Town in Ontario

Tay, Ontario — Population & Demographics (2026)

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

Data source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population — View the official Tay census dataset on Statistics Canada

Population (2021): 11,091; +10.5% since 2016
Density: 80.5; people per km²
Land area: 138; km²
Median age: 49.2; years
Median household income: $82,000; 2020, before tax
Unemployment rate: 11.0%; 2021 Census

This article shows the demographic data and statistics of Tay. It is a town in Canada that encompasses a land area of 137.86 km². The town has a population density of 80.50 people per km².

We highlight the Tay town's various population characteristics. From gender, age distribution, ethnicity, household and dwelling, and income to spoken languages, occupation, and religion.

Tay on the Map

Points of interest (24)
Places to visit (7)
Green spaces (15)

Tay location on the map. View in Google Maps

Population Characteristics

According to the latest census, Tay has a population of around 11,091 people. The town's population is in increased. Between 2016 and 2021, the population of Tay has increased by ▲ 10.55%.

Population in 2016	Population in 2021	Difference
10,033	11,091	+10.55%

2026 Population Projection

Based on the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.03% observed between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, Tay's population is projected to reach approximately 12,261 people by 2026, with a projected population density of around 88.94 people per km².

Population in 2021	Projected Population in 2026	Projected Density in 2026 (per km²)
11,091	12,261	88.94

This projection is an estimate calculated by CAPopulation from the compound annual growth rate between the 2016 and 2021 censuses. Official 2026 complete census data expected to be released in late 2027.

Tay Population Trend & Context

Tay is the 120th-largest town in Ontario, with a 2021 census population of 11,091 — an increase of 1,058 (▲ 10.55%) people from the 10,033 recorded in 2016.

The town's population has grown steadily over this period, reflecting broader growth trends among Ontario towns. The town's median age of 49.2 years — above the national median of 41.9 — suggests a mature, established community rather than a rapidly growing one.

How does Tay compare to other Ontario towns?

118th Norwich 11,151
119th Georgian Bluffs 11,100
120th Tay This town 11,091
121st Adjala-Tosorontio 10,989
122nd Rideau Lakes 10,883

Population By Genders

The male population of Tay is around 5,665 while the female population is around 5,425.

Of the 11,091 total population in Tay, the largest gender is male with around 5,665 male within the population.

Male	Female	Difference
5,665	5,425	+4.24%

Is Tay a Good Place to Live?

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

Employment & Economy

11.0%

Unemployment rate

1.2 pts below the province

50.7%

Employment rate

4.4 pts below the province

57.0%

Participation rate

5.8 pts below the province

Income & Affordability

$82,000

Median household income

$9,000 below the province

9.3%

Below low-income threshold (LIM-AT)

0.8 pts below the province

Commute

61.0%

Commute under 30 minutes

1.0 pts below the province

95.4%

Commute by car

11.8 pts above the province

0.5%

Commute by public transit

8.1 pts below the province

Housing Character

92.1%

Single-detached houses

38.5 pts above the province

4.3%

Apartments (any building size)

26.9 pts below the province

Household Composition

2.40 people

Average household size

0.20people below the province

22.7%

One-person households

3.8 pts below the province

Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population.

Tay Population Compared to Ontario

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

Indicator	Tay	Ontario
Median household income	$82,000	$91,000
Unemployment rate	11.0%	12.2%
Median age	49.2	41.6
Bachelor's degree or higher	13.5%	33.4%
Immigrants (%)	6.7%	30.0%

Population by Age Characteristics

Tay has an aging population. The majority of the population is people aged 60 to 64 years old, accounting for 9.60% of the total population. The town median age is 49.20.

Data	Male	Female	Difference	Total
60 to 64 years	535 9.40%	535 9.90%	0.00%	1,070 9.60%
55 to 59 years	510 9.00%	520 9.60%	1.92%	1,030 9.30%
65 to 69 years	445 7.90%	485 8.90%	8.25%	930 8.40%
70 to 74 years	400 7.10%	380 7.00%	5.00%	780 7.00%
50 to 54 years	375 6.60%	370 6.80%	1.33%	745 6.70%
30 to 34 years	345 6.10%	320 5.90%	7.25%	665 6.00%
35 to 39 years	325 5.70%	335 6.20%	2.99%	665 6.00%
25 to 29 years	320 5.60%	305 5.60%	4.69%	630 5.70%
45 to 49 years	325 5.70%	305 5.60%	6.15%	630 5.70%
40 to 44 years	325 5.70%	290 5.30%	10.77%	615 5.50%
5 to 9 years	295 5.20%	250 4.60%	15.25%	550 5.00%
10 to 14 years	280 4.90%	230 4.20%	17.86%	505 4.60%
75 to 79 years	280 4.90%	230 4.20%	17.86%	505 4.60%
0 to 4 years	275 4.90%	220 4.10%	20.00%	495 4.50%
15 to 19 years	240 4.20%	230 4.20%	4.17%	465 4.20%
20 to 24 years	225 4.00%	210 3.90%	6.67%	430 3.90%
80 to 84 years	100 1.80%	110 2.00%	9.09%	215 1.90%
85 years and over	80 1.40%	100 1.80%	20.00%	175 1.60%
85 to 89 years	55 1.00%	70 1.30%	21.43%	125 1.10%

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 62.60% of the population. The other age groups, 65 years and over and 0 to 14 years, account for 23.50% and 14.00%, respectively.

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

Data	Male	Female	Total
15 to 64 years	62.10%	63.00%	62.60%
65 years and over	22.90%	24.00%	23.50%
0 to 14 years	15.00%	12.90%	14.00%

Population of Tay by Ethnicity and Origin

The population of Tay is quite diverse, which contributes to the town's vibrant cultural landscape. Tay 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 Tay are English, which accounts for 32.21% of the total population, followed by Irish (25.89%), Scottish (24.02%), Canadian (19.84%), and French (16.06%).

Other ethnicities and origins in Tay include German, Dutch, British Isles, Italian, and Polish.

Ethnicity and Origin	Male	Female	Percentage in Population
English	30.89%	33.58%	32.21%
Irish	25.63%	26.07%	25.89%
Scottish	22.59%	25.42%	24.02%
Canadian	19.91%	19.76%	19.84%
French	15.63%	16.51%	16.06%
German	11.25%	10.48%	10.83%
Dutch	6.96%	5.57%	6.28%
British Isles	5.54%	4.17%	4.82%
Italian	4.64%	3.06%	3.87%
Polish	3.04%	2.23%	2.68%

Indigenous Identity in Tay

About 13.88% of Tay's population (1,525 people) identify with an Indigenous identity, compared to 86.12% who report a non-Indigenous identity.

Of the Indigenous population, 230 people (2.10% of the total population) hold Registered or Treaty Indian status.

Indigenous identity13.9%

Non-Indigenous identity86.1%

Immigration Profile

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

About 6.7% of Tay's population are immigrants (735 people).

The top countries of origin for Tay's immigrant population are United Kingdom (275), Germany (80), United States of America (50), Poland (50), Portugal (40).

Only using 25% sample data.
Country of Birth	Population
United Kingdom	275
Germany	80
United States of America	50
Poland	50
Portugal	40

98.8% of Tay's residents (10,855 people) are Canadian citizens, and 1.2% are not.

By generation status, 7.2% of residents are first generation (born outside Canada), 13.8% are second generation, and 79.0% are third generation or more.

Household and Dwelling Characteristics

About 4,175 of Tay's population live in a single-detached house. In addition, most of them are living in 2 persons household.

Household Size

About 21.30% of the population lives in 2 persons households. 1 person households ranked second, accounting for 11.35% of the population. 3 persons, 4 persons, and 5 or more persons households account for 7.45%, 6.50%, and 3.40%, respectively.

Number of Person(s) in Household	Total	Percentage
2 persons	1,930	21.30%
1 person	1,030	11.35%
3 persons	675	7.45%
4 persons	590	6.50%
5 or more persons	310	3.40%

Dwelling & Housing Detail

Of the 4,535 occupied private dwellings in Tay, 90.4% are owner-occupied (4,100) and 9.6% are rented (435). The median value of owned dwellings is $500,000 (average $581,000).

Period of Construction

25.7% of Tay's occupied private dwellings were built in 1960 or before, while 7.8% were built between 2016 and 2021.

Family and Household Structure in Tay

Of census families in Tay, 85.3% are couple families and 14.7% are one-parent families. The average census family has 2.7 people.

Couple families85.3%

One-parent families14.7%

22.6% of households in Tay are one-person households, 58.2% are couple-family households, 6.9% are one-parent-family households, and 3.9% are multigenerational households.

Household Type	Households	Percentage
One-person households	1,025	22.6%
Couple-family households	2,640	58.2%
One-parent-family households	315	6.9%
Multigenerational households	175	3.9%

Income in Tay

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

Per Capita Income

According to 2020 data, the median personal income within Tay is $39,200.

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 Tay population or around 1,300 people falls in the $50,000 to $79,999 group. The next largest groups are the $10,000 to $29,999, and $10,000 to $29,999 with around 1,270 and 1,270 people, respectively.

Household Income

The Tay's median household income is $82,000, according to 2020 data.

Below national average Tay's median household income is 2,000 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 Tay

This data sheds light on the distribution of Tay 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.

57.70% or most of the Tay population has a Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree. 30.50% of the population has a High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate, and 11.70% 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	1,720	1,725	3,450	57.70%
High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate	915	910	1,825	30.50%
No certificate, diploma or degree	425	275	700	11.70%

Below national average 14.6% of Tay's population has a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to the national average of 32.9% (Canada, 2021 Census).

Employment in Tay

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

The data shows that the unemployment rate in Tay is at 11.05% which is very high.

Only using 25% sample data.
Status	Percentage
Employment rate	50.74%
Unemployment rate	11.05%

Work Activity During the Reference Year

Of the population aged 15 and over in Tay, 30.2% worked full year full time in the reference year, 28.5% worked part year and/or part time, and 41.3% did not work.

Only using 25% sample data.
Work Activity	Population	Percentage
Worked full year full time	2,855	30.2%
Worked part year and/or part time	2,690	28.5%
Did not work	3,895	41.3%

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 Tay's population (around 70.70%) are working permanent position as an employee.

Self-employed

In the town, there are 535 men and 320 women working as self-employed individuals, bringing the total number to 855.

Only using 25% sample data.
Status	Men	Women	Total
Self-employed	535	320	855

Employment Industry Sectors

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

Tay has a wide range of industries. Most of its population (16%) works in the health care and social assistance sector. The Manufacturing sector comes second at 13%, followed by Construction at 12%.

Only using 25% sample data.
Industry	Men	Women	Percentage
Health care and social assistance	140	715	16%
Manufacturing	520	205	13%
Construction	570	85	12%
Retail trade	295	365	12%
Public administration	180	170	7%
Educational services	85	180	5%
Accommodation and food services	120	140	5%
Professional, scientific and technical services	130	120	5%
Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services	135	100	5%
Other services (except public administration)	110	95	4%
Transportation and warehousing	110	60	3%
Wholesale trade	105	30	3%
Arts, entertainment and recreation	80	55	3%
Finance and insurance	35	65	2%
Information and cultural industries	50	35	2%
Real estate and rental and leasing	35	40	1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting	55	10	1%
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction	30	0	1%
Utilities	25	0	1%
Management of companies and enterprises	0	0	0%

Labour Market Snapshot

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

Top employer sectors in Tay: Health care and social assistance (16%), Manufacturing (13%), Construction (12%)

Top occupation categories in Tay: Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations (25%), Sales and service occupations (23%), Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services (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	1,615	1,590	3,205	66.90%
Worked at home	330	465	800	16.70%
No fixed workplace address	615	175	790	16.50%
Worked outside Canada	0	0	0	0.00%

Commuting

The data sheds light on how Tay 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 Tay residents and sustainable urban planning.

Commuting Duration

This data reveals the average time that the residents of Tay 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
15 to 29 minutes	31.80%
Less than 15 minutes	29.20%
30 to 44 minutes	20.50%
60 minutes and over	11.30%
45 to 59 minutes	7.10%

Marital Status

The statistics on marital status in Tay 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 Tay's changing preferences and norms by examining the trends in marital status.

Married or living common-law63.6%

Not married and not living common-law36.4%

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 Tay. About 10,850 people living in the town speak English, 185 people speak French, 15 people speak English and French language, and 10 people speak Neither English nor French language.

Language	Population
English	10,850
French	185
English and French	15
Neither English nor French	10

Knowledge of Official Languages

About 5.7% of Tay's population is bilingual, knowing both English and French. 94.2% know English only, 0.0% know French only, and 0.1% know neither official language.

Knowledge of Official Languages	Population	Percentage
English only	10,420	94.2%
French only	5	0.0%
English and French	635	5.7%
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	92.8%	98.2%
Non-official languages	4.1%	0.9%
French	1.8%	0.3%

Religion

Tay is predominantly Christian. About 5,815 of its population is Christian (2,815 males and 3,000 females).

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

Religion	Population
Christian	52.9%
Jewish	0.2%
Buddhist	0.0%
Hindu	0.0%
Islam	0.0%
Sikh	0.0%

Places to Visit in Tay

Museums

Sainte Marie among the Hurons

Attractions

Historic Sites

Green Spaces in Tay

Name	Type	Approx. Area
Waverley Park	Parks	1.3 ha
Tiffin Park	Parks	2.9 ha
Harbourview Park	Parks	3.1 ha
Little Lake Park	Parks	35.6 ha
Ernest T Bates Memorial Park	Parks	0.1 ha
Regent Park	Parks	0.1 ha
MacKenzie Park	Parks	0.7 ha
Oakwood Park	Parks	2.1 ha
Richard's Beach	Parks	0.3 ha
Forest Harbour Park	Parks	0.2 ha
Bayview Park	Parks	0.0 ha
Vas Kuchar Memorial Park	Parks	0.1 ha
Quota Park	Parks	0.1 ha
Waubashene Beaches Provincial Park	Nature Reserves	34.4 ha
Wye Marsh	Nature Reserves	48.6 ha

Areas are approximate, calculated from OpenStreetMap boundary data.

Nearest Towns to Tay

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 Tay

What is the population of Tay?

According to the 2021 Statistics Canada Census, Tay has a population of 11,091 people, making it the 120th town in Ontario. The population increased significantly from 10,033 in 2016, an increase of 1,058 people or 10.55%. The town has a population density of 80.5 people per km² across a land area of 137.86 km². The 2026 Census results are expected from Statistics Canada beginning February 2027.

Is the population of Tay growing?

Tay's population grew by 10.55% between the 2016 and 2021 censuses — from 10,033 to 11,091 people, a gain of 1,058 residents. This growth is above average compared to many other Ontario towns during this period. The median age of 49.20 years suggests an aging population. 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 Tay?

Tay has a population density of approximately 80.50 people per square kilometre.

How large is Tay?

Tay covers a land area of approximately 137.86 km².

What is the median age in Tay?

The median age of the population in Tay is 49.20 years.

What is the largest ethnic group in Tay?

The largest ethnic or cultural origin group in Tay is English.

What is the median household income in Tay?

The median household income in Tay is $82,000, based on 2020 data.

What is the most spoken language in Tay?

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

What is the main religion in Tay?

Christian is the predominant religion in Tay.

What percentage of Tay's population is Indigenous?

According to the 2021 Census, 13.9% of Tay's population identifies with an Indigenous identity.

What percentage of Tay residents are Canadian citizens?

98.8% of Tay's residents are Canadian citizens, based on 2021 Census data.

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

One-parent families make up 14.7% of census families in Tay, according to the 2021 Census.

Are there many multigenerational households in Tay?

Multigenerational households make up 3.9% of all households in Tay, per the 2021 Census.

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

5.7% of Tay's population knows both English and French, based on 2021 Census data on knowledge of official languages.

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

Of the population aged 15 and over in Tay, 30.2% worked full year full time in the 2021 Census reference year.

Why isn't 2026 census data for Tay 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.