Ontario · Census Metropolitan Area
Brantford by the numbers
Brantford is Canada's 28th largest metro area, home to about 176K people, growing faster than the country since 2021 (+12.5% vs +9.3%). A two-bedroom rents for about $1,604, the median age is 41.6 and January averages -6°C.
People
Population of Brantford
The Brantford census metropolitan area had an estimated 176,307 people on July 1, 2025, up +12.5% since 2021 (Canada grew +9.3%). The 2021 Census counted 144,162 people, +7.4% more than in 2016.
The City of Brantford itself had an estimated 123,521 residents in 2025.
Municipalities in the Brantford area
| Municipality | 2025 estimate | 2021 Census | 2016–21 growth | People / km² |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brantford | 123,521 | 104,688 | +6.2% | 1,061 |
| Brant | 45,565 | 39,474 | +10.8% | 48 |
| Six Nations (Part) 40 | 7,298 | — | — | — |
Sources: Statistics Canada, Table 17-10-0148-01, Statistics Canada, Table 17-10-0155-01, Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0003-01
2021 Census
Who lives in Brantford
Age
Median age is 41.6 (Canada: 41.6). 19.3% of residents are 65 or older and 17.1% are under 15.
Languages
4.5% can speak both official languages. At home, 92.3% speak mostly English, 0.2% mostly French and 5.6% mostly another language.
Immigration
14.3% of residents are immigrants (Canada: 23.0%), and 1.6% arrived between 2016 and 2021.
Education: 20.6% of 25 to 64 year olds hold a bachelor's degree or higher; 30.2% have a college or CEGEP diploma and 6.7% a trades certificate.
Sources: Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0030-01, Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0223-01, Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0227-01, Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0302-01, Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0384-01
Money
Income and jobs in Brantford
Half of Brantford households made more than $85,000 in 2020 and half made less. Across Canada the median was $84,000.
Unemployment rate
In September 2026, the unemployment rate was 6.3% and 63.6% of adults had a job.
Sources: Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0061-01, Statistics Canada, Table 14-10-0459-01
Housing
Housing in Brantford
Average rent (October 2025)
A two-bedroom apartment rented for $1,604 a month on average, +11.2% from a year earlier and +43.9% over five years. The rental vacancy rate was 3.5%.
New homes being built
Builders started 934 new homes in the Brantford area in the 12 months to September 2026, -44.1% from the year before. That is 5.3 new homes per 1,000 residents. Source: Statistics Canada, Table 34-10-0154-01 (CMHC housing starts)
Sources: Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0258-01, Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0256-01, Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0253-01, Statistics Canada, Table 34-10-0133-01, Statistics Canada, Table 34-10-0127-01
Commuting
Getting around Brantford
Census day 2021 fell during the COVID-19 pandemic, so transit use is lower than in normal years.
Safety
Crime in Brantford
The Crime Severity Index weighs each police-reported crime by how serious it is. Canada in 2006 = 100. Brantford's index rose +7.8% in the latest year.
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0026-01
Every crime type in Brantford → Car theft, break-ins, fraud, homicides and more.
Climate
Brantford weather and climate
30-year averages (1981–2010) from the Brantford Moe weather station, 3.3 km from the city centre.
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010
Out of all Canadian metro areas with data
How Brantford ranks
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Cities near Brantford
FAQ
Brantford questions, answered
What is the population of Brantford?
The Brantford metro area had an estimated 176,307 people on July 1, 2025 (Statistics Canada). The City of Brantford itself had about 123,521.
How much is rent in Brantford?
In October 2025 the average rent in Brantford was $1,448 for a one-bedroom and $1,604 for a two-bedroom apartment (CMHC Rental Market Survey).
What is the average household income in Brantford?
The median household income in Brantford was $85,000 before tax in 2020 ($76,000 after tax), according to the 2021 Census. The average was $101,100.
What is the unemployment rate in Brantford?
The unemployment rate in Brantford was 6.3% in September 2026 (Labour Force Survey, three-month moving average, seasonally adjusted).
How cold does it get in Brantford?
January averages -6.0°C, with average lows of -10.4°C. Brantford gets about 98 cm of snow a year, and in July the average daily high is 27.2°C (1981–2010 climate normals).
Is Brantford bilingual?
4.5% of people in Brantford can speak both English and French; 94.7% speak English only and 0.0% French only (2021 Census).
What is the median age in Brantford?
The median age in Brantford was 41.6 in the 2021 Census, compared with 41.6 for Canada.
Is Brantford safe?
Brantford had a Crime Severity Index of 72.1 in 2025, compared with 75.0 for Canada as a whole. A lower number means less, and less serious, police-reported crime.
Built October 30, 2026 from the latest published official data.