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Comparison

Oakville vs Milton

The Town of Oakville and the Town of Milton, measured the same way by Statistics Canada.

Summary

At the 2021 Census, Oakville had 213,759 residents to Milton’s 132,979, and had grown 10.3% since 2016 against 20.7%. Oakville households had a higher median income (2% more), Oakville owners put a higher median value on their homes (26% more), and Oakville renters paid a lower median monthly shelter cost (8% less).

Same measures, same census, same lines of the same Statistics Canada tables. Checked September 24, 2026. Halton Region and Ontario are shown for context.


Size and growth

2021 Census counts, 100% data.

OakvilleMiltonHalton RegionOntario
Population, 2021213,759132,979596,63714,223,942
Growth, 2016 to 202110.3%20.7%8.8%5.8%
Land area138.94 km²363.83 km²965.71 km²892,411.76 km²
People per km²1,53936661816
Households73,56040,035208,6055,491,205
People per household2.93.32.82.6
Oakville, population estimates on 1 July

Statistics Canada's annual estimates, 2016 to 2025.

Oakville, population estimates on 1 July
CategoryResidents
2016199,674
2017202,934
2018208,381
2019214,200
2020219,028
2021222,225
2022226,776
2023232,240
2024238,878
2025243,107
Milton, population estimates on 1 July

2016 to 2025. Estimates adjust for people the census missed, so they run above census counts.

Milton, population estimates on 1 July
CategoryResidents
2016114,355
2017118,132
2018123,238
2019129,022
2020135,129
2021138,930
2022142,627
2023147,740
2024152,528
2025157,345

Age

2021 Census, 100% data.

OakvilleMiltonHalton RegionOntario
Median age41.636.040.841.6
Aged 0 to 1418.0%24.0%18.6%15.8%
Aged 65 and over15.7%9.9%16.0%18.5%

Income

2020 income year, private households, 25% sample.

OakvilleMiltonHalton RegionOntario
Median household income, before tax$128,000$126,000$121,000$91,000
Median household income, after tax$108,000$107,000$103,000$79,500
Average household income, before tax$182,800$142,600$156,800$116,000
Low income (LIM-AT)8.6%5.8%6.7%10.1%

Housing

2021 Census, private households; shelter costs for non-farm, non-reserve households.

OakvilleMiltonHalton RegionOntario
Households that own77.5%82.6%78.5%68.4%
Single-detached houses58.6%56.7%56.8%53.6%
Apartments in buildings of 5+ storeys12.2%5.5%11.9%17.9%
Median home value (owner's estimate)$1,200,000$950,000$1,000,000$700,000
Median monthly shelter cost, owners$2,080$2,320$2,000$1,440
Median monthly shelter cost, renters$2,040$2,200$1,800$1,300
Owners spending 30%+ of income on shelter20.8%21.9%18.7%17.7%
Renters spending 30%+ of income on shelter45.8%41.6%44.4%38.4%

What an Oakville home pays in property tax is on the property tax calculator.


Background and language

2021 Census, population in private households, 25% sample.

OakvilleMiltonHalton RegionOntario
Immigrants41.2%42.1%34.2%30.0%
Visible minority (StatCan term)42.5%55.2%35.5%34.3%
South Asian13.5%28.2%13.8%10.8%
Chinese10.9%2.8%5.4%5.8%
Muslim10.4%23.1%10.4%6.7%
Christian52.6%48.2%54.3%52.1%
No religion28.3%18.9%27.9%31.6%
English mother tongue57.4%55.6%65.3%65.1%

Education and work

2021 Census; labour and commuting collected in May 2021 under COVID-19 restrictions.

OakvilleMiltonHalton RegionOntario
Bachelor's degree or higher, ages 25 to 6461.0%50.3%50.6%36.8%
Employment rate57.6%63.0%59.5%55.1%
Unemployment rate (May 2021)11.7%11.4%11.1%12.2%
Worked at home (May 2021)44.9%37.0%38.9%29.7%
Commuters who drove85.2%91.2%88.8%83.6%
Commuters who took transit7.1%3.7%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 Town of Milton 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 Burlington, Oakville vs Mississauga, Oakville vs Toronto.

Sources

Every factual claim above traces to one of these documents.

  1. Statistics Canada

    Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population: Ontario [Province]

    Retrieved September 24, 2026

  2. Statistics Canada

    Population estimates, July 1, by census subdivision, 2021 boundaries (Table 17-10-0155-01)

    Published January 14, 2026 · Retrieved September 24, 2026

The OakvilleIQ Brief

Oakville, measured

New Statistics Canada releases and what is changing in town, once a week.

Weekly, on Thursday mornings. Email address only.