Nova Scotia · Census Agglomeration
Cape Breton by the numbers
Cape Breton is Canada's 42nd largest metro area, home to about 112K people, growing faster than the country since 2021 (+11.1% vs +9.3%). A two-bedroom rents for about $1,134, the median age is 49.2 and January averages -5°C.
People
Population of Cape Breton
The Cape Breton census agglomeration had an estimated 111,889 people on July 1, 2025, up +11.1% since 2021 (Canada grew +9.3%). The 2021 Census counted 98,318 people, -0.4% more than in 2016.
The City of Cape Breton itself had an estimated 106,752 residents in 2025.
Municipalities in the Cape Breton area
| Municipality | 2025 estimate | 2021 Census | 2016–21 growth | People / km² |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Breton | 106,752 | 93,694 | -0.6% | 39 |
| Eskasoni 3 | 3,911 | 3,521 | +2.9% | 98 |
| Membertou 28B | 1,266 | 1,103 | +8.7% | 746 |
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 Cape Breton
Age
Median age is 49.2 (Canada: 41.6). 25.8% of residents are 65 or older and 13.3% are under 15.
Languages
4.2% can speak both official languages. At home, 95.5% speak mostly English, 0.2% mostly French and 3.3% mostly another language.
Immigration
— of residents are immigrants (Canada: 23.0%), and — arrived between 2016 and 2021.
Education: 21.6% of 25 to 64 year olds hold a bachelor's degree or higher; 25.2% have a college or CEGEP diploma and 11.6% 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 Cape Breton
Half of Cape Breton households made more than $62,000 in 2020 and half made less. Across Canada the median was $84,000.
Housing
Housing in Cape Breton
Average rent (October 2025)
A two-bedroom apartment rented for $1,134 a month on average, +4.9% from a year earlier and +40.5% over five years.
New homes being built
Builders started 276 new homes in the Cape Breton area in the 12 months to September 2026, -27.0% from the year before. That is 2.5 new homes per 1,000 residents. Source: Statistics Canada, Table 34-10-0154-01 (CMHC housing starts)
Cost of living in Cape Breton →
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 Cape Breton
Census day 2021 fell during the COVID-19 pandemic, so transit use is lower than in normal years.
Climate
Cape Breton weather and climate
30-year averages (1981–2010) from the Sydney A weather station, 27.7 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 Cape Breton ranks
Compare
Cities near Cape Breton
FAQ
Cape Breton questions, answered
What is the population of Cape Breton?
The Cape Breton metro area had an estimated 111,889 people on July 1, 2025 (Statistics Canada). The City of Cape Breton itself had about 106,752.
How much is rent in Cape Breton?
In October 2025 the average rent in Cape Breton was $840 for a one-bedroom and $1,134 for a two-bedroom apartment (CMHC Rental Market Survey).
What is the average household income in Cape Breton?
The median household income in Cape Breton was $62,000 before tax in 2020 ($55,600 after tax), according to the 2021 Census. The average was $76,800.
How cold does it get in Cape Breton?
January averages -5.4°C, with average lows of -9.6°C. Cape Breton gets about 283 cm of snow a year, and in July the average daily high is 23.1°C (1981–2010 climate normals).
Is Cape Breton bilingual?
4.2% of people in Cape Breton can speak both English and French; 95.7% speak English only and 0.0% French only (2021 Census).
What is the median age in Cape Breton?
The median age in Cape Breton was 49.2 in the 2021 Census, compared with 41.6 for Canada.
Built October 30, 2026 from the latest published official data.