Essa, Ontario Population & Demographics: How Many People Live Here?

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

This article shows the demographic data and statistics of Essa. It is a town in Canada that encompasses a land area of 279.92 km2. The town has a population density of 82.10 people per km2.

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

Essa on the Map

The map and listings below are sourced from OpenStreetMap contributors, not Statistics Canada, and may be incomplete depending on how thoroughly the area has been mapped.

Essa location on the map. View in Google Map

Population Characteristics

According to the latest census, Essa has a population of around 22,970 people. The town's population is in increased . Between 2016 and 2021, the population of Essa has increased by 8.95%.

Population in 2016Population in 2021Difference
21,08322,970 +8.95%

2026 Population Projection

Based on the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.73% observed between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, Essa's population is projected to reach approximately 25,026 people by 2026, with a projected population density of around 89.40 people per km².

Population in 2021Projected Population in 2026Projected Density in 2026 (per km²)
22,97025,02689.40

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.

Population By Genders

The male population of Essa is around 11,645 while the female population is around 11,325.

Of the 22,970 total population in Essa, the largest gender is male with around 11,645 women within the population.

MaleFemaleDifference
11,64511,325 +2.75%

Is Essa a Good Place to Live?

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

Employment & Economy

10.7%
Unemployment rate
1.5 pts below the province
63.0%
Employment rate
7.9 pts above the province
70.5%
Participation rate
7.7 pts above the province

Income & Affordability

$108,000
Median household income
$17,000 above the province
5.8%
Below low-income threshold (LIM-AT)
4.3 pts below the province

Commute

62.3%
Commute under 30 minutes
0.3 pts above the province
95.9%
Commute by car
12.3 pts above the province
0.2%
Commute by public transit
8.4 pts below the province

Housing Character

76.9%
Single-detached houses
23.3 pts above the province
5.5%
Apartments (any building size)
25.7 pts below the province

Household Composition

2.90 people
Average household size
0.30people above the province
16.3%
One-person households
10.2 pts below the province

Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population.

Other Towns Near Essa

Population by Age Characteristics

Essa has a young population. The majority of the population is people aged 35 to 39 years old, accounting for 8.30% of the total population. The town median age is 37.60.

DataMaleFemaleDifferenceTotal
35 to 39 years955 8.20%960 8.50% 0.52%1,915 8.30%
30 to 34 years920 7.90%905 8.00% 1.63%1,825 7.90%
55 to 59 years915 7.90%880 7.80% 3.83%1,795 7.80%
5 to 9 years820 7.00%795 7.00% 3.05%1,615 7.00%
50 to 54 years805 6.90%760 6.70% 5.59%1,560 6.80%
10 to 14 years795 6.80%755 6.70% 5.03%1,555 6.80%
40 to 44 years795 6.80%755 6.70% 5.03%1,550 6.70%
45 to 49 years775 6.70%765 6.80% 1.29%1,540 6.70%
25 to 29 years730 6.30%735 6.50% 0.68%1,465 6.40%
0 to 4 years760 6.50%695 6.10% 8.55%1,460 6.40%
60 to 64 years695 6.00%715 6.30% 2.80%1,410 6.10%
15 to 19 years700 6.00%650 5.70% 7.14%1,340 5.80%
20 to 24 years645 5.50%575 5.10% 10.85%1,215 5.30%
65 to 69 years505 4.30%510 4.50% 0.98%1,015 4.40%
70 to 74 years385 3.30%420 3.70% 8.33%800 3.50%
75 to 79 years245 2.10%235 2.10% 4.08%480 2.10%
80 to 84 years125 1.10%125 1.10% 0.00%250 1.10%
85 years and over80 0.70%100 0.90% 20.00%180 0.80%
85 to 89 years55 0.50%70 0.60% 21.43%125 0.50%
90 to 94 years25 0.20%20 0.20% 20.00%45 0.20%
Average age of the population38 37.50%38 38.20% 2.62%38 37.90%

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 68.00% of the population. The other age groups, 0 to 14 years and 65 years and over, account for 20.20% and 11.90%, respectively.

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

DataMaleFemaleTotal
Median age of the population37.20%38.00%37.60%
0 to 14 years20.40%19.80%20.20%
65 years and over11.50%12.30%11.90%

Photos of Places & Sceneries in Essa

Population of Essa by Ethnicity and Origin

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

The top 5 ethnicities and origins in the province are English, which accounts for 24.37% of the total population, followed by Canadian (20.95%), Scottish (20.40%), Irish (20.36%), and German (9.59%).

Other ethnicities and origins in Newfoundland and Labrador include French, Italian, Dutch, British Isles, and Polish.

Ethnicity and OriginMaleFemalePercentage in Population
English24.10%24.70%24.37%
Canadian21.23%20.67%20.95%
Scottish20.36%20.50%20.40%
Irish19.66%21.03%20.36%
German9.40%9.87%9.59%
French9.74%9.12%9.46%
Italian7.48%6.82%7.15%
Dutch5.31%5.00%5.18%
British Isles4.57%3.94%4.26%
Polish4.13%3.36%3.75%

Immigration Profile

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

About 11.8% of Essa's population are immigrants (2,680 people).

The top countries of origin for Essa's immigrant population are United Kingdom (385), Poland (155), India (135), Portugal (125), Jamaica (115).

Only using 25% sample data.
Country of BirthPopulation
United Kingdom385
Poland155
India135
Portugal125
Jamaica115

Household and Dwelling Characteristics

About 6,110 of Essa's population live in a single-detached house. In addition, most of them are living in 2 persons household.

Household Size

About 16.50% of the population lives in 2 persons households. 4 persons households ranked second, accounting for 9.75% of the population. 3 persons, 1 person, and 5 or more persons households account for 9.20%, 8.15%, and 6.40%, respectively.

Number of Person(s) in HouseholdTotalPercentage
2 persons2,62016.50%
4 persons1,5509.75%
3 persons1,4659.20%
1 person1,2958.15%
5 or more persons1,0156.40%

Income in Essa

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

Per Capita Income

According to 2020 data, the median personal income within Essa is $47,200.

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 Essa population or around 3,545 people falls in the $50,000 to $79,999 group. The next largest groups are the $10,000 to $29,999, and $30,000 to $49,999 with around 2,510 and 2,465 people, respectively.

Household Income

The Essa's median household income is $108,000, according to 2020 data.

Above national average Essa's median household income is 24,000 dollars above 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 Essa

This data sheds light on the distribution of Essa 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.

53.50% or most of the Essa population has a Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree. 33.70% of the population has a High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate, 16.50% has a Bachelor's degree or higher, and 12.85% has No certificate, diploma or degree.

Only using 25% sample data.
DegreeMenWomenTotalPercentage
Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree7,6608,82016,48053.50%
High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate5,5654,98510,55533.70%
Bachelor's degree or higher1,9303,1455,07516.50%
No certificate, diploma or degree2,4301,7254,15512.85%

Below national average 16.5% of Essa's population has a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to the national average of 32.9% (Canada, 2021 Census).

Employment in Essa

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

The data shows that the unemployment rate in Newfoundland and Labrador is at 7.54% which is quite high.

Only using 25% sample data.
StatusPercentage
Employment rate62.95%
Unemployment rate7.54%

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 Essa's population (around 73.10%) are working permanent position as an employee.

Self-employed

In the town, there are 990 men and 635 women working as self-employed individuals, bringing the total number to 1,620.

Only using 25% sample data.
StatusMenWomenTotal
Self-employed9906351,620

Employment Industry Sectors

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

Essa has a wide range of industries. Most of its population (15%) works in the public administration sector. The Manufacturing sector comes second at 13%, followed by Construction at 11%.

Only using 25% sample data.
IndustryMenWomenPercentage
Public administration1,17570515%
Manufacturing1,11050013%
Construction1,27517511%
Retail trade53074510%
Health care and social assistance1159658%
Educational services1755506%
Accommodation and food services2403855%
Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services3402505%
Transportation and warehousing3552004%
Professional, scientific and technical services2403054%
Other services (except public administration)2702354%
Wholesale trade2351453%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting2401003%
Finance and insurance852202%
Arts, entertainment and recreation1101052%
Real estate and rental and leasing901102%
Information and cultural industries80501%
Utilities40151%
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction20100%
Management of companies and enterprises0100%

Labour Market Snapshot

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

Top employer sectors in Essa: Public administration (15%), -33 Manufacturing (13%), Construction (11%)

Top occupation categories in Essa: Sales and service occupations (23%), Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations (22%), Business, finance and administration occupations (15%)

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 LocationMenWomenTotalPercentage
Usual place of work4,0103,5507,56066.10%
Worked at home9251,1552,08018.20%
No fixed workplace address1,3204401,75515.30%
Worked outside Canada2010350.30%

Commuting

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

Commuting Duration

This data reveals the average time that the residents of Essa 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.
DurationPercentage
15 to 29 minutes34.90%
Less than 15 minutes27.40%
60 minutes and over17.10%
30 to 44 minutes12.80%
45 to 59 minutes7.80%

Marital Status

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

Married or living common-law
63.70%
Married or living common-law
36.30%

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 Essa. About 21,845 people living in the province speak English, 940 people speak French, 90 people speak Neither English nor French language, and 70 people speak English and French language.

LanguagePopulation
English21,845
French940
Neither English nor French90
English and French70

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.

LanguageMother TongueSpoken Most Often at Home
English84.5%92.7%
Non-official languages8.9%3.1%
French4.1%2.5%

Religion

Essa is predominantly Christian. About 12,295 of its population is Christian (6,015 males and 6,015 females).

The second largest religion in the province is Hindu with 0.8% of the population adhering to the religion. There are also Muslim and Jewish, both represent 0.8% and 0.4% of the population, while Sikh represent 0.3% of the population.

ReligionPopulation
Christian53.9%
Hindu0.8%
Islam0.8%
Jewish0.4%
Sikh0.3%
Buddhist0.2%

Points of Interest in Essa

Schools

Parks

Libraries

Community Centres

Places to Visit in Essa

Museums

Historic Sites

Green Spaces in Essa

Areas are approximate, calculated from OpenStreetMap boundary data.

Frequently Asked Questions about Essa

According to the 2021 census, Essa has a population of approximately 22,970 people.

Between 2016 and 2021, the population of Essa increased by 8.95%.

Essa has a population density of approximately 82.10 people per square kilometre.

Essa covers a land area of approximately 279.92 km².

The median age of the population in Essa is 37.60 years.

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

The median household income in Essa is $108,000, based on 2020 data.

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

Christian is the predominant religion in Essa.

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.