Dunham, Quebec Population & Demographics: Is It a Good Place to Live?

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

This article shows the demographic data and statistics of Dunham. It is a town in Canada that encompasses a land area of 193.86 km2. The town has a population density of 18.60 people per km2.

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

Dunham on the Map

Dunham location on the map. View in Google Map

Population Characteristics

According to the latest census, Dunham has a population of around 3,599 people. The town's population is in increased. Between 2016 and 2021, the population of Dunham has increased by ▲ 4.87%.

Population in 2016Population in 2021Difference
3,4323,599 +4.87%

2026 Population Projection

Based on the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 0.95% observed between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, Dunham's population is projected to reach approximately 3,774 people by 2026, with a projected population density of around 19.47 people per km².

Population in 2021Projected Population in 2026Projected Density in 2026 (per km²)
3,5993,77419.47

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.

Dunham Population Trend & Context

Dunham had a 2021 census population of 3,599 — an increase of 167 (▲ 4.87%) people from the 3,432 recorded in 2016.

The town's population has grown slightly over this period, reflecting broader growth trends among Quebec towns. The town's median age of 48.4 years — above the national median of 41.9 — suggests a mature, established community rather than a rapidly growing one.

Population By Genders

The male population of Dunham is around 1,785 while the female population is around 1,815.

Of the 3,599 total population in Dunham, the largest gender is female with around 1,815 female within the population.

MaleFemaleDifference
1,7851,815 +1.65%

Is Dunham a Good Place to Live?

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

Employment & Economy

4.4%
Unemployment rate
3.2 pts below the province
63.2%
Employment rate
3.9 pts above the province
66.1%
Participation rate
2.0 pts above the province

Income & Affordability

$76,000
Median household income
$3,500 above the province
9.5%
Below low-income threshold (LIM-AT)
2.4 pts below the province

Commute

73.2%
Commute under 30 minutes
6.9 pts above the province
93.5%
Commute by car
11.1 pts above the province
0.0%
Commute by public transit
9.0 pts below the province

Housing Character

89.9%
Single-detached houses
45.3 pts above the province
7.5%
Apartments (any building size)
38.9 pts below the province

Household Composition

2.30 people
Average household size
0.10people above the province
27.1%
One-person households
8.0 pts below the province

Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population.

Dunham Population Compared to Quebec

Quebec's population in 2021 was 8,501,833, spread across the area. Here's how Dunham compares to the town's key indicators:

IndicatorDunhamQuebec
Median household income$76,000$72,500
Unemployment rate4.4%7.6%
Median age48.443.2
Bachelor's degree or higher20.8%26.5%
Immigrants (%)3.7%14.6%

Population by Age Characteristics

Dunham has an aging population. The majority of the population is people aged 60 to 64 years old, accounting for 9.40% of the total population. The town median age is 48.40.

DataMaleFemaleDifferenceTotal
60 to 64 years180 10.10%160 8.80% 11.11%340 9.40%
65 to 69 years160 9.00%165 9.10% 3.03%320 8.90%
55 to 59 years140 7.80%155 8.50% 9.68%295 8.20%
70 to 74 years140 7.80%105 5.80% 25.00%245 6.80%
35 to 39 years115 6.40%110 6.10% 4.35%225 6.30%
50 to 54 years115 6.40%105 5.80% 8.70%220 6.10%
10 to 14 years90 5.00%125 6.90% 28.00%215 6.00%
40 to 44 years105 5.90%115 6.30% 8.70%215 6.00%
5 to 9 years95 5.30%105 5.80% 9.52%205 5.70%
45 to 49 years90 5.00%110 6.10% 18.18%200 5.60%
0 to 4 years100 5.60%85 4.70% 15.00%185 5.10%
30 to 34 years85 4.80%95 5.20% 10.53%180 5.00%
75 to 79 years95 5.30%90 5.00% 5.26%180 5.00%
15 to 19 years80 4.50%95 5.20% 15.79%170 4.70%
25 to 29 years70 3.90%85 4.70% 17.65%155 4.30%
20 to 24 years55 3.10%50 2.80% 9.09%110 3.10%

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 58.60% of the population. The other age groups, 65 years and over and 0 to 14 years, account for 24.60% and 16.80%, respectively.

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

DataMaleFemaleTotal
15 to 64 years58.50%58.70%58.60%
65 years and over25.50%24.00%24.60%
0 to 14 years16.20%17.40%16.80%

Population of Dunham by Ethnicity and Origin

The population of Dunham is quite diverse, which contributes to the town's vibrant cultural landscape. Dunham 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 Dunham are Canadian, which accounts for 32.86% of the total population, followed by French (32.15%), Irish (12.46%), English (7.08%), and French Canadian (6.66%).

Other ethnicities and origins in Dunham include Scottish, European, German, First Nations (North American Indian), and Christian, n.i.e..

Ethnicity and OriginMaleFemalePercentage in Population
Canadian32.49%33.24%32.86%
French33.89%30.37%32.15%
Irish10.36%14.61%12.46%
English7.56%6.59%7.08%
French Canadian6.16%7.16%6.66%
Scottish4.76%4.87%4.82%
European3.64%2.87%3.26%
German2.80%2.87%2.97%
First Nations (North American Indian)2.24%2.29%2.27%
Christian, n.i.e.1.68%1.72%1.56%

Indigenous Identity in Dunham

About 2.98% of Dunham's population (105 people) identify with an Indigenous identity, compared to 97.02% who report a non-Indigenous identity.

Of the Indigenous population, 0 people (0.00% of the total population) hold Registered or Treaty Indian status.

Indigenous identity
2.98%
Non-Indigenous identity
97.02%

Immigration Profile

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

About 3.7% of Dunham's population are immigrants (130 people).

The top countries of origin for Dunham's immigrant population are France (50), United Kingdom (15), Germany (10), Brazil (0), Colombia (0).

Only using 25% sample data.
Country of BirthPopulation
France50
United Kingdom15
Germany10
Brazil0
Colombia0

98.0% of Dunham's residents (3,460 people) are Canadian citizens, and 2.0% are not.

By generation status, 5.1% of residents are first generation (born outside Canada), 5.4% are second generation, and 89.6% are third generation or more.

Household and Dwelling Characteristics

About 1,375 of Dunham's population live in a single-detached house. In addition, most of them are living in 2 persons household.

Household Size

About 21.75% of the population lives in 2 persons households. 1 person households ranked second, accounting for 13.55% of the population. 4 persons, 3 persons, and 5 or more persons households account for 6.20%, 5.25%, and 3.25%, respectively.

Number of Person(s) in HouseholdTotalPercentage
2 persons66521.75%
1 person41513.55%
4 persons1906.20%
3 persons1605.25%
5 or more persons1003.25%

Family and Household Structure in Dunham

Of census families in Dunham, 88.9% are couple families and 11.1% are one-parent families. The average census family has 2.7 people.

Couple families
88.94%
One-parent families
11.06%

27.5% of households in Dunham are one-person households, 59.5% are couple-family households, 6.9% are one-parent-family households, and 1.0% are multigenerational households.

Household TypeHouseholdsPercentage
One-person households42027.5%
Couple-family households91059.5%
One-parent-family households1056.9%
Multigenerational households151.0%

Income in Dunham

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

Per Capita Income

According to 2020 data, the median personal income within Dunham is $40,800.

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 Dunham population or around 510 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 435 and 395 people, respectively.

Household Income

The Dunham's median household income is $76,000, according to 2020 data.

Below national average Dunham's median household income is 8,000 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 Dunham

This data sheds light on the distribution of Dunham 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.

66.70% or most of the Dunham population has a Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree. 23.80% of the population has a High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate, and 9.20% 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.
DegreeMenWomenTotalPercentage
Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree5756551,23066.70%
High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate22522044023.80%
No certificate, diploma or degree110601709.20%

Below national average 21.7% of Dunham's population has a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to the national average of 32.9% (Canada, 2021 Census).

Employment in Dunham

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

The data shows that the unemployment rate in Dunham is at 4.40% which is pretty low.

Only using 25% sample data.
StatusPercentage
Employment rate63.18%
Unemployment rate4.40%

Work Activity During the Reference Year

Of the population aged 15 and over in Dunham, 33.3% worked full year full time in the reference year, 32.6% worked part year and/or part time, and 34.1% did not work.

Only using 25% sample data.
Work ActivityPopulationPercentage
Worked full year full time97033.3%
Worked part year and/or part time95032.6%
Did not work99534.1%

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 Dunham's population (around 62.60%) are working permanent position as an employee.

Self-employed

In the town, there are 235 men and 165 women working as self-employed individuals, bringing the total number to 400.

Only using 25% sample data.
StatusMenWomenTotal
Self-employed235165400

Employment Industry Sectors

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

Dunham has a wide range of industries. Most of its population (15%) works in the manufacturing sector. The Health care and social assistance sector comes second at 11%, followed by Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting at 10%.

Only using 25% sample data.
IndustryMenWomenPercentage
Manufacturing2009515%
Health care and social assistance2519011%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting1158010%
Retail trade8011510%
Construction135158%
Educational services251057%
Professional, scientific and technical services60556%
Accommodation and food services35706%
Other services (except public administration)55355%
Transportation and warehousing70305%
Public administration55254%
Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services45354%
Wholesale trade40203%
Finance and insurance10252%
Arts, entertainment and recreation20101%
Utilities1501%
Information and cultural industries0101%
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction001%
Real estate and rental and leasing1001%
Management of companies and enterprises000%

Labour Market Snapshot

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

Top employer sectors in Dunham: Manufacturing (15%), Health care and social assistance (11%), Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (10%)

Top occupation categories in Dunham: Sales and service occupations (22%), 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 work6307001,33072.30%
Worked at home16013530016.30%
No fixed workplace address1506021011.40%
Worked outside Canada0000.00%

Commuting

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

Commuting Duration

This data reveals the average time that the residents of Dunham 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
Less than 15 minutes39.20%
15 to 29 minutes34.00%
30 to 44 minutes15.50%
60 minutes and over6.10%
45 to 59 minutes4.50%

Marital Status

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

Married or living common-law
65.94%
Married or living common-law
34.06%

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.

French is the most spoken official language in Dunham. About 2,780 people living in the town speak French, 725 people speak English, 55 people speak English and French language, and 15 people speak Neither English nor French language.

LanguagePopulation
French2,780
English725
English and French55
Neither English nor French15

Knowledge of Official Languages

About 57.1% of Dunham's population is bilingual, knowing both English and French. 6.0% know English only, 36.5% know French only, and 0.4% know neither official language.

Knowledge of Official LanguagesPopulationPercentage
English only2156.0%
French only1,30536.5%
English and French2,04057.1%
Neither English nor French150.4%

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
French75.2%76.2%
English17.9%19.3%
Non-official languages2.5%1.0%

Religion

Dunham is predominantly Christian. About 2,175 of its population is Christian (1,115 males and 1,065 females).

The second largest religion in the town is Muslim with 0.3% of the population adhering to the religion. There are also Buddhist and Hindu, both represent 0.0% and 0.0% of the population, while Jewish represent 0.0% of the population.

ReligionPopulation
Christian61.7%
Islam0.3%
Buddhist0.0%
Hindu0.0%
Jewish0.0%
Sikh0.0%

Points of Interest in Dunham

Hospitals

Schools

Parks

Community Centres

Places to Visit in Dunham

Attractions

Green Spaces in Dunham

NameTypeApprox. Area
Parc Paul-Émile-DavignonParks1.2 ha
Parc Pierre-LussierParks2.9 ha
Parc DavignonParks2.1 ha
Parc des ColibrisParks7.3 ha
Centre de la natureParks17.5 ha
Parc Saint-LéonParks1.5 ha
Parc École Heroes MemorialParks0.7 ha
Parc de l'EnvolParks4.5 ha
Parc de la RivièreParks2.9 ha
Parc ClearyParks0.3 ha
Parc WellingtonParks1.7 ha
Parc François-TanguayParks0.8 ha

Areas are approximate, calculated from OpenStreetMap boundary data.

Nearest Towns to Dunham

Frequently Asked Questions about Dunham

According to the 2021 Statistics Canada Census, Dunham has a population of 3,599 people, making it the 171st town in Quebec. The population increased moderately from 3,432 in 2016, an increase of 167 people or 4.87%. The town has a population density of 18.6 people per km² across a land area of 193.86 km². The 2026 Census results are expected from Statistics Canada beginning February 2027.

Dunham's population grew by 4.87% between the 2016 and 2021 censuses — from 3,432 to 3,599 people, a gain of 167 residents. This modest growth reflects patterns seen in many other Quebec towns during this period. The median age of 48.40 years suggests an aging population. Official 2026 Census data, which will confirm whether this trend continued, is expected from Statistics Canada in February 2027.

Dunham has a population density of approximately 18.60 people per square kilometre.

Dunham covers a land area of approximately 193.86 km².

The median age of the population in Dunham is 48.40 years.

The largest ethnic or cultural origin group in Dunham is Canadian.

The median household income in Dunham is $76,000, based on 2020 data.

French is the most common first official language spoken in Dunham.

Christian is the predominant religion in Dunham.

According to the 2021 Census, 3.0% of Dunham's population identifies with an Indigenous identity.

98.0% of Dunham's residents are Canadian citizens, based on 2021 Census data.

One-parent families make up 11.0% of census families in Dunham, according to the 2021 Census.

Multigenerational households make up 1.0% of all households in Dunham, per the 2021 Census.

57.1% of Dunham's population knows both English and French, based on 2021 Census data on knowledge of official languages.

Of the population aged 15 and over in Dunham, 33.3% worked full year full time in the 2021 Census reference year.

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.