Renfrew, ON Population (2021 Census): 8,190 + Age, Income & Growth Data

Name: 2021 Census Population and Demographics Profile for Renfrew
Creator: Statistics Canada
License: https://www.statcan.gc.ca/en/reference/licence

Renfrew on the Map

Points of interest (48)
Places to visit (42)
Green spaces (23)

Renfrew location on the map. View in Google Maps

Population Characteristics

According to the latest census, Renfrew has a population of around 8,190 people. The town's population is in decreased. Between 2016 and 2021, the population of Renfrew has decreased by ▼ -0.40%.

Population in 2016	Population in 2021	Difference
8,223	8,190	--0.40%

2026 Population Projection

Renfrew's population declined between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, so a 2026 growth projection is not shown. The most recent confirmed figure remains the 8,190 people recorded in the 2021 census.

Renfrew Population Trend & Context

Renfrew is the 148th-largest town in Ontario, with a 2021 census population of 8,190 — a decline of 33 (▼ 0.40%) people from the 8,223 recorded in 2016.

The town's population has remained relatively stable over this period, reflecting broader trends in mid-sized Ontario towns. The town's median age of 54 years — above the national median of 41.9 — suggests a mature, established community rather than a rapidly growing one.

How does Renfrew compare to other Ontario towns?

146th Zorra 8,628
147th Plympton-Wyoming 8,308
148th Renfrew This town 8,190
149th Drummond/North Elmsley 8,183
150th Kapuskasing 8,057

Population By Genders

The male population of Renfrew is around 3,870 while the female population is around 4,320.

Of the 8,190 total population in Renfrew, the largest gender is female with around 4,320 female within the population.

Male	Female	Difference
3,870	4,320	-10.42%

Is Renfrew a Good Place to Live?

Based on 2021 Statistics Canada Census data, here's how Renfrew compares across key quality-of-life indicators — measured against Ontario, its own province. Draw your own conclusions from the actual numbers.

Employment & Economy

10.5%

Unemployment rate

1.7 pts below the province

43.8%

Employment rate

11.3 pts below the province

49.1%

Participation rate

13.7 pts below the province

Income & Affordability

$60,400

Median household income

$30,600 below the province

16.8%

Below low-income threshold (LIM-AT)

6.7 pts above the province

Commute

73.8%

Commute under 30 minutes

11.8 pts above the province

87.3%

Commute by car

3.7 pts above the province

0.0%

Commute by public transit

8.6 pts below the province

Housing Character

62.2%

Single-detached houses

8.6 pts above the province

22.9%

Apartments (any building size)

8.3 pts below the province

Household Composition

2.00 people

Average household size

0.60people below the province

40.6%

One-person households

14.1 pts above the province

Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population.

Renfrew Population Compared to Ontario

Ontario's population in 2021 was 14,223,942, spread across the area. Here's how Renfrew compares to the town's key indicators:

Indicator	Renfrew	Ontario
Median household income	$60,400	$91,000
Unemployment rate	10.5%	12.2%
Median age	54	41.6
Bachelor's degree or higher	11.1%	33.4%
Immigrants (%)	3.6%	30.0%

Population by Age Characteristics

Renfrew has an aging population. The majority of the population is people aged 65 to 69 years old, accounting for 9.30% of the total population. The town median age is 54.00.

Data	Male	Female	Difference	Total
65 to 69 years	340 8.80%	420 9.70%	19.05%	760 9.30%
60 to 64 years	335 8.70%	395 9.10%	15.19%	730 8.90%
70 to 74 years	295 7.60%	365 8.40%	19.18%	665 8.10%
55 to 59 years	325 8.40%	330 7.60%	1.52%	655 8.00%
85 years and over	160 4.10%	300 6.90%	46.67%	465 5.70%
45 to 49 years	215 5.60%	225 5.20%	4.44%	435 5.30%
50 to 54 years	200 5.20%	220 5.10%	9.09%	425 5.20%
25 to 29 years	210 5.40%	210 4.90%	0.00%	420 5.10%
75 to 79 years	190 4.90%	230 5.30%	17.39%	415 5.10%
30 to 34 years	215 5.60%	190 4.40%	11.63%	400 4.90%
35 to 39 years	180 4.70%	215 5.00%	16.28%	390 4.80%
10 to 14 years	195 5.00%	190 4.40%	2.56%	385 4.70%
15 to 19 years	190 4.90%	190 4.40%	0.00%	380 4.60%
40 to 44 years	185 4.80%	185 4.30%	0.00%	370 4.50%
20 to 24 years	175 4.50%	180 4.20%	2.78%	360 4.40%
5 to 9 years	175 4.50%	145 3.40%	17.14%	320 3.90%
80 to 84 years	130 3.40%	190 4.40%	31.58%	320 3.90%
0 to 4 years	160 4.10%	125 2.90%	21.88%	290 3.50%
85 to 89 years	85 2.20%	165 3.80%	48.48%	250 3.10%
90 to 94 years	70 1.80%	100 2.30%	30.00%	170 2.10%

Broader Age Groups

If the town's population is divided into broader age groups, most of the population falls into the 15 to 64 years age group. The group accounts for 55.80% of the population. The other age groups, 65 years and over and 0 to 14 years, account for 32.10% and 12.10%, respectively.

If we look at the population data from the broader age groups, we can see that most people in Renfrew are within the 15 to 64 years age group.

Data	Male	Female	Total
15 to 64 years	57.50%	54.20%	55.80%
65 years and over	28.80%	35.10%	32.10%
0 to 14 years	13.80%	10.60%	12.10%

Explore Renfrew Through Videos

Population of Renfrew by Ethnicity and Origin

The population of Renfrew is quite diverse, which contributes to the town's vibrant cultural landscape. Renfrew is inclusive and accepts various ethnic groups with open arms. Furthermore, the town appreciates the unique contributions that each ethnicity brings.

The top 5 ethnicities and origins in Renfrew are Irish, which accounts for 33.61% of the total population, followed by Scottish (27.63%), French (22.15%), Canadian (20.43%), and English (19.61%).

Other ethnicities and origins in Renfrew include German, Polish, British Isles, Dutch, and French Canadian.

Ethnicity and Origin	Male	Female	Percentage in Population
Irish	32.75%	34.39%	33.61%
Scottish	26.74%	28.31%	27.63%
French	20.86%	23.33%	22.15%
Canadian	20.32%	20.53%	20.43%
English	20.45%	19.08%	19.61%
German	12.57%	14.22%	13.37%
Polish	9.89%	9.72%	9.74%
British Isles	3.34%	3.40%	3.37%
Dutch	2.94%	3.40%	3.12%
French Canadian	2.41%	2.55%	2.42%

Indigenous Identity in Renfrew

About 7.07% of Renfrew's population (555 people) identify with an Indigenous identity, compared to 92.93% who report a non-Indigenous identity.

Of the Indigenous population, 100 people (1.30% of the total population) hold Registered or Treaty Indian status.

Indigenous identity7.1%

Non-Indigenous identity92.9%

Immigration Profile

Immigration patterns vary a great deal from one area to another, which makes this data one of the more distinctive parts of Renfrew's population profile.

About 3.6% of Renfrew's population are immigrants (285 people).

The top countries of origin for Renfrew's immigrant population are United Kingdom (80), Netherlands (55), Germany (40), United States of America (25), Portugal (10).

Only using 25% sample data.
Country of Birth	Population
United Kingdom	80
Netherlands	55
Germany	40
United States of America	25
Portugal	10

99.4% of Renfrew's residents (7,805 people) are Canadian citizens, and 0.6% are not.

By generation status, 4.1% of residents are first generation (born outside Canada), 7.8% are second generation, and 88.0% are third generation or more.

Household and Dwelling Characteristics

About 2,460 of Renfrew's population live in a single-detached house. In addition, most of them are living in 1 person household.

Household Size

About 20.30% of the population lives in 1 person households. 2 persons households ranked second, accounting for 18.55% of the population. 3 persons, 4 persons, and 5 or more persons households account for 5.55%, 3.85%, and 1.85%, respectively.

Number of Person(s) in Household	Total	Percentage
1 person	1,605	20.30%
2 persons	1,465	18.55%
3 persons	440	5.55%
4 persons	305	3.85%
5 or more persons	145	1.85%

Dwelling & Housing Detail

Of the 3,955 occupied private dwellings in Renfrew, 58.5% are owner-occupied (2,315) and 41.3% are rented (1,635). The median value of owned dwellings is $300,000 (average $322,000).

Period of Construction

51.5% of Renfrew's occupied private dwellings were built in 1960 or before, while 2.7% were built between 2016 and 2021.

Family and Household Structure in Renfrew

Of census families in Renfrew, 78.3% are couple families and 21.7% are one-parent families. The average census family has 2.6 people.

Couple families78.3%

One-parent families21.7%

40.6% of households in Renfrew are one-person households, 41.6% are couple-family households, 10.1% are one-parent-family households, and 1.3% are multigenerational households.

Household Type	Households	Percentage
One-person households	1,605	40.6%
Couple-family households	1,645	41.6%
One-parent-family households	400	10.1%
Multigenerational households	50	1.3%

Income in Renfrew

Analyzing income distribution in Renfrew can help us better understand its socioeconomic dynamics.

Per Capita Income

According to 2020 data, the median personal income within Renfrew is $35,600.

A region's per capita data sheds light on the average income earned per person living in it. Since per capita income is calculated by dividing the region's total income by its population, it quantifies the population's economic situation on an individual basis.

Such data offers insights into the town's economic performance, spread of income across individuals, quality of life, as well as disparities within its borders.

Most of Renfrew population or around 940 people falls in the $10,000 to $29,999 group. The next largest groups are the $30,000 to $49,999, and $50,000 to $79,999 with around 840 and 755 people, respectively.

Household Income

The Renfrew's median household income is $60,400, according to 2020 data.

Below national average Renfrew's median household income is 23,600 dollars below the Canadian national median of $84,000 (2020 data, 2021 Census).

The data provides important insights into the town's economic landscape as well as the living standards of its population.

Analyzing such data enables researchers, policymakers, and businesses to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the town's income distribution, disparities, and trends.

Education Levels in Renfrew

This data sheds light on the distribution of Renfrew residents across educational milestones.

Such information is crucial in shaping the province’s policies on education, workforce development strategies, and initiatives that aim to improve access to quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities.

49.00% or most of the Renfrew population has a Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree. 37.60% of the population has a High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate, and 13.40% has a No certificate, diploma or degree. (Individual figures may not sum to exactly 100% due to Statistics Canada's random rounding of small-area 25% sample data.)

Population aged 25 to 64 years, using 25% sample data. Individual values may not sum exactly to totals due to Statistics Canada's random rounding.
Degree	Men	Women	Total	Percentage
Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree	830	1,040	1,875	49.00%
High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate	740	705	1,440	37.60%
No certificate, diploma or degree	315	205	515	13.40%

Below national average 12.1% of Renfrew's population has a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to the national average of 32.9% (Canada, 2021 Census).

Employment in Renfrew

This dataset provides a snapshot of employment trends in Renfrew. It encompasses a wide range of sectors, industries, as well as job categories.

The data shows that the unemployment rate in Renfrew is at 10.57% which is very high.

Only using 25% sample data.
Status	Percentage
Employment rate	43.80%
Unemployment rate	10.57%

Work Activity During the Reference Year

Of the population aged 15 and over in Renfrew, 25.6% worked full year full time in the reference year, 24.1% worked part year and/or part time, and 50.4% did not work.

Only using 25% sample data.
Work Activity	Population	Percentage
Worked full year full time	1,755	25.6%
Worked part year and/or part time	1,650	24.1%
Did not work	3,455	50.4%

Working as an Employee

The table shows the data on the total number of individuals in the town who work as an employee. The majority of Renfrew's population (around 77.30%) are working permanent position as an employee.

Self-employed

In the town, there are 215 men and 160 women working as self-employed individuals, bringing the total number to 375.

Only using 25% sample data.
Status	Men	Women	Total
Self-employed	215	160	375

Employment Industry Sectors

The Renfrew industry employment sector census data offers insights into the region's economic landscape. The distribution of employment in Renfrew is categorized and quantified, which reveals the region's economic composition.

Renfrew has a wide range of industries. Most of its population (17%) works in the health care and social assistance sector. The Retail trade sector comes second at 16%, followed by Manufacturing at 12%.

Only using 25% sample data.
Industry	Men	Women	Percentage
Health care and social assistance	80	495	17%
Retail trade	275	245	16%
Manufacturing	315	85	12%
Construction	305	45	10%
Accommodation and food services	80	165	7%
Educational services	55	145	6%
Professional, scientific and technical services	85	85	5%
Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services	90	55	4%
Public administration	95	50	4%
Other services (except public administration)	65	50	4%
Transportation and warehousing	75	20	3%
Finance and insurance	25	45	2%
Utilities	35	20	2%
Real estate and rental and leasing	20	30	2%
Wholesale trade	25	20	1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting	30	10	1%
Information and cultural industries	25	15	1%
Arts, entertainment and recreation	15	15	1%
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction	15	0	0%
Management of companies and enterprises	0	0	0%

Labour Market Snapshot

A quick snapshot of where Renfrew residents work — the leading industry sectors employing them, and the broad occupation categories they work in.

Top employer sectors in Renfrew: Health care and social assistance (17%), Retail trade (16%), Manufacturing (12%)

Top occupation categories in Renfrew: Sales and service occupations (31%), Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations (20%), Business, finance and administration occupations (12%)

Places of Work

The data offers insights into the commuting patterns as well as workplace distribution in the town. It provides a snapshot of workplaces, showing their geographic distribution and the flow of workers across different areas.

Only using 25% sample data.
Work Location	Men	Women	Total	Percentage
Usual place of work	1,085	1,115	2,195	72.90%
No fixed workplace address	325	115	435	14.50%
Worked at home	170	210	380	12.60%
Worked outside Canada	0	0	0	0.00%

Commuting

The data sheds light on how Renfrew residents travel to school or work. It highlights the frequency of different modes of transportation like walking, cycling, carpooling, and public transit.

The data is pivotal in the making of transportation policies as well as the development of transit systems. Ultimately commuting data contributes to improving the quality of life of Renfrew residents and sustainable urban planning.

Commuting Duration

This data reveals the average time that the residents of Renfrew spend traveling to their workplaces. It also sheds light on the efficiency of the town's public transit systems, and road networks, as well as the accessibility of the town.

Only using 25% sample data.
Duration	Percentage
Less than 15 minutes	56.70%
15 to 29 minutes	17.10%
60 minutes and over	10.30%
30 to 44 minutes	9.50%
45 to 59 minutes	6.30%

Marital Status

The statistics on marital status in Renfrew shed light on its societal dynamics. It captures the diverse types of marital statuses of the population.

Long-term commitments, such as common-law partnerships, civil unions, and marriages, reflect the town's social fabric. We can gain insights into Renfrew's changing preferences and norms by examining the trends in marital status.

Married or living common-law50.0%

Not married and not living common-law50.0%

Language Spoken

The data below highlights town's linguistic diversity, showing elegances of solo language as well as bilingual harmonies. Other than language, it also shows the cultural landscape in Canada.

English is the most spoken official language in Renfrew. About 7,705 people living in the town speak English, 205 people speak French, 10 people speak English and French language, and 10 people speak Neither English nor French language.

Language	Population
English	7,705
French	205
English and French	10
Neither English nor French	10

Knowledge of Official Languages

About 8.6% of Renfrew's population is bilingual, knowing both English and French. 91.2% know English only, 0.0% know French only, and 0.1% know neither official language.

Knowledge of Official Languages	Population	Percentage
English only	7,235	91.2%
French only	0	0.0%
English and French	685	8.6%
Neither English nor French	10	0.1%

Mother Tongue & Home Language

Useful for newcomers researching an area: this shows the language residents first learned at home in childhood (mother tongue) and the language they speak most often at home now, which can differ as families settle in.

Language	Mother Tongue	Spoken Most Often at Home
English	93.4%	98.4%
French	2.8%	0.4%
Non-official languages	2.6%	0.7%

Religion

Renfrew is predominantly Christian. About 5,520 of its population is Christian (2,415 males and 3,105 females).

The second largest religion in the town is Buddhist with 0.2% of the population adhering to the religion. There are also Hindu and Jewish, both represent 0.2% and 0.2% of the population, while Muslim represent 0.0% of the population.

Religion	Population
Christian	70.3%
Buddhist	0.2%
Hindu	0.2%
Jewish	0.2%
Islam	0.0%
Sikh	0.0%

Points of Interest in Renfrew

Schools

Universities

Centre de ressources médicales du Pontiac

Parks

Libraries

Community Centres

Places to Visit in Renfrew

Museums

Attractions

Historic Sites

Green Spaces in Renfrew

Name	Type	Approx. Area
Woodland Park	Parks	—
Petawawa Point Park	Parks	—
Dundonald Hall Park	Parks	—
Enchanted Forest Park	Parks	—
Kramers Korner Park	Parks	—
Turtle Park	Parks	—
Pineridge Park	Parks	—
Crooked Slide Park	Parks	—
Parc du Rocher Fendu	Parks	—
Sheryl Boyle Park	Parks	—
Maynooth Community Park	Parks	—
Logger's Field	Parks	—
Bell Bay Provincial Park	Nature Reserves	—
Upper Madawaska River Provincial Park	Nature Reserves	—
Bell Bay Provincial Park	Nature Reserves	—
Opeongo River Provincial Park	Nature Reserves	—
Opeongo River Provincial Park	Nature Reserves	—
Algonquin Provincial Park	Nature Reserves	—
Bonnechere River Provincial Park	Nature Reserves	—
Algonquin Provincial Park	Nature Reserves	—
Foy Property Provincial Park	Nature Reserves	—
Lower Madawaska River Provincial Park	Nature Reserves	—
Egan Chutes Provincial Park	Nature Reserves	670.8 ha

Areas are approximate, calculated from OpenStreetMap boundary data.

Nearest Towns to Renfrew

Methodology

Data vintage: Reference date was Census Day, May 11, 2021. Statistics Canada released this profile in stages starting February 9, 2022, with later characteristics added through the remainder of 2022.
Rounding & suppression: To protect respondent confidentiality, Statistics Canada randomly rounds every count shown here, and withholds some characteristics entirely for areas with very small populations. This is why a small number of figures on this page may show as unavailable for smaller places — it reflects a StatCan privacy rule, not missing data on our end.
Next update: These are the most recent figures available. Canada's next census is scheduled for May 2026, with results expected to begin release in 2027.

Frequently Asked Questions about Renfrew

What is the population of Renfrew?

According to the 2021 Statistics Canada Census, Renfrew has a population of 8,190 people, making it the 148th town in Ontario. The population declined slightly from 8,223 in 2016, a decrease of 33 people or 0.40%. The town has a population density of 639.3 people per km² across a land area of 12.81 km². The 2026 Census results are expected from Statistics Canada beginning February 2027.

Is the population of Renfrew growing?

Renfrew's population declined by 0.40% between the 2016 and 2021 censuses — from 8,223 to 8,190 people, a loss of 33 residents. This stability is characteristic of many mid-sized other Ontario towns during this period. The median age of 54.00 years suggests an aging population. The relatively high proportion of one-person households (40.6%) may indicate young adults leaving for larger centres. Official 2026 Census data, which will confirm whether this trend continued, is expected from Statistics Canada in February 2027.

What is the population density of Renfrew?

Renfrew has a population density of approximately 639.30 people per square kilometre.

How large is Renfrew?

Renfrew covers a land area of approximately 12.81 km².

What is the median age in Renfrew?

The median age of the population in Renfrew is 54.00 years.

What is the largest ethnic group in Renfrew?

The largest ethnic or cultural origin group in Renfrew is Irish.

What is the median household income in Renfrew?

The median household income in Renfrew is $60,400, based on 2020 data.

What is the most spoken language in Renfrew?

English is the most common first official language spoken in Renfrew.

What is the main religion in Renfrew?

Christian is the predominant religion in Renfrew.

What percentage of Renfrew's population is Indigenous?

According to the 2021 Census, 7.1% of Renfrew's population identifies with an Indigenous identity.

What percentage of Renfrew residents are Canadian citizens?

99.4% of Renfrew's residents are Canadian citizens, based on 2021 Census data.

What percentage of families in Renfrew are one-parent families?

One-parent families make up 21.7% of census families in Renfrew, according to the 2021 Census.

Are there many multigenerational households in Renfrew?

Multigenerational households make up 1.3% of all households in Renfrew, per the 2021 Census.

What percentage of Renfrew's population is bilingual in English and French?

8.6% of Renfrew's population knows both English and French, based on 2021 Census data on knowledge of official languages.

What percentage of Renfrew's workforce works full-time year-round?

Of the population aged 15 and over in Renfrew, 25.6% worked full year full time in the 2021 Census reference year.

Why isn't 2026 census data for Renfrew available yet?

Statistics Canada (statcan.gc.ca) conducted the 2026 Census of Population in May 2026. However, census data goes through an extensive processing, validation, and quality-assurance period before public release. Based on the release plan, the 2026 Census results begin rolling out on February 10, 2027, with complete community-level profiles available by December 1, 2027. Until then, this page uses 2021 Census data as its primary source, supplemented by a population projection estimate for 2026 calculated using the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from the 2016–2021 Census period.