Ontario · Census Agglomeration

Essa by the numbers

Essa is Canada's 104th largest metro area, home to about 26K people, growing slower than the country since 2021 (+7.6% vs +9.3%). The median age is 37.6 and January averages -6°C.

Live weatherCompare Essa
Population (2025 est.)26,036
Growth since 2021+7.6%Canada: +8.9%
Median household income$108,000Canada: $84,000
Avg. 2-bedroom rent—Not surveyed here
Median age37.6Canada: 41.6
Immigrants—Canada: 23.0%
January average-6.5°CJuly high 27°C
Speak English & French8.7%Canada: 18.0%

People

Population of Essa

The Essa census agglomeration had an estimated 25,868 people on July 1, 2025, up +7.6% since 2021 (Canada grew +9.3%). The 2021 Census counted 22,970 people, +9.0% more than in 2016.

Land area280 km²
People per km²82.1
Households7,950
18K20K22K25K27K20112013201520172019202120232025

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 Essa

Age

Under 15 20%15 to 64 68%65 and over 12%

Median age is 37.6 (Canada: 41.6). 11.9% of residents are 65 or older and 20.1% are under 15.

Languages

English only 90%English & French 9%French only 0%Neither 0%

8.7% can speak both official languages. At home, 92.7% speak mostly English, 2.4% mostly French and 3.1% mostly another language.

Immigration

— of residents are immigrants (Canada: 23.0%), and — arrived between 2016 and 2021.

Education: 17.8% of 25 to 64 year olds hold a bachelor's degree or higher; 28.6% have a college or CEGEP diploma and 9.0% 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 Essa

Median household income$108,000before tax, 2020
After tax$93,000median, 2020
Average household income$121,000before tax, 2020

Half of Essa households made more than $108,000 in 2020 and half made less. Across Canada the median was $84,000.

Sources: Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0061-01

Housing

Housing in Essa

Owners 81%Renters 19%
Median home value$700,000owner-estimated, 2021
Owners' monthly costs$1,700median, 2021
Renters' monthly costs$1,110median, 2021
Spend 30%+ on housing16.6%of households

Sources: Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0258-01, Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0256-01, Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0253-01

Commuting

Getting around Essa

How people get to work

Car, truck or van95.9%
Public transit0.2%
Walked2.0%
Bicycle0.2%
Other1.5%
Average commute29.3 minCanada: 23.7 min
Commute an hour or more17.1%one way

Census day 2021 fell during the COVID-19 pandemic, so transit use is lower than in normal years.

Source: Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0457-01

Climate

Essa weather and climate

-20°-10°0°10°20°30°54 mm precipitationJ49 mm precipitationF54 mm precipitationM64 mm precipitationA78 mm precipitationM81 mm precipitationJ78 mm precipitationJ82 mm precipitationA80 mm precipitationS71 mm precipitationO82 mm precipitationN61 mm precipitationD-2°-1°4°12°19°24°27°26°22°14°7°1°
Average daily highAverage daily lowPrecipitation
Coldest month-6.5°CJanuary average
July daily high27.0°C
Snow per year152 cm
Precipitation834 mmper year
Days above 30°C14.8
Nights below −20°C7.1

30-year averages (1981–2010) from the Alliston Nelson weather station, 13.7 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 Essa ranks

#104 of 152 · Largest cities by population#62 of 152 · Fastest-growing cities#18 of 152 · Youngest cities#6 of 152 · Highest-income cities#16 of 152 · Most expensive homes#146 of 152 · Cities with the most renters#63 of 152 · Most bilingual cities#110 of 152 · Most educated cities#6 of 152 · Cities with the longest commutes#139 of 152 · Cities where the most people take transit#152 of 152 · Cities where the most people walk to work#145 of 152 · Best cycling cities#103 of 152 · Coldest cities#10 of 152 · Cities with the hottest summers#85 of 152 · Snowiest cities#102 of 152 · Wettest cities

Compare

Essa vs BarrieCompare with any city →

Cities near Essa

BarrieON 252K people $1,7492BR rent-8°Jan avg40.0median ageWasaga BeachON 29K people —2BR rent-7°Jan avg56.4median ageCollingwoodON 27K people $1,6342BR rent-6°Jan avg50.8median ageOrilliaON 37K people $1,5532BR rent-8°Jan avg46.8median ageMidlandON 30K people $1,5412BR rent-8°Jan avg50.8median ageTorontoON 7.11M people $2,0452BR rent-6°Jan avg39.6median age

FAQ

Essa questions, answered

What is the population of Essa?

The Essa metro area had an estimated 25,868 people on July 1, 2025 (Statistics Canada).

What is the average household income in Essa?

The median household income in Essa was $108,000 before tax in 2020 ($93,000 after tax), according to the 2021 Census. The average was $121,000.

How cold does it get in Essa?

January averages -6.5°C, with average lows of -10.4°C. Essa gets about 152 cm of snow a year, and in July the average daily high is 27.0°C (1981–2010 climate normals).

Is Essa bilingual?

8.7% of people in Essa can speak both English and French; 90.5% speak English only and 0.4% French only (2021 Census).

What is the median age in Essa?

The median age in Essa was 37.6 in the 2021 Census, compared with 41.6 for Canada.

Built October 30, 2026 from the latest published official data.