Ontario · Census Metropolitan Area
Peterborough by the numbers
Peterborough is Canada's 31st largest metro area, home to about 150K people, growing faster than the country since 2021 (+12.2% vs +9.3%). A two-bedroom rents for about $1,513, the median age is 45.2 and January averages -8°C.
People
Population of Peterborough
The Peterborough census metropolitan area had an estimated 149,938 people on July 1, 2025, up +12.2% since 2021 (Canada grew +9.3%). The 2021 Census counted 128,624 people, +5.7% more than in 2016.
The City of Peterborough itself had an estimated 97,834 residents in 2025.
Municipalities in the Peterborough area
| Municipality | 2025 estimate | 2021 Census | 2016–21 growth | People / km² |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peterborough | 97,834 | 83,651 | +3.2% | 1,292 |
| Selwyn | 20,628 | 18,653 | +9.3% | 59 |
| Cavan Monaghan | 11,507 | 10,016 | +13.4% | 33 |
| Douro-Dummer | 8,379 | 7,632 | +13.8% | 17 |
| Otonabee-South Monaghan | 8,084 | 7,087 | +6.3% | 20 |
| Curve Lake First Nation 35 | 1,428 | 1,244 | +17.5% | 187 |
| Hiawatha First Nation | 442 | 341 | -5.8% | 38 |
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 Peterborough
Age
Median age is 45.2 (Canada: 41.6). 24.5% of residents are 65 or older and 14.7% are under 15.
Languages
7.2% can speak both official languages. At home, 96.4% speak mostly English, 0.2% mostly French and 2.4% mostly another language.
Immigration
8.7% of residents are immigrants (Canada: 23.0%), and 1.0% arrived between 2016 and 2021.
Education: 26.6% of 25 to 64 year olds hold a bachelor's degree or higher; 30.8% have a college or CEGEP diploma and 5.8% 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 Peterborough
Half of Peterborough households made more than $79,000 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 59.4% of adults had a job.
Sources: Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0061-01, Statistics Canada, Table 14-10-0459-01
Housing
Housing in Peterborough
Average rent (October 2025)
A two-bedroom apartment rented for $1,513 a month on average, +1.0% from a year earlier and +27.9% over five years. The rental vacancy rate was 2.7%.
New homes being built
Builders started 234 new homes in the Peterborough area in the 12 months to September 2026, +35.3% 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)
Cost of living in Peterborough →
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 Peterborough
Census day 2021 fell during the COVID-19 pandemic, so transit use is lower than in normal years.
Safety
Crime in Peterborough
The Crime Severity Index weighs each police-reported crime by how serious it is. Canada in 2006 = 100. Peterborough's index fell -6.2% in the latest year.
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0026-01
Every crime type in Peterborough → Car theft, break-ins, fraud, homicides and more.
Climate
Peterborough weather and climate
30-year averages (1981–2010) from the Peterborough A weather station, 8.0 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 Peterborough ranks
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Cities near Peterborough
FAQ
Peterborough questions, answered
What is the population of Peterborough?
The Peterborough metro area had an estimated 149,938 people on July 1, 2025 (Statistics Canada). The City of Peterborough itself had about 97,834.
How much is rent in Peterborough?
In October 2025 the average rent in Peterborough was $1,232 for a one-bedroom and $1,513 for a two-bedroom apartment (CMHC Rental Market Survey).
What is the average household income in Peterborough?
The median household income in Peterborough was $79,000 before tax in 2020 ($70,500 after tax), according to the 2021 Census. The average was $97,800.
What is the unemployment rate in Peterborough?
The unemployment rate in Peterborough was 6.3% in September 2026 (Labour Force Survey, three-month moving average, seasonally adjusted).
How cold does it get in Peterborough?
January averages -8.5°C, with average lows of -13.7°C. Peterborough gets about 151 cm of snow a year, and in July the average daily high is 26.4°C (1981–2010 climate normals).
Is Peterborough bilingual?
7.2% of people in Peterborough can speak both English and French; 92.5% speak English only and 0.0% French only (2021 Census).
What is the median age in Peterborough?
The median age in Peterborough was 45.2 in the 2021 Census, compared with 41.6 for Canada.
Is Peterborough safe?
Peterborough had a Crime Severity Index of 57.3 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.