- 40 cities with solo-renter majorities: Lone renters account for more than half of the one-person households in major cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Ottawa. Meanwhile, in Montréal, the share of solo renters hit 74% as opposed to 26% solo owners.
- Boomers lead growth in individual renting: Canadians 65 and older had the largest increase in individual renting, making up one-third of the one-person market. In Halton Hills and Caledon, ON, about half of the solo renters are at least 65.
- Millennials, no longer the face of renting alone: Tenants aged 25 to 34, often seen as the archetype of living independently, represent 18.5% of solo renters. However, their share is nearly matched by renters twice their age: 55- to 64-year-olds represent 18.2%.
- Gen Z carves out its solo-renting pocket: Waterloo, ON, displays the biggest percentage of young adults renting on their own. In this student and tech hub, under-24-year-olds constitute more than 20% of one-renter households.
Thinking of renters living alone conjures up the image of a young professional in their late 20s to early 30s: adaptable, career-focused, and renting as a stepping stone to future plans. However, Point2Homes‘ closer look at the data reveals a twist: it’s actually aging Canadians who are emerging as major contributors to the solo rental market.
An astounding 4.4 million Canadians lived alone in 2021 — twice what it was in 1991. Ontario and Québec each counted over 1.3 million one-person households, reflecting a nationwide trend spanning many of the country’s larger cities.
As rentership overall rises, renters represent 33.4% of all households — the highest percentage Canada has ever seen. Yet, among those living by themselves, the trend is even more striking: solo renters make up 50.4% of the country’s one-person households, outnumbering solo homeowners.
Some might feel as though this switch toward a solo renter-majority was only a matter of time in a housing market where buying a home on one’s own is increasingly out of the question. But, it actually also reflects the country's shifting societal priorities with fewer traditional family structures, less probability of property investment, and a growing importance of flexibility and less hassle.
And, as renting alone is increasingly embraced by Canadians, the trend is being spearheaded by an unexpected demographic: renters aged 65 and older. Whether it's downsizing, seeking less responsibility in their golden years, or simply adapting to life changes, the most significant proportion of solo renters is now graying at the temples.
Québec Cities Reveal Some of the Highest Shares of People Renting Alone
Renting on one’s own outpaces owning in 40 cities; Lone tenants show uptick in preference for houses & 2 bedrooms
With rising home prices — especially in urban centers like Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, or Edmonton — homeownership has become an increasingly steep financial hurdle, making renting a more accessible alternative for those looking for a place of their own.
Not only did 2021 mark a nationwide shift toward a solo renter majority, but also a time when more than half of those renting alone spent less than 30% of their income on housing, making it a comfortable option for many. In fact, in 40 of the country’s largest cities, lone renters represent more than half of the one-person households, outnumbering solo homeowners:
Montréal has the highest share of renters in Canada, as reflected in an earlier Point2Homes study. In this case, its big-city appeal plays a big part: it draws in plenty of professionals, artists, and students from Québec and beyond, many looking for the flexibility and independence that solo renting offers.
In line with this pattern, Montréal also displays the biggest percentage of Canadians renting alone, alongside various other Québec cities, including Sherbrooke (although their similar shares translate into 253,945 renters living on their own in Montréal and 10 times fewer in Sherbrooke).
Typically, tenants on their own opt for apartments, but the number of solo renters in single-family homes is edging up. Between 2016 and 2021, the number of solo house renters increased by nearly 55,000, hitting 334,660. Notably, in 16 cities, solo house renters even exceed 25%, signaling a growing preference for more spacious living options.
Meanwhile, although one-bedroom units and studios are still the most popular choice for renters on their own, the preference is slowly shifting toward two-bedroom rentals. In recent years, the share of solo renters living in 1-bedroom rentals has decreased by 1.6%, mostly in favor of 2 bedrooms — so much so that in Lévis, QC, for instance, more than half of lone renters opt for two-bedroom homes.
This growing preference for extra space suggests a desire for a living environment that can meet a range of lifestyle needs — not just in space but also in adaptability. Whether for a home office, guest room, or simply more comfort, it signals a changing perspective on renting alone. Namely, that having enough space to accommodate varied lifestyle needs can become more critical than just affordability.
Solo Renters 65 & Older Make Up as Much as 3 Other Younger Age Groups Combined
Percentage of lone renters aged 55 to 64 rivals young millennials half their age
Traditionally, renting alone has been associated with adults starting their careers, pursuing education, or simply enjoying the flexibility of not being tied down by property ownership. However, as more individuals enter later stages of life without a partner or family at home, those aged 55 to 64 now form a group of solo renters that's almost as large as young millennials between 25 and 34.
At the same time, shifting life circumstances — such as divorce or widowhood — have also made renting alone increasingly appealing for older demographics. About one-third of the country’s 3.7 million divorcees are between 55 and 64 years of age, while 1.6 million of the 2 million widowed Canadians are older than 65. These realities have contributed to the growing presence of solo seniors in the rental market.
Although millennials might outnumber baby boomers in the general population, they don't in terms of solo renters. In fact, more than 710,500 of the Canadians renting alone are at least 65 years old, making up one-third of the solo rental market. What’s more, solo renters in their mid-60s and beyond grew by nearly 3% between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses — more than the lone renters in any other age group.
This trend is particularly striking in slower-paced places like Halton Hills and Caledon, where about half of the individual renters have already celebrated their 65th birthdays. Conversely, young solo renters are virtually absent here. These young adults don’t even represent 6% of the country’s share of independent renters. Granted, many of them are still in school or have just started working, so comfortably renting on their own in today’s market is nothing short of fantastical.
Quaint Halton Hills, ON, the Only Canadian City Where Over 50% of Solo Renters are 65+
Ontario's Caledon & Burlington also show significant percentages of seniors renting alone
As birthrates fall and more Canadians postpone marriage, the demographics of those renting alone are shifting, with seniors making up a larger share of the market. The trend is particularly evident in 20 Canadian cities where 40% to more than 50% of those renting alone are at least 65.
In this respect, senior renters across several Ontario and Québec cities lead the charge in the trend of renting alone:
The senior solo-renter majority in Halton Hills and Caledon reflects a broader shift in Canada’s rental market. These two communities, which are popular with retirees and empty nesters, offer a peaceful, suburban lifestyle with easy access to nature spots, making them ideal for seniors looking to downsize or enjoy a slower pace of life. More urbanized than the other two, Burlington is perfect for those who want suburban living mixed with urban conveniences, cultural amenities, and extensive shopping opportunities.
Interestingly, cities like Clarington, Aurora, and Caledon reported very few solo renters younger than 24 or between 25 and 34, further underscoring the growing proportion of older renters in these communities. Aurora, in particular, saw its percentage of seniors renting on their own go from about 34% to more than 44% in just five years.
Postponed Life Milestones Shape Younger Generations of Solo Tenants
Waterloo boasts biggest share of lone Gen Z renters as Toronto & Montréal lead in numbers
The latest StatCan data reveals a sharp decline in the number of marriages in 2020, which fell to around 98,350 from 149,000 in 2016. Granted, the pandemic accelerated this drop, with restrictions, financial challenges, and shifting priorities prompting more Canadians to delay this traditional milestone. Likewise, despite a brief uptick post-pandemic, birth rates remain far below the 384,000 births reported in 2016.
While older Canadians are redefining independent living in quieter areas, younger renters often go for cultural, educational or job hubs.
To that end, renters aged 25 to 34 make up 18.5% of Canadians living alone. Alberta's Wood Buffalo and Calgary lead the charge with young millennials accounting for close to 30% of the solo renter population. Wood Buffalo —an economic center that attracts a diverse workforce — also displays the highest share of solo renters aged 45 to 54, the prime age for career advancement or a switch in the energy sector, in particular.
Next, those younger than 24, while representing a smaller share of solo renters, are beginning to leave their mark. Waterloo, ON, stands out as the top city for the youngest individual renters, who constitute 20.6% of the local solo rental market. Its proximity to universities, affordable rental options, and burgeoning tech sector make Waterloo a hotspot for 15- to 24-year-olds starting out independently. Lethbridge, AB, and Fredericton, NB, follow with 12% lone renters under 24. These two smaller cities claim good universities and somewhat more manageable cost of living that also draw student populations.
In terms of numbers, Toronto further anchors youthful independence by boasting over 10,700 Gen Z renters living alone. That said, the largest total of youngsters renting alone is in Montréal: almost 15,000. These cities, with their combinations of educational institutions, job opportunities, and cultural amenities, remain magnets for younger Canadians embracing self-reliance.
For some, renting alone is all about having the freedom to live independently for others, whereas, for others, it’s a chance to adjust to a new life stage or finally have a place for themselves. At the same time, for those aged 65 and older, solo renting offers a way to downsize, avoid the hassle of maintenance, and live on their own terms without the long-term commitment of owning a home.
As renting on one's own grows among this demographic, it highlights the need for rental spaces that cater to aging renters by offering accessibility and comfort while simultaneously addressing challenges like social isolation or financial strain. One thing’s for sure: as Canada’s population ages, the trend of renting alone will only grow, redefining independent living for seniors.
Use the interactive table below to learn more about solo renters in the 100 largest cities in Canada. Filter by age group to get a picture of the number of Canadians of different ages who are renting by themselves, and how their share has evolved between the two latest Censuses.
Methodology
As one of the top listing portals for rental homes in the Canadian market, Point2Homes.com is a trustworthy source for journalists and professionals covering real estate trends and news across Canada. Point2Homes studies are based on internal data, public records, governmental sources, and online research.
- For this study, we considered the 100 largest Census Subdivisions (Cities) based on the most recent data from Statistics Canada 2021 Census of Population compared to the 2016 Census.
- The report analyzes one-person households among all age groups. Gen Z solo renters are aged 15–24, while the text defines “young millennials” as those aged 25–34. The 65+ age group, sometimes referred to as seniors or boomers, was formed by combining StatCan’s 65-to-74, 75-to-84, and 85+ age groups.
- The rental property breakdown used focuses on single-family homes and apartments and does not include dwellings provided by the local government.
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