Ontario · Census Metropolitan Area
Oshawa by the numbers
Oshawa is Canada's 14th largest metro area, home to about 493K people, growing faster than the country since 2021 (+13.8% vs +9.3%). A two-bedroom rents for about $1,762, the median age is 39.6 and January averages -5°C.
People
Population of Oshawa
The Oshawa census metropolitan area had an estimated 493,441 people on July 1, 2025, up +13.8% since 2021 (Canada grew +9.3%). The 2021 Census counted 415,311 people, +9.3% more than in 2016.
The City of Oshawa itself had an estimated 213,592 residents in 2025.
Municipalities in the Oshawa area
| Municipality | 2025 estimate | 2021 Census | 2016–21 growth | People / km² |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oshawa | 213,592 | 175,383 | +10.0% | 1,204 |
| Whitby | 162,413 | 138,501 | +7.9% | 944 |
| Clarington | 114,180 | 101,427 | +10.2% | 166 |
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 Oshawa
Age
Median age is 39.6 (Canada: 41.6). 15.8% of residents are 65 or older and 18.5% are under 15.
Languages
7.3% can speak both official languages. At home, 88.5% speak mostly English, 0.6% mostly French and 7.7% mostly another language.
Immigration
22.3% of residents are immigrants (Canada: 23.0%), and 2.8% arrived between 2016 and 2021.
Education: 28.4% of 25 to 64 year olds hold a bachelor's degree or higher; 29.7% have a college or CEGEP diploma and 5.9% 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 Oshawa
Half of Oshawa households made more than $102,000 in 2020 and half made less. Across Canada the median was $84,000.
Unemployment rate
In September 2026, the unemployment rate was 9.8% and 61.9% of adults had a job.
Sources: Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0061-01, Statistics Canada, Table 14-10-0459-01
Housing
Housing in Oshawa
Average rent (October 2025)
A two-bedroom apartment rented for $1,762 a month on average, +4.3% from a year earlier and +30.1% over five years. The rental vacancy rate was 3.7%. Within the City of Oshawa itself, a two-bedroom averaged $1,780.
New homes being built
Builders started 800 new homes in the Oshawa area in the 12 months to September 2026, -11.5% from the year before. That is 1.6 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 Oshawa
Census day 2021 fell during the COVID-19 pandemic, so transit use is lower than in normal years.
Climate
Oshawa weather and climate
30-year averages (1981–2010) from the Oshawa Wpcp weather station, 4.2 km from the city centre.
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010
Official city data
Oshawa open data & fun facts
City of Oshawa Open Data · 58 datasets
- Oshawa Registered Two Unit Apartments A two-unit house generally refers to a single detached or semi-detached house converted into two self-contained dwelling units.
- CLOCA Regulated Areas CLOCA's Open Data Regulated Areas (Generic Regulation) layer.
- Oshawa Rental Housing Licenses Issued To track all of the Rental Housing Licenses issued and when each of those licenses will expire.
- Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) volume in Durham Region.
Out of all Canadian metro areas with data
How Oshawa ranks
Compare
Municipality profiles
Cities and towns in the Oshawa area
Cities near Oshawa
FAQ
Oshawa questions, answered
What is the population of Oshawa?
The Oshawa metro area had an estimated 493,441 people on July 1, 2025 (Statistics Canada). The City of Oshawa itself had about 213,592.
How much is rent in Oshawa?
In October 2025 the average rent in Oshawa was $1,586 for a one-bedroom and $1,762 for a two-bedroom apartment (CMHC Rental Market Survey).
What is the average household income in Oshawa?
The median household income in Oshawa was $102,000 before tax in 2020 ($89,000 after tax), according to the 2021 Census. The average was $120,500.
What is the unemployment rate in Oshawa?
The unemployment rate in Oshawa was 9.8% in September 2026 (Labour Force Survey, three-month moving average, seasonally adjusted).
How cold does it get in Oshawa?
January averages -4.8°C, with average lows of -8.4°C. Oshawa gets about 106 cm of snow a year, and in July the average daily high is 25.1°C (1981–2010 climate normals).
Is Oshawa bilingual?
7.3% of people in Oshawa can speak both English and French; 91.7% speak English only and 0.1% French only (2021 Census).
What is the median age in Oshawa?
The median age in Oshawa was 39.6 in the 2021 Census, compared with 41.6 for Canada.
Built October 30, 2026 from the latest published official data.