as their mother tongue.
Growth of +4% since 2016 puts Compton ahead of 52% of Canadian towns
The census counts of 2016 and 2021, the estimate after them, and the change set beside other towns.
Change, 2016 to 2021
The July 2025 estimate adds another 2%.
Residents aged 15 to 24: 9.3%, a lower share than 76% of Canadian towns
Age bands of five years, the town’s bars against the typical town’s ticks.
With a median age of 41.2, Compton is younger than 55% of Canadian towns. Set beside that, 11% of residents are aged 15 to 24 across Canada’s towns. 60–64 is the most common age band: 7.8% of residents. Across Canada’s towns, the share of residents aged 65 and over is 19%; Compton has 20%.
Median age of Canadian towns of 2,500+
■ Compton, 41.2. The typical town is 42.
Broad ages · share of residents
Women and men · all residents
49% women, 51% men
About 104 men for every 100 women.
2.5 people per household, more than in 58% of Canadian towns
Household types, then household sizes.
Against Quebec’s towns and Canada’s towns
People per household
Canada’s towns.
6.1% of households are one-parent families, against 8.2% across Canada’s towns. The share of one-person households stands at 26%.
Compton sits above 96% of Canadian towns for common-law partners (32%)
Residents 15 and over by marital status; the census counts common-law couples separately.
Marital status · residents 15 and over
With married residents 15 and over at 34%, Compton is behind nearly four fifths of Canadian towns on that count. For common-law partners, the comparison across Canada’s towns is 11%.
Compton: 78% of households live in a single-detached house, above 70% of Canadian towns
Occupied homes by type, by owners and renters, and by when they were built. 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
Households in buildings of five or more storeys are rarer here than in nearly three quarters of Canadian towns. Across Canada’s towns, households in single-detached houses come to 64%. The census found that 23% of households rent their home in Compton.
Households here have a median income of $74,000 a year
Incomes are 2020’s, the census’s reference year, and include pandemic benefits such as CERB. Household income before tax: the median, and households by income group.
Households by income · share of households
Compton’s median household took in $74,000 before tax, 14% less than the median across Canada’s towns ($86,000). Within Quebec’s towns, the household in the middle had $74,000. COVID-19 benefits went to 26% of residents with an income (typical: 28%).
3.1% of residents are immigrants
Immigrants, newcomers and movers.
Immigrants, by continent of birth · share of all residents; the bar runs to 20%
When immigrants arrived · share of immigrants
Citizenship and moving · share of residents
The largest groups of immigrants were born in Europe (70%) and in the Americas (20%). Lower than in 96% of Canadian towns: 0.5% of residents are not Canadian citizens.
In Compton, 27% of residents said they have no religion, fewer than in 74% of Canadian towns
Visible minority and Indigenous identity, then religion.
Visible minority and Indigenous identity · all residents
Religion · all residents
Indigenous residents: 2.8% of the total. The comparison figure for residents with no religion is 35% across Canada’s towns.
A smaller share of degree holders aged 25 to 64 than 75% of Canadian towns: 17%
Highest certificate, diploma or degree of residents aged 25 to 64.
Highest qualification · residents 25 to 64
At the other end, 11% hold no certificate, diploma or degree, against a typical 9.5%. As a reference point, 27% of residents 25 to 64 hold a bachelor’s degree or higher across Canada’s towns.
A job for 67% of residents aged 15 and over
The census was taken in May 2021, during the pandemic, so these rates show a labour market still recovering. The census’s labour rates, in brief. Jobs, industries and the commute are on Work & commute.
At 67%, more residents are in work than the typical 58% across Canada’s towns.
In its size band (3,294 to 3,410), the 16th youngest of 41 towns
Median age of the Canadian towns nearest in population; hover a dot.
Median ages climb from 21.8 (Arviat) to 59.2 (North Kawartha) across the group. Closest in median age to Compton are Greeningdon (40.6), Holyrood (40.8), Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes (41.6) and Virden (41.6).
Compton sits below 4 of its 6 closest neighbours on median age
The closest towns, coloured by how old their residents are.
| Town | People | Away | Median age | 65+ | Immigrants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compton | 3,351 | — | 41.2 | 20% | 3.1% |
| Waterville | 2,643 | 7.5 km | 39.2 | 17% | 4.2% |
| Hatley | 2,512 | 10.5 km | 50 | 25% | 6.8% |
| Coaticook | 9,027 | 13.8 km | 48 | 26% | 2.4% |
| Sainte-Catherine-de-Hatley | 2,938 | 15.6 km | 50 | 24% | 4.7% |
| Sherbrooke | 184,135 | 18.3 km | 41.2 | 21% | 8.8% |
| Ayer's Cliff | 1,284 | 18.4 km | 49.6 | 24% | 5.4% |
Health, work, housing and schools
What this data can and can’t tell you
- The census’s own words. The census takes “visible minority” from the Employment Equity Act: anyone other than Indigenous peoples who is non-white in colour or race. Indigenous identity, immigrant status and religion are what residents reported, compared here with other towns and never used as a label.
- Against Quebec’s towns and Canada’s towns. A figure here is set beside two middles, the median across Quebec’s places of 2,500 people or more and the median across all Canadian towns that size; reserves and entire cities are excluded from both.
- What these tables don’t give. Unpaid care, car ownership and internet access aren’t in the Census Profile, nor is the change by age since 2016. Ethnic origins other than visible minority and Indigenous identity are left out of the charts.
Questions about Compton’s residents
What is the population of Compton?
Compton had about 3,351 residents in July 2025, Statistics Canada estimates; the 2021 Census counted 3,270, 4% more than 2016.
What is the average age in Compton?
A median age of 41.2, younger than 55% of Canadian towns. Children under 15 make up 20%, and people 65 and over 20%.
Is Compton bilingual?
Both official languages are spoken by 39% of residents, against a typical 7.5% across Canada’s towns. 3.5% speak only English and 57% only French; 87% grew up with French.
How diverse is Compton?
3.1% of residents are immigrants (Canada’s towns: 17%); 0.6% belong to a visible minority and 2.8% have an Indigenous identity.
What religion are people in Compton?
73% are Christian and 27% have no religion; 0.2% follow another religion.
Is Compton good for families?
Under 15: 20% (Canada’s towns: 16%). Couple families: 62% of households. One-parent families: 6.1%. Schools near Compton are on its Schools page.
What is the median income in Compton?
The median household in Compton took in $74,000 in 2020, against $86,000 across Canada’s towns.
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).