Comparison
Oakville vs Burlington
The Town of Oakville and the City of Burlington, measured the same way by Statistics Canada.
Summary
At the 2021 Census, Oakville had 213,759 residents to Burlington’s 186,948, and had grown 10.3% since 2016 against 2.0%. Oakville households had a higher median income (16% more), Oakville owners put a higher median value on their homes (33% more), and Oakville renters paid a higher median monthly shelter cost (23% more).
Size and growth
| Oakville | Burlington | Halton Region | Ontario | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population, 2021 | 213,759 | 186,948 | 596,637 | 14,223,942 |
| Growth, 2016 to 2021 | 10.3% | 2.0% | 8.8% | 5.8% |
| Land area | 138.94 km² | 186.12 km² | 965.71 km² | 892,411.76 km² |
| People per km² | 1,539 | 1,004 | 618 | 16 |
| Households | 73,560 | 73,180 | 208,605 | 5,491,205 |
| People per household | 2.9 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 2.6 |
Statistics Canada's annual estimates, 2016 to 2025.
| Category | Residents |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 199,674 |
| 2017 | 202,934 |
| 2018 | 208,381 |
| 2019 | 214,200 |
| 2020 | 219,028 |
| 2021 | 222,225 |
| 2022 | 226,776 |
| 2023 | 232,240 |
| 2024 | 238,878 |
| 2025 | 243,107 |
2016 to 2025. Estimates adjust for people the census missed, so they run above census counts.
| Category | Residents |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 188,512 |
| 2017 | 189,081 |
| 2018 | 190,144 |
| 2019 | 192,509 |
| 2020 | 193,853 |
| 2021 | 193,848 |
| 2022 | 194,803 |
| 2023 | 196,632 |
| 2024 | 199,089 |
| 2025 | 197,737 |
Age
| Oakville | Burlington | Halton Region | Ontario | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.6 | 44.4 | 40.8 | 41.6 |
| Aged 0 to 14 | 18.0% | 16.0% | 18.6% | 15.8% |
| Aged 65 and over | 15.7% | 21.0% | 16.0% | 18.5% |
Income
| Oakville | Burlington | Halton Region | Ontario | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income, before tax | $128,000 | $110,000 | $121,000 | $91,000 |
| Median household income, after tax | $108,000 | $94,000 | $103,000 | $79,500 |
| Average household income, before tax | $182,800 | $140,200 | $156,800 | $116,000 |
| Low income (LIM-AT) | 8.6% | 5.9% | 6.7% | 10.1% |
Housing
| Oakville | Burlington | Halton Region | Ontario | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own | 77.5% | 75.1% | 78.5% | 68.4% |
| Single-detached houses | 58.6% | 50.3% | 56.8% | 53.6% |
| Apartments in buildings of 5+ storeys | 12.2% | 17.5% | 11.9% | 17.9% |
| Median home value (owner's estimate) | $1,200,000 | $900,000 | $1,000,000 | $700,000 |
| Median monthly shelter cost, owners | $2,080 | $1,720 | $2,000 | $1,440 |
| Median monthly shelter cost, renters | $2,040 | $1,660 | $1,800 | $1,300 |
| Owners spending 30%+ of income on shelter | 20.8% | 15.9% | 18.7% | 17.7% |
| Renters spending 30%+ of income on shelter | 45.8% | 44.9% | 44.4% | 38.4% |
What an Oakville home pays in property tax is on the property tax calculator.
Background and language
| Oakville | Burlington | Halton Region | Ontario | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Immigrants | 41.2% | 25.7% | 34.2% | 30.0% |
| Visible minority (StatCan term) | 42.5% | 20.9% | 35.5% | 34.3% |
| South Asian | 13.5% | 6.5% | 13.8% | 10.8% |
| Chinese | 10.9% | 2.4% | 5.4% | 5.8% |
| Muslim | 10.4% | 4.3% | 10.4% | 6.7% |
| Christian | 52.6% | 58.3% | 54.3% | 52.1% |
| No religion | 28.3% | 32.4% | 27.9% | 31.6% |
| English mother tongue | 57.4% | 76.0% | 65.3% | 65.1% |
Education and work
| Oakville | Burlington | Halton Region | Ontario | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher, ages 25 to 64 | 61.0% | 45.2% | 50.6% | 36.8% |
| Employment rate | 57.6% | 58.1% | 59.5% | 55.1% |
| Unemployment rate (May 2021) | 11.7% | 10.7% | 11.1% | 12.2% |
| Worked at home (May 2021) | 44.9% | 37.0% | 38.9% | 29.7% |
| Commuters who drove | 85.2% | 88.8% | 88.8% | 83.6% |
| Commuters who took transit | 7.1% | 4.3% | 4.7% | 8.6% |
How to read this
Every row is the same characteristic from the same line of Statistics Canada’s 2021 Census Profile for each place, so the two columns are directly comparable. The geographies are census subdivisions: the Town of Oakville and the City of Burlington as Statistics Canada draws them.
Income is for the 2020 calendar year, which included pandemic benefits. Labour and commuting figures were collected in May 2021 under provincial restrictions, when far more people worked from home than usual; they describe that month, not a normal year. Census counts and July 1 estimates are different products and are not charted on one axis.
The full Oakville dataset, with definitions, is on Oakville by the numbers. For what it costs and how it works to live here, see Moving to Oakville. Other comparisons: Oakville vs Mississauga, Oakville vs Milton, Oakville vs Toronto.
Sources
Statistics Canada
Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population: Ontario [Province]
The OakvilleIQ Brief
Oakville, measured
New Statistics Canada releases and what is changing in town, once a week.