Homeowner vs Renter Net Worth Calculator (Canada)
How does your net worth compare with other Canadian families who own or rent at your stage of life? Enter your net worth, pick your age group and whether you own or rent, and this tool shows how you sit against the published median for that group. It runs on Statistics Canada's 2023 Survey of Financial Security and computes in your browser. Nothing you enter is stored.
Last updated August 30, 2026
How the comparison works
This tool does not estimate a precise percentile. Statistics Canada publishes the median net worth for each age and tenure group, but not a full percentile curve for each one, so the honest comparison is against the median: the point where half of families in your group have more and half have less. Net worth is everything you own minus everything you owe. Enter an honest estimate; you are comparing against a midpoint, not being scored.
What the numbers show
The gap between owners and renters is large in every age group. Among families under 35, the median homeowner had a net worth of $457,100 in 2023, against $44,000 for renters. By age 55 to 64, the homeowner median was $1,241,800 against $43,000 for renters. The difference is driven mostly by home equity and by the forced saving that a mortgage imposes.
| Age of major income earner | Homeowners | Renters |
|---|---|---|
| Under 35 | $457,100 | $44,000 |
| 35 to 44 | $673,000 | $61,200 |
| 45 to 54 | $972,200 | $50,800 |
| 55 to 64 | $1,241,800 | $43,000 |
| 65 or older | $1,081,000 | $72,000 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Survey of Financial Security 2023. Median net worth in 2023 Canadian dollars.
Owning a home is not the whole story
It is tempting to read these numbers as proof that buying a home makes you wealthy. Be careful with that. The gap reflects selection as much as causation. People who buy a home usually had savings, stable income and access to credit before they bought, and those same advantages build wealth on their own. The house is part of the story, not the cause of it. Renters who invest the difference can and do build substantial net worth, and the survey shows a growing share who have.
Related tools and reading
Frequently asked questions
Why does this compare to the median instead of giving a percentile?
Statistics Canada publishes the median net worth for each age and tenure group, but not a full percentile distribution for each group. Rather than invent a percentile, this tool compares you against the published median, which is a figure the agency actually reports.
Does owning a home cause the higher net worth?
Not entirely. The gap reflects selection as well as causation. People who buy usually already had savings and income, and a mortgage also forces regular saving. The home contributes, but it is not the sole cause of the difference.
Is this individual or family net worth?
Family. The Survey of Financial Security measures net worth per economic family, grouped by the age of the major income earner. Enter your combined family net worth.
What year is the data from?
2023, from Statistics Canada's Survey of Financial Security, released in October 2024. It is the most recent detailed wealth survey. Figures are in 2023 Canadian dollars.
Is my number stored?
No. The calculation runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you enter is saved or sent anywhere.