Most affordable neighbourhoods in Waterloo
Waterloo's least expensive neighbourhoods cluster around the university. Northdale tops the list with a median family income of just $40,400, and University of Waterloo Place isn't far behind at $56,800. Both have a young population, with median ages of 23 and 24.
Citywide, the median family income sits at $104,500, so these areas run well below that. Renters make up 34.6% of Waterloo households, and 22.2% of households spend 30% or more of their income on housing.
Lakeshore Village and Rummelhardt offer a bit more breathing room, with incomes closer to $64,000 and $66,000.
Waterloo on this axis
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 median after-tax family income
| Neighbourhood | median after-tax family income | Median age |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Northdale · Waterloo | $40,400 | 23.2 |
| 2. University of Waterloo Place · Waterloo | $56,800 | 24.0 |
| 3. Lakeshore Village · Waterloo | $64,000 | 39.6 |
| 4. Rummelhardt · Waterloo | $66,000 | 29.4 |
| 5. Beechwood · Waterloo | $67,500 | 33.6 |
| 6. Uptown · Waterloo | $69,500 | 42.0 |
| 7. Needlewood Glen Housing Co-operative · Waterloo | $70,000 | 42.0 |
| 8. Weber & Bridgeport · Waterloo | $72,500 | 37.2 |
| 9. Lexington & Columbia · Waterloo | $77,000 | 34.4 |
| 10. Beechwood Co-operative Homes · Waterloo | $77,000 | 36.0 |
| 11. Northfield & Davenport · Waterloo | $77,000 | 42.8 |
| 12. University Downs · Waterloo | $79,500 | 33.2 |
| 13. Lexington & Davenport · Waterloo | $81,000 | 36.4 |
| 14. Fairfield · Waterloo | $83,000 | 37.6 |
| 15. Beaver Creek Housing Co-op · Waterloo | $84,000 | 39.6 |
| 16. Eastbridge · Waterloo | $86,000 | 34.0 |
| 17. Metropolitan Towers · Waterloo | $86,000 | 38.8 |
| 18. Westmount · Waterloo | $92,000 | 35.6 |
| 19. Bridgeport · Waterloo | $94,000 | 36.4 |
| 20. Westvale · Waterloo | $97,000 | 42.0 |
Top 3 always visible. Below that, half the cells blur until you sign in — one click with Google, free.
Sort and filter by median after-tax family income and 125+ other census metrics.
Common questions
What is the cheapest neighbourhood in Waterloo?
Northdale is the most affordable, with a median family income of $40,400. It's also a young area, with a median age of 23, near the University of Waterloo campus.
How affordable is renting in Waterloo?
About 35% of Waterloo households rent, and just over one in five spend 30% or more of their income on housing costs.
Which Waterloo neighbourhood has the lowest income?
Northdale has the lowest median family income in Waterloo at $40,400, followed by University of Waterloo Place at $56,800.
Are there family-oriented affordable areas in Waterloo?
Lakeshore Village and Rummelhardt are more affordable options with median incomes near $64,000 and $66,000. Lakeshore Village also has an older population, with a median age of about 40.