Ontario · Census Metropolitan Area
Kingston by the numbers
Kingston is Canada's 26th largest metro area, home to about 193K people, growing slower than the country since 2021 (+7.7% vs +9.3%). A two-bedroom rents for about $1,763, the median age is 42.8 and January averages -7°C.
People
Population of Kingston
The Kingston census metropolitan area had an estimated 193,466 people on July 1, 2025, up +7.7% since 2021 (Canada grew +9.3%). The 2021 Census counted 172,546 people, +7.1% more than in 2016.
The City of Kingston itself had an estimated 149,527 residents in 2025.
Municipalities in the Kingston area
| Municipality | 2025 estimate | 2021 Census | 2016–21 growth | People / km² |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingston | 149,527 | 132,485 | +7.0% | 293 |
| South Frontenac | 21,599 | 20,188 | +8.3% | 21 |
| Loyalist | 19,761 | 17,943 | +5.7% | 52 |
| Frontenac Islands | 1,963 | 1,930 | +9.7% | 11 |
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 Kingston
Age
Median age is 42.8 (Canada: 41.6). 21.4% of residents are 65 or older and 14.4% are under 15.
Languages
12.5% can speak both official languages. At home, 92.7% speak mostly English, 1.3% mostly French and 4.4% mostly another language.
Immigration
12.1% of residents are immigrants (Canada: 23.0%), and 1.6% arrived between 2016 and 2021.
Education: 33.0% of 25 to 64 year olds hold a bachelor's degree or higher; 28.9% have a college or CEGEP diploma and 5.1% 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 Kingston
Half of Kingston households made more than $83,000 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 58.2% of adults had a job.
Sources: Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0061-01, Statistics Canada, Table 14-10-0459-01
Housing
Housing in Kingston
Average rent (October 2025)
A two-bedroom apartment rented for $1,763 a month on average, +5.3% from a year earlier and +32.3% over five years. The rental vacancy rate was 2.3%.
New homes being built
Builders started 685 new homes in the Kingston area in the 12 months to September 2026, -56.0% from the year before. That is 3.5 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 Kingston
Census day 2021 fell during the COVID-19 pandemic, so transit use is lower than in normal years.
Safety
Crime in Kingston
The Crime Severity Index weighs each police-reported crime by how serious it is. Canada in 2006 = 100. Kingston's index rose +0.8% in the latest year.
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0026-01
Every crime type in Kingston → Car theft, break-ins, fraud, homicides and more.
Climate
Kingston weather and climate
30-year averages (1981–2010) from the Kingston Pumping Station weather station, 8.6 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 Kingston ranks
Compare
Cities near Kingston
FAQ
Kingston questions, answered
What is the population of Kingston?
The Kingston metro area had an estimated 193,466 people on July 1, 2025 (Statistics Canada). The City of Kingston itself had about 149,527.
How much is rent in Kingston?
In October 2025 the average rent in Kingston was $1,503 for a one-bedroom and $1,763 for a two-bedroom apartment (CMHC Rental Market Survey).
What is the average household income in Kingston?
The median household income in Kingston was $83,000 before tax in 2020 ($73,500 after tax), according to the 2021 Census. The average was $103,000.
What is the unemployment rate in Kingston?
The unemployment rate in Kingston was 6.3% in September 2026 (Labour Force Survey, three-month moving average, seasonally adjusted).
How cold does it get in Kingston?
January averages -7.0°C, with average lows of -11.4°C. Kingston gets about 160 cm of snow a year, and in July the average daily high is 25.9°C (1981–2010 climate normals).
Is Kingston bilingual?
12.5% of people in Kingston can speak both English and French; 86.9% speak English only and 0.1% French only (2021 Census).
What is the median age in Kingston?
The median age in Kingston was 42.8 in the 2021 Census, compared with 41.6 for Canada.
Is Kingston safe?
Kingston had a Crime Severity Index of 61.5 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.