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St. Catharines

Ontario

Statistics Canada geography code 3526053 · census subdivision

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MARKET SCORE

68 / 100
Moderate fundamentalsConfidence: Medium

Model CS-MI-1.0 · calculated 2026-09-30

Market snapshot

Population

144,829

Period: 2022

Source: Statistics Canada

Confidence: high

Unemployment rate

7.4%

Period: 2024

Source: Statistics Canada

Confidence: high

Average rent

$1,527

CMHC reports this figure for the census metropolitan area, which is wider than the city this market is defined by. Population here is city-level; rent and vacancy are metro-level. CMHC reliability code "a".

Source: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

Confidence: high

Rental vacancy rate

3.9%

CMHC reports this figure for the census metropolitan area, which is wider than the city this market is defined by. Population here is city-level; rent and vacancy are metro-level. CMHC reliability code "b".

Source: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

Confidence: high

Population trend

+6.8% 2013–2022 · Calculated
146,222140,186134,150201320182022

Source: Table 17-10-0142-01 — Population estimates, July 1, by census subdivision (vector 1138981277) · published 2023-01-11

What drives this market?

These weightings are an interpretation of the local economy, not a measurement. They are shown to explain what appears to support rental demand here — treat them differently from the sourced statistics above.

  • Manufacturing22% of local drivers

    A historic automotive and general manufacturing base, much reduced from its General Motors peak but still a significant share of local employment.

  • Health Care18% of local drivers

    Niagara Health operates the St. Catharines Site, the region’s largest hospital.

  • Tourism16% of local drivers

    The Niagara wine region and Niagara Falls draw visitors across the whole peninsula, concentrating accommodation and food service employment.

  • Education14% of local drivers

    Brock University and Niagara College together draw a student population large relative to the city, and Brock is among its biggest employers.

  • Transportation12% of local drivers

    The Welland Canal carries St. Lawrence Seaway traffic through the city.

  • Construction10% of local drivers

    Residential construction driven by retirement and Greater Toronto Area out-migration.

  • Local Services8% of local drivers

    Retail and personal services scaled to an older-than-average population.

Rental market

Average rent

$1,527

CMHC reports this figure for the census metropolitan area, which is wider than the city this market is defined by. Population here is city-level; rent and vacancy are metro-level. CMHC reliability code "a".

Source: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

Vacancy rate

3.9%

CMHC reports this figure for the census metropolitan area, which is wider than the city this market is defined by. Population here is city-level; rent and vacancy are metro-level. CMHC reliability code "b".

Source: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

All data for this market

MetricPeriodValueTypeConfidenceSource
average rent—$1,527observedhighCanada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
population2022144,829observedhighStatistics Canada
population2021142,019observedhighStatistics Canada
population2020141,893observedhighStatistics Canada
population2019141,280observedhighStatistics Canada
population2018139,525observedhighStatistics Canada
population2017137,721observedhighStatistics Canada
population2016136,512observedhighStatistics Canada
population2015135,898observedhighStatistics Canada
population2014135,543observedhighStatistics Canada
population2013135,607observedhighStatistics Canada
rent change pct—5.5%observedmediumCanada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
unemployment rate20247.4%observedhighStatistics Canada
unemployment rate20235.8%observedhighStatistics Canada
unemployment rate20225.2%observedhighStatistics Canada
unemployment rate202110.3%observedhighStatistics Canada
unemployment rate202010.6%observedhighStatistics Canada
unemployment rate20195.7%observedhighStatistics Canada
unemployment rate20186.8%observedhighStatistics Canada
unemployment rate20176.6%observedhighStatistics Canada
vacancy rate—3.9%observedhighCanada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

Rows showing Data unavailable are recorded deliberately, with the reason, rather than omitted — so you can tell the difference between a figure that is zero and one we simply do not have.