Changing Patterns in Canadian Homeownership and Shelter Costs, 2006 Census: Housing life cycle

Younger households: Renting is the most common tenure

Data from the 2006 Census confirm patterns observed in the past. Younger households are likely to be renters, while older households are typically owners – first with a mortgage and then mortgage-free.

Of the youngest households, those with a primary maintainer aged 24 and under, over three-quarters (78.9%) were renting their accommodation in 2006.

However, among households with a primary maintainer aged 25 to 34, the proportion of those renting accommodation fell to 48.5%. On the other hand, 46.9% were homeowners with mortgages. Of these homeowners with mortgages, 14.5% lived in condominiums in 2006, up from 10.4% five years earlier.

Among households with a primary maintainer aged 35 to 44, about 58.2% were homeowners with mortgages. Just under 9.0% of these people lived in a condominium in 2006, up slightly from 7.5% in 2001.

Among households with a primary maintainer aged 45 to 54, just under one-half (49.8%) were homeowners with mortgages. Again, about 9.0% lived in a condominium, compared with 8.7% in 2001.

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