Ontario · Census Metropolitan Area
St. Catharines by the numbers
St. Catharines is Canada's 13th largest metro area, home to about 504K people, growing faster than the country since 2021 (+11.7% vs +9.3%). A two-bedroom rents for about $1,527, the median age is 46.0 and January averages -4°C.
People
Population of St. Catharines
The St. Catharines census metropolitan area had an estimated 503,670 people on July 1, 2025, up +11.7% since 2021 (Canada grew +9.3%). The 2021 Census counted 433,604 people, +6.8% more than in 2016.
The City of St. Catharines itself had an estimated 153,865 residents in 2025.
Municipalities in the St. Catharines area
| Municipality | 2025 estimate | 2021 Census | 2016–21 growth | People / km² |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Catharines | 153,865 | 136,803 | +2.8% | 1,422 |
| Niagara Falls | 113,983 | 94,415 | +7.2% | 449 |
| Welland | 66,480 | 55,750 | +6.6% | 687 |
| Fort Erie | 37,226 | 32,901 | +7.1% | 198 |
| Lincoln | 28,356 | 25,719 | +8.1% | 158 |
| Thorold | 33,844 | 23,816 | +26.7% | 286 |
| Port Colborne | 21,921 | 20,033 | +9.4% | 164 |
| Niagara-on-the-Lake | 20,080 | 19,088 | +9.0% | 145 |
| Pelham | 19,980 | 18,192 | +6.3% | 144 |
| Wainfleet | 7,329 | 6,887 | +8.1% | 32 |
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 St. Catharines
Age
Median age is 46.0 (Canada: 41.6). 23.6% of residents are 65 or older and 14.5% are under 15.
Languages
7.3% can speak both official languages. At home, 90.5% speak mostly English, 0.7% mostly French and 6.6% mostly another language.
Immigration
17.9% of residents are immigrants (Canada: 23.0%), and 1.9% arrived between 2016 and 2021.
Education: 24.3% of 25 to 64 year olds hold a bachelor's degree or higher; 28.5% have a college or CEGEP diploma and 6.9% 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 St. Catharines
Half of St. Catharines households made more than $77,000 in 2020 and half made less. Across Canada the median was $84,000.
Unemployment rate
In September 2026, the unemployment rate was 6.5% and 56.0% of adults had a job.
Sources: Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0061-01, Statistics Canada, Table 14-10-0459-01
Housing
Housing in St. Catharines
Average rent (October 2025)
A two-bedroom apartment rented for $1,527 a month on average, +3.5% from a year earlier and +33.8% over five years. The rental vacancy rate was 3.5%. Within the City of St. Catharines itself, a two-bedroom averaged $1,628.
New homes being built
Builders started 2,826 new homes in the St. Catharines area in the 12 months to September 2026, +45.2% from the year before. That is 5.6 new homes per 1,000 residents. Source: Statistics Canada, Table 34-10-0154-01 (CMHC housing starts)
Cost of living in St. Catharines →
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 St. Catharines
Census day 2021 fell during the COVID-19 pandemic, so transit use is lower than in normal years.
Safety
Crime in St. Catharines
The Crime Severity Index weighs each police-reported crime by how serious it is. Canada in 2006 = 100. St. Catharines's index fell -8.7% in the latest year.
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0026-01
Every crime type in St. Catharines → Car theft, break-ins, fraud, homicides and more.
Climate
St. Catharines weather and climate
30-year averages (1981–2010) from the Ridgeville weather station, 14.9 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 St. Catharines ranks
Compare
Municipality profiles
Cities and towns in the St. Catharines area
Cities near St. Catharines
FAQ
St. Catharines questions, answered
What is the population of St. Catharines?
The St. Catharines metro area had an estimated 503,670 people on July 1, 2025 (Statistics Canada). The City of St. Catharines itself had about 153,865.
How much is rent in St. Catharines?
In October 2025 the average rent in St. Catharines was $1,318 for a one-bedroom and $1,527 for a two-bedroom apartment (CMHC Rental Market Survey).
What is the average household income in St. Catharines?
The median household income in St. Catharines was $77,000 before tax in 2020 ($69,500 after tax), according to the 2021 Census. The average was $94,700.
What is the unemployment rate in St. Catharines?
The unemployment rate in St. Catharines was 6.5% in September 2026 (Labour Force Survey, three-month moving average, seasonally adjusted).
How cold does it get in St. Catharines?
January averages -4.4°C, with average lows of -7.5°C. St. Catharines gets about 115 cm of snow a year, and in July the average daily high is 26.0°C (1981–2010 climate normals).
Is St. Catharines bilingual?
7.3% of people in St. Catharines can speak both English and French; 91.8% speak English only and 0.1% French only (2021 Census).
What is the median age in St. Catharines?
The median age in St. Catharines was 46.0 in the 2021 Census, compared with 41.6 for Canada.
Is St. Catharines safe?
St. Catharines had a Crime Severity Index of 53.8 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.