Quebec · Census Metropolitan Area
Sherbrooke by the numbers
Sherbrooke is Canada's 21st largest metro area, home to about 244K people, growing slower than the country since 2021 (+6.4% vs +9.3%). A two-bedroom rents for about $1,062, the median age is 42.8 and January averages -11°C.
People
Population of Sherbrooke
The Sherbrooke census metropolitan area had an estimated 243,911 people on July 1, 2025, up +6.4% since 2021 (Canada grew +9.3%). The 2021 Census counted 227,398 people, +7.2% more than in 2016.
The City of Sherbrooke itself had an estimated 184,135 residents in 2025.
Municipalities in the Sherbrooke area
| Municipality | 2025 estimate | 2021 Census | 2016–21 growth | People / km² |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherbrooke | 184,135 | 172,950 | +7.2% | 489 |
| Magog | 30,764 | 28,312 | +6.2% | 196 |
| Orford | 5,698 | 5,007 | +15.4% | 37 |
| Saint-Denis-de-Brompton | 5,249 | 4,594 | +13.3% | 65 |
| Ascot Corner | 3,725 | 3,368 | +6.6% | 41 |
| Compton | 3,351 | 3,270 | +4.4% | 16 |
| Stoke | 3,272 | 3,014 | +2.0% | 12 |
| Waterville | 2,643 | 2,307 | +8.8% | 52 |
| Hatley | 2,512 | 2,230 | +5.9% | 31 |
| Val-Joli | 1,787 | 1,671 | +3.2% | 18 |
| North Hatley | 775 | 675 | +6.8% | 202 |
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 Sherbrooke
Age
Median age is 42.8 (Canada: 41.6). 22.4% of residents are 65 or older and 15.8% are under 15.
Languages
46.0% can speak both official languages. At home, 4.7% speak mostly English, 89.3% mostly French and 3.5% mostly another language.
Immigration
7.6% of residents are immigrants (Canada: 23.0%), and 1.9% arrived between 2016 and 2021.
Education: 30.4% of 25 to 64 year olds hold a bachelor's degree or higher; 19.0% have a college or CEGEP diploma and 21.0% 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 Sherbrooke
Half of Sherbrooke households made more than $65,000 in 2020 and half made less. Across Canada the median was $84,000.
Unemployment rate
In September 2026, the unemployment rate was 4.2% and 61.2% of adults had a job.
Sources: Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0061-01, Statistics Canada, Table 14-10-0459-01
Housing
Housing in Sherbrooke
Average rent (October 2025)
A two-bedroom apartment rented for $1,062 a month on average, +6.1% from a year earlier and +58.3% over five years. The rental vacancy rate was 2.5%.
New homes being built
Builders started 2,169 new homes in the Sherbrooke area in the 12 months to September 2026, +11.6% from the year before. That is 8.9 new homes per 1,000 residents. Source: Statistics Canada, Table 34-10-0154-01 (CMHC housing starts)
Cost of living in Sherbrooke →
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 Sherbrooke
Census day 2021 fell during the COVID-19 pandemic, so transit use is lower than in normal years.
Safety
Crime in Sherbrooke
The Crime Severity Index weighs each police-reported crime by how serious it is. Canada in 2006 = 100. Sherbrooke's index fell -7.1% in the latest year.
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0026-01
Every crime type in Sherbrooke → Car theft, break-ins, fraud, homicides and more.
Climate
Sherbrooke weather and climate
30-year averages (1981–2010) from the Bromptonville weather station, 9.9 km from the city centre.
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010
Official city data
Sherbrooke open data & fun facts
Données ouvertes – Ville de Sherbrooke · 34 datasets
- Zonage Zonage municipal en vigueur.
- Segments de rue Segments de rue du réseau routier.
- Installations sportives et récréatives Installations sportives et récréatives telles que les piscines, les arénas, les terrains de tennis, de soccer et de volleyball et les jeux modulaires.
- Zones inondables Zones pouvant être occasionnellement inondées.
Out of all Canadian metro areas with data
How Sherbrooke ranks
Compare
Cities near Sherbrooke
FAQ
Sherbrooke questions, answered
What is the population of Sherbrooke?
The Sherbrooke metro area had an estimated 243,911 people on July 1, 2025 (Statistics Canada). The City of Sherbrooke itself had about 184,135.
How much is rent in Sherbrooke?
In October 2025 the average rent in Sherbrooke was $905 for a one-bedroom and $1,062 for a two-bedroom apartment (CMHC Rental Market Survey).
What is the average household income in Sherbrooke?
The median household income in Sherbrooke was $65,000 before tax in 2020 ($56,800 after tax), according to the 2021 Census. The average was $83,000.
What is the unemployment rate in Sherbrooke?
The unemployment rate in Sherbrooke was 4.2% in September 2026 (Labour Force Survey, three-month moving average, seasonally adjusted).
How cold does it get in Sherbrooke?
January averages -10.6°C, with average lows of -16.4°C. Sherbrooke gets about 207 cm of snow a year, and in July the average daily high is 25.4°C (1981–2010 climate normals).
Is Sherbrooke bilingual?
46.0% of people in Sherbrooke can speak both English and French; 1.8% speak English only and 51.7% French only (2021 Census).
What is the median age in Sherbrooke?
The median age in Sherbrooke was 42.8 in the 2021 Census, compared with 41.6 for Canada.
Is Sherbrooke safe?
Sherbrooke had a Crime Severity Index of 50.2 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.