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Densely populated neighbourhoods in Waterloo

Waterloo's densest neighbourhoods run far above the citywide average of 2,941 people per square kilometre. Rummelhardt tops the list at 8,555 per square kilometre, with a median income around $66,000. Northdale follows close behind at 8,300 per square kilometre, a student-heavy area near the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University, with a median income of $68,500. High-rise apartments make up 18.0% of Waterloo's housing citywide, while 54.3% of homes are single-detached. Incomes in these dense neighbourhoods range from $65,500 in Lakeshore Village up to $128,000 in Laurelwood.

Waterloo on this axis

Density
2,941 /km²p50
High-rise apartments
18.0%p85
Single-detached
54.3%p35
Owner-occupied
65.3%p25

The first bar is the headline ranking metric; the rest are related axes for context. Bars are the Waterlooaggregate's percentile rank vs Ontario's 20,000+ census areas.

Top neighbourhoods in Waterloo by population density

Neighbourhoodpopulation densityMedian income
1. Rummelhardt · Waterloo8,555 /km²$66,000
2. Northdale · Waterloo8,300 /km²$68,500
3. Lakeshore Village · Waterloo6,786 /km²$65,500
4. Uptown · Waterloo6,281 /km²$92,000
5. Needlewood Glen Housing Co-operative · Waterloo6,271 /km²$70,000
6. Eastbridge · Waterloo5,793 /km²$126,000
7. Bridgeport · Waterloo5,617 /km²$94,000
8. Metropolitan Towers · Waterloo5,552 /km²$86,000
9. Beechwood · Waterloo5,531 /km²$67,500
10. Laurelwood · Waterloo5,111 /km²$128,000
11. University Downs · Waterloo4,879 /km²$79,500
12. Clair Hills · Waterloo4,799 /km²$110,000
13. Westvale · Waterloo4,509 /km²$104,000
14. Beaver Creek Housing Co-op · Waterloo4,227 /km²$84,000
15. Fairfield · Waterloo4,141 /km²$83,000
16. Chippendale Common · Waterloo4,139 /km²$138,000
17. Lexington & Davenport · Waterloo3,934 /km²$81,000
18. Westmount & Osprey · Waterloo3,383 /km²$135,000
19. Westmount · Waterloo3,351 /km²$92,000
20. Weber & Bridgeport · Waterloo3,216 /km²$72,500

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Common questions

What is the most densely populated neighbourhood in Waterloo?

Rummelhardt is Waterloo's densest neighbourhood, at 8,555 people per square kilometre, well above the citywide average of 2,941. Northdale is close behind at 8,300 per square kilometre.

Why is Northdale so densely populated?

Northdale sits near the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University campuses, which makes it a popular spot for student housing. It runs at 8,300 people per square kilometre, with a median income of $68,500.

What percentage of homes in Waterloo are high-rise apartments?

High-rise apartments make up 18.0% of homes across Waterloo citywide. Single-detached houses are still more common overall, at 54.3%.

Do denser Waterloo neighbourhoods have lower incomes?

Generally, yes, though there's a range. Rummelhardt and Northdale, the two densest neighbourhoods, have median incomes around $66,000 and $68,500, while Uptown, also fairly dense at 6,281 per square kilometre, runs higher at $92,000.