Ontario · Census Metropolitan Area
London by the numbers
London is Canada's 11th largest metro area, home to about 633K people, growing faster than the country since 2021 (+11.5% vs +9.3%). A two-bedroom rents for about $1,645, the median age is 40.0 and January averages -5°C.
People
Population of London
The London census metropolitan area had an estimated 633,002 people on July 1, 2025, up +11.5% since 2021 (Canada grew +9.3%). The 2021 Census counted 543,551 people, +10.0% more than in 2016.
The City of London itself had an estimated 494,785 residents in 2025.
Municipalities in the London area
| Municipality | 2025 estimate | 2021 Census | 2016–21 growth | People / km² |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | 494,785 | 422,324 | +10.0% | 1,004 |
| St. Thomas | 49,388 | 42,840 | +10.1% | 1,203 |
| Strathroy-Caradoc | 26,497 | 23,871 | +14.4% | 88 |
| Middlesex Centre | 21,689 | 18,928 | +9.7% | 32 |
| Thames Centre | 15,475 | 13,980 | +6.0% | 32 |
| Central Elgin | 15,230 | 13,746 | +9.0% | 49 |
| Southwold | 5,473 | 4,851 | +9.7% | 16 |
| Adelaide-Metcalfe | 3,196 | 3,011 | +0.7% | 9 |
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 London
Age
Median age is 40.0 (Canada: 41.6). 18.4% of residents are 65 or older and 16.5% are under 15.
Languages
6.6% can speak both official languages. At home, 84.9% speak mostly English, 0.3% mostly French and 11.2% mostly another language.
Immigration
21.6% of residents are immigrants (Canada: 23.0%), and 3.8% arrived between 2016 and 2021.
Education: 32.1% of 25 to 64 year olds hold a bachelor's degree or higher; 27.6% have a college or CEGEP diploma and 5.3% 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 London
Half of London households made more than $79,500 in 2020 and half made less. Across Canada the median was $84,000.
Unemployment rate
In September 2026, the unemployment rate was 9.1% and 57.8% of adults had a job.
Sources: Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0061-01, Statistics Canada, Table 14-10-0459-01
Housing
Housing in London
Average rent (October 2025)
A two-bedroom apartment rented for $1,645 a month on average, +6.7% from a year earlier and +35.3% over five years. The rental vacancy rate was 3.9%. Within the City of London itself, a two-bedroom averaged $1,648.
New homes being built
Builders started 3,788 new homes in the London area in the 12 months to September 2026, +6.0% from the year before. That is 6.0 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 London
Census day 2021 fell during the COVID-19 pandemic, so transit use is lower than in normal years.
Safety
Crime in London
The Crime Severity Index weighs each police-reported crime by how serious it is. Canada in 2006 = 100. London's index rose +7.7% in the latest year.
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0026-01
Every crime type in London → Car theft, break-ins, fraud, homicides and more.
Climate
London weather and climate
30-year averages (1981–2010) from the St Thomas Wpcp weather station, 22.2 km from the city centre.
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010
Official city data
London open data & fun facts
City of London Open Data · 131 datasets
- Traffic Volumes This layer provides approximate daily traffic volumes by roadway segment within the City of London.
- Tree Inventory This feature class can be used in combination with additional features from the topo class to create a topographical representation of the City.
- Bike Routes - On Street This layer shows bike lanes that are on City of London's roads.
- Bicycle routes and Walking Trails This layer shows the different types of paths and trails within City of London's parks.
- Parcels Polygons are general representations of parcel mapping used by the City of London.
Out of all Canadian metro areas with data
How London ranks
Compare
Cities near London
Interactive timeline
History of London
Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee and Lenni-Lenape peoples, and earlier Neutral Iroquoian villagers, have lived along the river once recorded as Askunessippi, the antlered river, now the Thames for thousands of years. The British Crown acquired the town site through the London Township Treaty of 1796, and London was founded in 1826 as a district town at the Forks of the Thames. Railways, breweries, insurance firms and a university made it the main city of southwestern Ontario, while floods, a steamboat disaster and a 2021 hate-motivated attack shaped its memory.
FAQ
London questions, answered
What is the population of London?
The London metro area had an estimated 633,002 people on July 1, 2025 (Statistics Canada). The City of London itself had about 494,785.
How much is rent in London?
In October 2025 the average rent in London was $1,371 for a one-bedroom and $1,645 for a two-bedroom apartment (CMHC Rental Market Survey).
What is the average household income in London?
The median household income in London was $79,500 before tax in 2020 ($71,000 after tax), according to the 2021 Census. The average was $98,500.
What is the unemployment rate in London?
The unemployment rate in London was 9.1% in September 2026 (Labour Force Survey, three-month moving average, seasonally adjusted).
How cold does it get in London?
January averages -4.7°C, with average lows of -8.5°C. London gets about 119 cm of snow a year, and in July the average daily high is 26.9°C (1981–2010 climate normals).
Is London bilingual?
6.6% of people in London can speak both English and French; 91.8% speak English only and 0.1% French only (2021 Census).
What is the median age in London?
The median age in London was 40.0 in the 2021 Census, compared with 41.6 for Canada.
Is London safe?
London had a Crime Severity Index of 66.0 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.