# 22 Multigenerational Household Statistics for Ontario (2026)

22 cited multigenerational household stats: 2.4 million Canadians, half of them in Ontario, 14.3% of Brampton homes and a $7,250 suite tax credit.

_Source: https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/blog/multigenerational-household-statistics/_

- **Author:** [Pro House Maintenance Editorial Team](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/about/)
- **Published:** 2026-11-03

Cited Census data on how many Canadian families share one home, where they live in the GTA, how crowded those homes are and the tax credit for building a suite.

**About 2.4 million Canadians lived in a multigenerational household in 2021, and half of them lived in Ontario**, according to [Statistics Canada](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/91f0015m/91f0015m2025003-eng.pdf). These homes, with grandparents, parents and children under one roof, grew far faster than other households from 2011 to 2021. They are also much more likely to be short of bedrooms. The 22 statistics below cover how many families live this way, where they live in the GTA, how much room they have and the tax credit for adding a suite. If your family is planning a [home addition](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/services/home-additions/) or a basement suite, start with the numbers.

Figures come from the 2021 Census of Population as reported by Statistics Canada, the Canada Revenue Agency, the Department of Finance Canada, the Budget 2025 annex and Pew Research Center. All sources were checked on November 3, 2026.

## Key Takeaways

- **About 2.4 million Canadians lived in multigenerational households in 2021**, 6.5% of people in private households ([Statistics Canada](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/91f0015m/91f0015m2025003-eng.pdf)).
- **Multigenerational households grew 21.2% from 2011 to 2021**, compared with 12.4% for all households ([Statistics Canada](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/91f0015m/91f0015m2025003-eng.pdf)).
- **Ontario is home to 50.2% of all Canadians in multigenerational households** ([Statistics Canada](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/91f0015m/91f0015m2025003-eng.pdf)).
- **14.3% of Brampton households are multigenerational**, the highest rate in Canada ([Statistics Canada](https://www.statcan.gc.ca/o1/en/plus/8470-living-under-one-roof-what-data-say-about-multigenerational-households-canada)).
- **28.3% of multigenerational households are short of bedrooms**, compared with 4.7% of other households ([Statistics Canada](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/91f0015m/91f0015m2025003-eng.pdf)).
- **The federal suite tax credit is worth up to $7,250** per renovation for 2025 ([CRA](https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/topics/about-your-tax-return/tax-return/completing-a-tax-return/deductions-credits-expenses/line-45355-mhrtc.html)).

## How many Canadians live in multigenerational households?

About 2.4 million Canadians lived in a multigenerational household in 2021, Statistics Canada reports. That was 441,750 households, or 2.9% of all homes. Statistics Canada counts a household as multigenerational when at least three generations of one family live together. The number grew faster than the number of households overall.

### 1\. About 2.4 million Canadians live in multigenerational homes

In 2021, 2,360,760 people, or 6.5% of all persons in private households, lived in a multigenerational household ([Statistics Canada](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/91f0015m/91f0015m2025003-eng.pdf)).

### 2\. 441,750 households, or 2.9% of the total

The 2021 Census counted 441,750 multigenerational private households, 2.9% of all households in Canada, up from 406,645 in 2016. That is an 8.6% increase in five years ([Statistics Canada](https://www.statcan.gc.ca/o1/en/plus/8470-living-under-one-roof-what-data-say-about-multigenerational-households-canada)).

### 3\. 21.2% growth from 2011 to 2021

The number of multigenerational households rose 21.2% from 2011 to 2021, from 364,505. Over the same decade, the total number of households in Canada rose 12.4% ([Statistics Canada](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/91f0015m/91f0015m2025003-eng.pdf)).

### 4\. 68.3% live in a single-detached house

Just over two thirds (68.3%) of multigenerational households lived in a single-detached home in 2021 ([Statistics Canada](https://www.statcan.gc.ca/o1/en/plus/8470-living-under-one-roof-what-data-say-about-multigenerational-households-canada)). That makes basement suites, garage conversions and additions the usual ways these families add space.

### 5\. 9% of young children live with a grandparent

Almost 1 in 10 children aged 0 to 14 in census families (9%), or 553,855 children, lived in the same household as at least one grandparent in 2021 ([Statistics Canada](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/220713/dq220713a-eng.htm)).

2.4M

Canadians in multigenerational homes (2021)

441,750

multigenerational households

+21.2%

growth in these households, 2011 to 2021

## Where do multigenerational families live in Ontario?

Mostly in Ontario, and mostly in the Greater Toronto Area. Ontario holds half of all Canadians in multigenerational homes, and Brampton has the highest household rate in the country. Children in Brampton, Markham, Caledon, Ajax and Pickering are far more likely than the Ontario average to live with a grandparent.

### 6\. Ontario has 50.2% of Canada's total

In 2021, 1,185,490 Ontarians lived in multigenerational households, 8.4% of the province's population in private households and 50.2% of all such people in Canada ([Statistics Canada](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/91f0015m/91f0015m2025003-eng.pdf)).

### 7\. Ontario and BC together hold 67.9%

British Columbia had the next-largest share, at 17.7% of Canadians in multigenerational homes and 8.5% of its own population. Together, Ontario and BC accounted for 67.9% of the national total ([Statistics Canada](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/91f0015m/91f0015m2025003-eng.pdf)).

### 8\. 11.6% of people in the Toronto area

In the Toronto census metropolitan area, 11.6% of people lived in a multigenerational household in 2021. Abbotsford-Mission in BC had the highest share of any metro area, at 17.5% ([Statistics Canada](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/91f0015m/91f0015m2025003-eng.pdf)).

### 9\. Brampton: 14.3% of households

About one in seven households in Brampton (14.3%) were multigenerational in 2021, the highest rate among Canadian cities. Surrey followed at 9.6% and Markham at 9.5% ([Statistics Canada](https://www.statcan.gc.ca/o1/en/plus/8470-living-under-one-roof-what-data-say-about-multigenerational-households-canada)).

### 10\. 28% of Brampton children live with a grandparent

The share of children aged 0 to 14 living with at least one grandparent was 28% in Brampton, 23% in Markham, 20% in Caledon and 19% each in Ajax and Pickering ([Statistics Canada](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/220713/dq220713a-eng.htm)). The Ontario figure was 12%.

### 11\. 41.9% of young adults in Ontario live with a parent

In 2021, 41.9% of Ontario adults aged 20 to 34 lived with at least one parent. The shares were higher in Oshawa (49%), Toronto (47%) and Hamilton (44%) ([Statistics Canada](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/220713/dq220713a-eng.htm)).

_Chart: Children aged 0 to 14 living with a grandparent, GTA municipalities (2021)._

Source: [Statistics Canada, The Daily, July 13, 2022](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/220713/dq220713a-eng.htm).

_Chart: Where Canadians in multigenerational homes live (2021)._

Source: [Statistics Canada, Multigenerational households in Canada (2025)](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/91f0015m/91f0015m2025003-eng.pdf). The rest-of-Canada share is the remainder.

## How crowded are multigenerational homes?

Much more crowded than other homes, but less likely to be unaffordable. More than a quarter of multigenerational households do not have enough bedrooms for everyone. Pooling incomes helps, though, so these families are less likely to be in low income or core housing need. That mix is why many of them add space instead of moving.

### 12\. 28.3% do not have enough bedrooms

In 2021, 28.3% of multigenerational households lived in housing below the suitability standard, meaning too few bedrooms for the household, compared with 4.7% of other households ([Statistics Canada](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/91f0015m/91f0015m2025003-eng.pdf)).

### 13\. 18.5% are short one bedroom

Among multigenerational households, 18.5% had a shortfall of one bedroom, 6.4% a shortfall of two and 3.4% a shortfall of three or more ([Statistics Canada](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/91f0015m/91f0015m2025003-eng.pdf)).

### 14\. 7.5% need major repairs

Some 7.5% of multigenerational households lived in housing below the adequacy standard, which means residents reported it needed major repairs. The figure for other households was 6.1% ([Statistics Canada](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/91f0015m/91f0015m2025003-eng.pdf)).

### 15\. 11.1% have unaffordable housing

Only 11.1% of multigenerational households spent 30% or more of income on shelter, nearly half the rate of other households, at 20.8% ([Statistics Canada](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/91f0015m/91f0015m2025003-eng.pdf)).

### 16\. 4.6% are in core housing need

In 2021, 4.6% of multigenerational households were in core housing need, compared with 10.3% of other households ([Statistics Canada](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/91f0015m/91f0015m2025003-eng.pdf)).

### 17\. 4.3% live in low income

Just 4.3% of multigenerational households were in low income, compared with 15.5% of other households ([Statistics Canada](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/91f0015m/91f0015m2025003-eng.pdf)).

_Chart: Housing conditions: multigenerational vs other households, Canada (2021, %)._

Source: [Statistics Canada, Multigenerational households in Canada (2025)](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/91f0015m/91f0015m2025003-eng.pdf), Table 4 and highlights.

## What tax credit and financing help pay for a family suite?

The main federal help is the Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit. For 2025 it refunds 14.5% of up to $50,000 in costs for a self-contained suite for a senior or an adult with a disability. Insured mortgage refinancing can also cover a suite. A planned federal suite loan program was cancelled in Budget 2025.

### 18\. Up to $7,250 back per renovation

For the 2025 tax year, the credit is 14.5% of up to $50,000 in qualifying costs for each completed renovation, for a maximum of $7,250. It is refundable and claimed on line 45355 ([Canada Revenue Agency](https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/topics/about-your-tax-return/tax-return/completing-a-tax-return/deductions-credits-expenses/line-45355-mhrtc.html)).

### 19\. 6,540 families claimed it in the first year

In the credit's first year, when it was 15% of costs up to a $7,500 maximum, 6,540 families received it. The average credit was $4,120 ([Statistics Canada](https://www.statcan.gc.ca/o1/en/plus/8470-living-under-one-roof-what-data-say-about-multigenerational-households-canada)).

### 20\. Refinancing up to 90% of the finished value

From January 15, 2025, insured mortgage refinancing for a secondary suite allows borrowing up to 90% of the home's value after the renovation, for homes worth up to $2 million, with up to a 30-year amortization ([Department of Finance Canada](https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2024/12/2024-fall-economic-statement-making-it-easier-for-homeowners-to-build-secondary-suites.html)).

### 21\. The $80,000 suite loan will not go ahead

In December 2024, Ottawa proposed a Canada Secondary Suite Loan of up to $80,000 at 2% interest ([Department of Finance Canada](https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2024/12/2024-fall-economic-statement-making-it-easier-for-homeowners-to-build-secondary-suites.html)). Budget 2025 says the program, "which is not yet operational, will not be implemented" ([Budget 2025](https://budget.canada.ca/2025/report-rapport/anx3-en.html)).

## How does Canada compare with the United States?

Multigenerational living is far more common in the United States by the broader Pew measure, which also counts two adult generations. Pew Research Center puts it at 18% of Americans, four times the 1971 count. Money and caregiving are the top reasons, and lack of space is a much bigger complaint in lower-income homes.

### 22\. 59.7 million Americans, four times the 1971 count

In March 2021, 59.7 million Americans, or 18% of the population, lived in multigenerational homes, which Pew defines as two or more adult generations or grandparents with grandchildren under 25. That number has quadrupled since 1971. A quarter (25%) cite caregiving for an adult as a major reason, and about a quarter find it stressful all or most of the time. Among lower-income residents, 38% say there is not enough space, compared with 9% of upper-income residents ([Pew Research Center](https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2022/03/24/financial-issues-top-the-list-of-reasons-u-s-adults-live-in-multigenerational-homes/)).

## What this means for homeowners

- **Plan bedrooms first.** More than a quarter of multigenerational homes are short at least one bedroom. A [legal basement apartment](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/blog/legal-basement-apartment-cost/) or a [home addition](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/blog/home-addition-statistics/) is the usual fix.
- **Claim the credit.** If the suite is for a parent aged 65 or older or a relative with a disability, keep every receipt for the line 45355 claim, worth up to $7,250.
- **Think about access.** A suite for an older parent works best with a step-free entry and a walk-in shower. Our [aging in place statistics](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/blog/aging-in-place-statistics/) and [garden suite statistics](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/blog/garden-suite-statistics/) cover the options.
- **Budget for the permit.** Every new unit needs a building permit, so check the rules early with our [building permit statistics](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/blog/building-permit-statistics/).
- Pro House Maintenance is free for homeowners and matches you with local pros who passed WSIB, insurance, reference and background checks. Compare the [best general contractors in Brampton](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/best/general-contractors/brampton/) or [request free written quotes](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/contact/) for your suite.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How many Canadians live in multigenerational households?

About 2.4 million Canadians, or 6.5% of people in private households, lived in a multigenerational household in 2021, Statistics Canada reports. That was 441,750 households, or 2.9% of all households. Statistics Canada counts a home as multigenerational when at least three generations live together, such as grandparents, parents and children.

### Which Ontario city has the most multigenerational households?

Brampton. About one in seven Brampton households (14.3%) were multigenerational in 2021, the highest rate among Canadian cities, Statistics Canada says. Markham followed at 9.5%. In Brampton, 28% of children aged 0 to 14 lived with at least one grandparent.

### Are multigenerational homes more crowded?

Yes. In 2021, 28.3% of multigenerational households lived in housing below the suitability standard, meaning they did not have enough bedrooms, compared with 4.7% of other households. Most of those were short one bedroom (18.5%), while 6.4% were short two and 3.4% were short three or more.

### How much is the multigenerational home renovation tax credit?

For the 2025 tax year, the federal credit is 14.5% of up to $50,000 in eligible costs, for a maximum of $7,250 per renovation, the Canada Revenue Agency says. It is refundable and is claimed on line 45355. The renovation must create a self-contained secondary unit for a senior or an adult eligible for the disability tax credit.

### Is the Canada Secondary Suite Loan still available?

No. Budget 2025 says the Canada Secondary Suite Loan program, which was not yet running, will not be implemented. Insured mortgage refinancing for secondary suites, announced for January 15, 2025, allows up to 90% of the home value after the renovation, up to $2 million, over up to 30 years. Pro House Maintenance can match you with vetted suite builders for free.

## Keep exploring

Ready to move from research to a real quote? [Request a free home additions estimate](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/services/home-additions/). Home Additions projects typically run $40,000–$150,000 per project, and every estimate is free and fixed-price.

Hiring in Toronto or a nearby Ontario city? See our ranked lists of the [best general contractors in Toronto](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/best/general-contractors/toronto/), [best general contractors in Mississauga](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/best/general-contractors/mississauga/), [best general contractors in Hamilton](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/best/general-contractors/hamilton/), [best general contractors in Milton](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/best/general-contractors/milton/), [best general contractors in Brampton](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/best/general-contractors/brampton/), [best general contractors in Oakville](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/best/general-contractors/oakville/), [best general contractors in Burlington](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/best/general-contractors/burlington-on/), [best general contractors in Vaughan](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/best/general-contractors/vaughan/), [best general contractors in Markham](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/best/general-contractors/markham/), [best general contractors in Richmond Hill](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/best/general-contractors/richmond-hill/), [best general contractors in Kitchener](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/best/general-contractors/kitchener/), [best general contractors in Waterloo](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/best/general-contractors/waterloo/), [best general contractors in Guelph](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/best/general-contractors/guelph/), [best general contractors in Cambridge](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/best/general-contractors/cambridge-on/), [best general contractors in Oshawa](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/best/general-contractors/oshawa/), [best general contractors in Whitby](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/best/general-contractors/whitby/), [best general contractors in Barrie](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/best/general-contractors/barrie/), [best general contractors in Ajax](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/best/general-contractors/ajax/), [best general contractors in Newmarket](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/best/general-contractors/newmarket/), [best general contractors in Pickering](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/best/general-contractors/pickering/) and [best general contractors in Aurora](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/best/general-contractors/aurora/).

Related guides and reports from our editorial team:

- [Home Addition & ADU Statistics (2026)](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/blog/home-addition-statistics/): What room additions and accessory dwelling units cost, resale ROI, permit and market trends, and the surge in ADU construction.
- [22 Garden Suite and Laneway Suite Statistics: Toronto Permits, Costs and Rules (2026)](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/blog/garden-suite-statistics/): Toronto garden and laneway suite permit counts, approval times and variance rates, GTA build costs in CAD, size and height rules, and the federal tax credit and financing that still apply.
- [24 Aging in Place Statistics for Canadian Homeowners (2026)](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/blog/aging-in-place-statistics/): How many Canadians 50+ want to stay home, how few have made safety upgrades, falls at home, and the $20,000 Home Accessibility Tax Credit.

_Quote form: this page has a form to request free quotes from local pros. Open https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/blog/multigenerational-household-statistics/ to use it._

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