Poverty and living standards in Waterloo, Canada: official figures
11.3% of people in private households in Waterloo, 13,375 in all, were in low income in 2020 by the low-income measure after tax (LIM-AT), joint 27th highest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; the rate for Canada was 11.1%.
How many children in Waterloo live in poverty?
10.3% of children under 18 in Waterloo lived in low-income households in 2020 (LIM-AT), joint 23rd lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 11.9%); among residents aged 65 and over the rate was 9.0% (Canada: 15.0%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyWhat is the low-income cut-off rate in Waterloo?
By the stricter low-income cut-offs after tax (LICO-AT), 10.3% of people in Waterloo were in low income in 2020 (Canada: 5.2%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many households in Waterloo are in core housing need?
8.0% of households in Waterloo, 3,580, were in core housing need in 2021, meaning their home was unaffordable, crowded or in need of major repairs and they could not afford an acceptable local alternative; that was 11th lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 10.1%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many households in Waterloo spend too much on housing?
24.0% of households in Waterloo spent 30% or more of their income on shelter costs in 2021, 25th highest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 20.9%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many renters in Waterloo struggle with housing costs?
Among renter households in Waterloo in 2021, 40.9% spent 30% or more of income on shelter, 14.9% were in core housing need and 6.7% lived in subsidized housing; among owners, 13.6% spent 30% or more and 4.0% were in core need (Canada: renters 33.2% and 20.0%, owners 14.8% and 5.3%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow Waterloo compares with other cities in Canada
Prevalence of low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census (2020)
Waterloo ranks 28 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Prevalence of low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Thunder Bay | 11.6% |
| 26 | Coquitlam | 11.4% |
| 27 | Kingston | 11.3% |
| 28 | Waterloo | 11.3% |
| 29 | Nanaimo | 11.1% |
| 30 | St. Catharines-Niagara | 11.0% |
| 31 | Hamilton | 10.8% |
Children aged 0-17 in low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census (2020)
Waterloo ranks 47 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children aged 0-17 in low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | Kelowna | 10.6% |
| 45 | Oakville | 10.5% |
| 46 | Cambridge | 10.3% |
| 47 | Waterloo | 10.3% |
| 48 | Chilliwack | 10.2% |
| 49 | Barrie | 10.0% |
| 50 | Ottawa - Gatineau | 9.8% |
Households in core housing need, 2021 Census (2021)
Waterloo ranks 59 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households in core housing need, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 56 | Whitby | 8.2% |
| 57 | Saint John | 8.2% |
| 58 | Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury | 8.1% |
| 59 | Waterloo | 8.0% |
| 60 | Burlington | 7.9% |
| 61 | Chatham-Kent | 7.2% |
| 62 | Laval | 6.4% |
Households spending 30% or more of income on shelter, 2021 Census (2021)
Waterloo ranks 25 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households spending 30% or more of income on shelter, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Edmonton | 24.3% |
| 23 | Montréal | 24.2% |
| 24 | London | 24.2% |
| 25 | Waterloo | 24.0% |
| 26 | St. Catharines | 23.8% |
| 27 | Abbotsford-Mission | 23.5% |
| 28 | Abbotsford | 23.5% |
More on Waterloo: overview · economy and jobs · education and schools · all cities in Canada
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population (98-316-X2021001): census subdivisions, selected characteristics (Census Profile SDMX API extract, dataflow DF_CSD, gender total, counts and rates), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 46d086943a5e…)
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