London Key Statistics

Welcome to London:

London, Ontario is a mid-sized Canadian city located midway between Toronto and Detroit. With a population of more than 540,000, it’s one of the fastest-growing urban centres in the country — known for its diverse economy, world-class healthcare and education, affordable living, and a connected, welcoming community.

WORKING

  • Population: 626,260 (StatsCan, London CMA 2024)
  • Ontario’s fastest-growing CMA (Census 2021)
  • Over 5,000 open positions across key sectors
  • Unemployment rate: 5.3% (2023) Avg for YTD 2025 is 6.5%, September was 6.2%
  • Home to companies with global reach in tech, health, and manufacturing
  • Easy access to other destinations by air, bus, train, and major highways
  • International airport: YXU
  • Median commute: 15–29 minutes no gridlock, no wasted time StatsCan

LIVING

  • Safe neighbourhoods, green space, and a connected community
  • One of Canada’s most affordable major cities
  • Average cost of a single-family home: $640,000 (CREA, Sept 2025)
  • Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,102/month (Rentals.ca, Sept 2025)
  • Recognized as #1 city over 100,000 for environmentally friendly living conditions (Environmental International, Nov 2022)
  • 25% of residents are immigrants; over 170 languages spoken (Census 2021)
  • 4-season southern Canadian city:
    • Summer — High 26 °C / Low 14 °C
    • Winter — High 0 °C / Low –10 °C
  • Centrally located midway between Toronto and Detroit
  • Regional centre of healthcare excellence, education, and research

PLAYING

  • Officially designated a UNESCO City of Music - the only one in Canada
  • Home to the London Knights, one of the OHL’s most successful and beloved franchises
  • The Grand Theatre, one of Canada’s premier regional theatres, producing world-class performances year-round
  • A vibrant live music and festival scene - from Sunfest and Rock the Park to local shows at London Music Hall
  • Over 500 parks and 330 kms of Thames Valley trails for biking, hiking, and outdoor recreation (Tourism London, 2025)
  • Award-winning restaurants, breweries, and markets - local, creative, and always evolving
  • Easy escapes to Lake Huron and Lake Erie beaches, both under 90 minutes away

LEARNING

  • Home to two world-class post-secondary institutions - Western University and Fanshawe College - attracting more than 50,000 students every year. (Western approx. 37k, Fanshawe 13k in 2023-24)
  • Western University is a top-ranked research university and one of Canada’s leading destinations for innovation, business, engineering, and health sciences.
  • Fanshawe College is one of Ontario’s largest colleges, known for industry-ready programs and strong partnerships with employers.
  • Together, they produce more than 30,000 graduates annually, fueling London’s workforce with new ideas, technical skills, and leadership talent.
  • Both institutions collaborate closely with local employers through co-ops, placements, applied research, and customized training.
  • A growing number of graduates choose to stay in London after finishing their studies - strengthening the local economy and community.
  • London’s education ecosystem extends from early learning to advanced research - with strong public schools, private academies, and specialized training centres.
  • International students from 100+ countries bring fresh perspectives and connections that make London a more global, dynamic city.

STAYING HEALTHY

  • London is a regional hub for healthcare and medical innovation, serving over two million people across Southwestern Ontario.
  • Home to London Health Sciences Centre, St. Joseph’s Health Care London, and the Lawson Health Research Institute — together forming one of Canada’s leading medical research networks.
  • Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry drives global impact through research, discovery, and clinical excellence.
  • London has a history of world-first medical breakthroughs, including the first use of insulin in a clinical setting, the invention of the cardiac pacemaker, and pioneering advances in imaging and cancer treatment.
  • A growing cluster of life sciences, biotech, and MedTech companies continues to build on that legacy, supported by strong partnerships between hospitals, post-secondary institutions, and industry.
  • With world-class healthcare, clean air, and hundreds of kilometres of parks and trails, staying healthy here is built right into daily life.

Investment Attraction

  • Talented workforce to support manufacturing and agri-food production, head office functions, and product development
  • Shovel-ready, fully-serviced industrial lands
  • Competitive infrastructure and an affordable city to invest and grow your business in
  • Within two hours of three major U.S. border crossings - Sarnia / Port Huron, Windsor / Detroit, and Niagara / Buffalo
  • Access to a supportive supply chain of 12 Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), Tiers 1-3, logistics, distribution, and warehousing
  • Access to the North American railway system through CN and CP rail
  • 25 research and development institutions that can help your business innovate and commercialize
  • Offers great job opportunities, low cost of living, affordable housing, and an exciting lifestyle that your employees and families can enjoy, which you can learn
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