Ontario · Census Metropolitan Area
Guelph by the numbers
Guelph is Canada's 27th largest metro area, home to about 183K people, growing slower than the country since 2021 (+5.9% vs +9.3%). A two-bedroom rents for about $1,803, the median age is 39.6 and January averages -7°C.
People
Population of Guelph
The Guelph census metropolitan area had an estimated 183,134 people on July 1, 2025, up +5.9% since 2021 (Canada grew +9.3%). The 2021 Census counted 165,588 people, +9.0% more than in 2016.
The City of Guelph itself had an estimated 160,760 residents in 2025.
Municipalities in the Guelph area
| Municipality | 2025 estimate | 2021 Census | 2016–21 growth | People / km² |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guelph | 160,760 | 143,740 | +9.1% | 1,644 |
| Guelph/Eramosa | 14,870 | 13,904 | +8.2% | 48 |
| Puslinch | 8,577 | 7,944 | +8.3% | 37 |
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 Guelph
Age
Median age is 39.6 (Canada: 41.6). 16.9% of residents are 65 or older and 16.3% are under 15.
Languages
8.7% can speak both official languages. At home, 85.9% speak mostly English, 0.3% mostly French and 10.7% mostly another language.
Immigration
22.7% of residents are immigrants (Canada: 23.0%), and 3.7% arrived between 2016 and 2021.
Education: 39.7% of 25 to 64 year olds hold a bachelor's degree or higher; 22.9% have a college or CEGEP diploma and 4.6% 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 Guelph
Half of Guelph households made more than $97,000 in 2020 and half made less. Across Canada the median was $84,000.
Unemployment rate
In September 2026, the unemployment rate was 7.5% and 68.6% of adults had a job.
Sources: Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0061-01, Statistics Canada, Table 14-10-0459-01
Housing
Housing in Guelph
Average rent (October 2025)
A two-bedroom apartment rented for $1,803 a month on average, +3.9% from a year earlier and +31.9% over five years. The rental vacancy rate was 3.2%.
New homes being built
Builders started 361 new homes in the Guelph area in the 12 months to September 2026, +73.6% from the year before. That is 2.0 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 Guelph
Census day 2021 fell during the COVID-19 pandemic, so transit use is lower than in normal years.
Safety
Crime in Guelph
The Crime Severity Index weighs each police-reported crime by how serious it is. Canada in 2006 = 100. Guelph's index rose +2.0% in the latest year.
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0026-01
Every crime type in Guelph → Car theft, break-ins, fraud, homicides and more.
Climate
Guelph weather and climate
30-year averages (1981–2010) from the Fergus Shand Dam weather station, 23.6 km from the city centre.
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010
Official city data
Guelph open data & fun facts
Guelph Open Data · 41 datasets
- Property Lines Property Lines data published on this portal.
- Trees Trees data published on this portal.
- Buildings Buildings data published on this portal.
- Wildlife Gardens Wildlife Gardens data published on this portal.
Out of all Canadian metro areas with data
How Guelph ranks
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Cities near Guelph
FAQ
Guelph questions, answered
What is the population of Guelph?
The Guelph metro area had an estimated 183,134 people on July 1, 2025 (Statistics Canada). The City of Guelph itself had about 160,760.
How much is rent in Guelph?
In October 2025 the average rent in Guelph was $1,627 for a one-bedroom and $1,803 for a two-bedroom apartment (CMHC Rental Market Survey).
What is the average household income in Guelph?
The median household income in Guelph was $97,000 before tax in 2020 ($84,000 after tax), according to the 2021 Census. The average was $119,100.
What is the unemployment rate in Guelph?
The unemployment rate in Guelph was 7.5% in September 2026 (Labour Force Survey, three-month moving average, seasonally adjusted).
How cold does it get in Guelph?
January averages -7.4°C, with average lows of -11.1°C. Guelph gets about 148 cm of snow a year, and in July the average daily high is 25.2°C (1981–2010 climate normals).
Is Guelph bilingual?
8.7% of people in Guelph can speak both English and French; 89.9% speak English only and 0.0% French only (2021 Census).
What is the median age in Guelph?
The median age in Guelph was 39.6 in the 2021 Census, compared with 41.6 for Canada.
Is Guelph safe?
Guelph had a Crime Severity Index of 57.8 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.