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Construction Market Intelligence
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Hamilton construction market

What residential construction currently looks like in Hamilton: activity relative to population, the building pipeline, nominal and real growth, and market mix — measured against 15 other Canadian markets.

Trailing 12 months ending June 2026 Ontario · census metropolitan area · population 871,143 (2025)

  • Apartment-heavy
  • Renovation-heavy
  • Lower construction intensity
  • Declining real permit growth

Key metrics

Housing starts per 1,000 residents
3.66
3,189 starts in 12 months
16th of 16
Housing completions per 1,000 residents
2.81
2,450 completions
16th of 16
Units under construction per 1,000 residents
8.11
7,068 units at period end
14th of 16
Pending starts per 1,000 residents
0.71
615 units · secondary indicator
16th of 16
Residential permit value growth (constant dollars)
−15.4%
Nominal −13.6%
14th of 16
Residential construction price growth
Not published
Not published for this CMA
Not ranked
Renovation share of residential investment
60.3%
of residential investment
1st of 16
Apartment share of housing starts
86.5%
of housing starts
2nd of 16

Current observations

  • Hamilton recorded 3,189 housing starts over the trailing 12 months ending June 2026 — 3.66 per 1,000 residents, 16th of 16 tracked markets (median 8.33).
  • 8.11 units per 1,000 residents were under construction at period end (14th of 16 tracked markets), 2.9 times the 2.81 per 1,000 completed over the past 12 months.
  • Residential permit value fell 13.6% nominally and approximately 15.4% after adjusting for construction prices.
  • Renovation accounts for 60.3% of residential investment (1st of 16 tracked markets by renovation share). Apartments were 86.5% of housing starts and single-detached homes 9.5%.
  • Statistics Canada does not publish a residential construction price index for this CMA, so construction price growth is not shown; constant-dollar permit and investment growth are still available.
  • Pending starts — permits issued but not yet started — stood at 0.71 per 1,000 residents (16th of 16 tracked markets). This is a secondary indicator of the current backlog, not a forecast.

Generated from the published values on this page using fixed rules. They describe current measured conditions and are not forecasts.

Historical context

Monthly, as trailing 12-month totals (except units under construction, a month-end stock), 2019 to June 2026.

Housing starts by dwelling type

Trailing 12-month starts. Multi-unit = semi-detached, row and apartment.

  • Single-detached
  • Multi-unit
Housing starts by dwelling type, Jan 2019 to Jun 2026. Latest: Single-detached 303; Multi-unit 2,886. Full values in the table below the chart.01,0002,0003,0004,00020192020202120222023202420252026
Show all monthly values as a table
Housing starts by dwelling type
Period endingSingle-detachedMulti-unit
January 20196493,121
February 20196133,148
March 20196353,226
April 20196003,090
May 20195832,943
June 20195932,542
July 20195562,401
August 20196502,311
September 20195962,114
October 20196302,458
November 20196792,599
December 20196912,513
January 20206952,312
February 20206982,738
March 20206892,689
April 20206852,302
May 20206972,149
June 20206722,250
July 20206672,712
August 20205972,879
September 20205122,998
October 20204962,818
November 20205112,654
December 20205292,902
January 20215682,917
February 20215682,991
March 20216022,958
April 20217513,257
May 20217283,507
June 20217803,632
July 20218143,262
August 20217983,665
September 20218273,490
October 20218033,084
November 20217423,469
December 20217383,449
January 20227063,418
February 20227292,943
March 20227383,041
April 20225973,131
May 20226492,903
June 20226492,887
July 20226732,813
August 20227012,257
September 20227642,303
October 20227782,560
November 20228022,887
December 20228212,709
January 20238032,762
February 20237752,686
March 20237192,580
April 20236972,692
May 20236452,676
June 20235932,657
July 20235282,587
August 20234582,712
September 20233942,790
October 20233793,647
November 20233352,875
December 20233033,398
January 20243273,464
February 20243193,583
March 20243353,554
April 20243323,051
May 20243243,417
June 20243103,135
July 20242993,401
August 20243163,283
September 20243313,531
October 20243772,416
November 20244132,364
December 20244162,211
January 20253822,024
February 20253812,243
March 20253602,245
April 20253642,383
May 20253622,020
June 20253962,088
July 20254132,682
August 20254292,761
September 20253982,353
October 20253492,361
November 20253532,378
December 20253442,802
January 20263492,937
February 20263453,028
March 20263453,012
April 20263442,847
May 20263332,781
June 20263032,886

Under construction and completions

Units under construction (month-end) and trailing 12-month completions.

  • Under construction
  • Completions (12 mo)
Under construction and completions, Jan 2019 to Jun 2026. Latest: Under construction 7,068; Completions (12 mo) 2,450. Full values in the table below the chart.02,0004,0006,0008,00020192020202120222023202420252026
Show all monthly values as a table
Under construction and completions
Period endingUnder constructionCompletions (12 mo)
January 20194,7622,659
February 20194,6582,812
March 20194,4972,893
April 20194,6003,074
May 20194,7562,986
June 20194,5763,031
July 20194,5742,973
August 20194,5613,134
September 20194,6512,969
October 20195,2052,952
November 20195,4552,592
December 20195,2962,541
January 20205,2612,484
February 20205,4962,574
March 20205,4032,415
April 20204,9112,597
May 20204,9112,612
June 20205,0532,366
July 20205,2592,633
August 20205,4122,566
September 20205,5192,583
October 20205,6332,827
November 20205,6392,924
December 20205,6972,971
January 20215,6883,001
February 20216,0682,930
March 20215,8543,085
April 20216,1152,802
May 20216,3262,818
June 20216,6222,841
July 20216,6472,686
August 20217,2792,594
September 20217,1402,694
October 20216,9682,550
November 20217,3072,541
December 20216,8813,003
January 20226,8922,912
February 20226,9302,802
March 20227,0072,578
April 20227,2112,409
May 20226,9872,668
June 20227,2872,648
July 20227,3502,560
August 20227,0073,007
September 20227,1022,882
October 20226,7843,299
November 20227,3993,374
December 20227,0253,163
January 20237,1163,126
February 20236,6873,489
March 20236,7113,420
April 20236,9533,647
May 20236,7003,608
June 20236,8943,643
July 20236,0694,396
August 20236,1414,036
September 20235,9264,360
October 20237,0013,809
November 20236,8833,726
December 20237,1413,575
January 20246,5804,232
February 20246,5433,945
March 20246,4044,092
April 20246,3443,885
May 20245,7764,557
June 20245,5904,641
July 20245,8043,856
August 20245,6124,019
September 20245,8403,839
October 20245,8783,805
November 20245,6553,894
December 20245,9703,696
January 20255,9443,024
February 20256,3152,840
March 20256,2922,707
April 20256,3542,734
May 20256,4131,743
June 20256,4711,601
July 20257,0771,820
August 20257,2601,540
September 20256,9951,593
October 20256,8371,749
November 20256,8231,557
December 20257,1051,907
January 20267,2441,913
February 20267,5802,035
March 20267,4212,093
April 20266,9942,410
May 20266,9602,426
June 20267,0682,450

Residential permit value: nominal and constant dollars

Trailing 12-month value, $ millions. Constant dollars are Statistics Canada’s price-adjusted series.

  • Nominal
  • Constant dollars
Residential permit value: nominal and constant dollars, Jan 2019 to Jun 2026. Latest: Nominal $1,208M; Constant dollars $1,133M. Full values in the table below the chart.$0M$1,000M$2,000M$3,000M20192020202120222023202420252026
Show all monthly values as a table
Residential permit value: nominal and constant dollars
Period endingNominalConstant dollars
January 2019$1,155M$2,017M
February 2019$1,144M$1,992M
March 2019$1,115M$1,931M
April 2019$1,048M$1,807M
May 2019$1,035M$1,778M
June 2019$1,057M$1,807M
July 2019$1,041M$1,774M
August 2019$998M$1,696M
September 2019$982M$1,667M
October 2019$1,023M$1,732M
November 2019$1,037M$1,754M
December 2019$1,088M$1,835M
January 2020$1,060M$1,784M
February 2020$1,074M$1,804M
March 2020$1,007M$1,687M
April 2020$1,004M$1,678M
May 2020$1,067M$1,772M
June 2020$973M$1,613M
July 2020$922M$1,524M
August 2020$966M$1,587M
September 2020$1,025M$1,673M
October 2020$1,045M$1,695M
November 2020$1,125M$1,812M
December 2020$1,096M$1,753M
January 2021$1,202M$1,903M
February 2021$1,214M$1,910M
March 2021$1,434M$2,215M
April 2021$1,496M$2,286M
May 2021$1,385M$2,087M
June 2021$1,553M$2,289M
July 2021$1,607M$2,344M
August 2021$1,574M$2,263M
September 2021$1,516M$2,148M
October 2021$1,583M$2,194M
November 2021$1,536M$2,096M
December 2021$1,540M$2,071M
January 2022$1,430M$1,888M
February 2022$1,422M$1,857M
March 2022$1,242M$1,565M
April 2022$1,277M$1,571M
May 2022$1,472M$1,770M
June 2022$1,367M$1,611M
July 2022$1,387M$1,612M
August 2022$1,389M$1,595M
September 2022$1,449M$1,645M
October 2022$1,367M$1,525M
November 2022$1,392M$1,535M
December 2022$1,367M$1,492M
January 2023$1,362M$1,478M
February 2023$1,380M$1,488M
March 2023$1,394M$1,490M
April 2023$1,350M$1,428M
May 2023$1,298M$1,352M
June 2023$1,427M$1,473M
July 2023$1,431M$1,468M
August 2023$1,709M$1,738M
September 2023$1,658M$1,680M
October 2023$1,901M$1,914M
November 2023$2,071M$2,074M
December 2023$2,064M$2,062M
January 2024$2,051M$2,047M
February 2024$2,044M$2,036M
March 2024$2,298M$2,279M
April 2024$2,441M$2,414M
May 2024$2,414M$2,380M
June 2024$2,292M$2,255M
July 2024$2,264M$2,225M
August 2024$1,989M$1,950M
September 2024$1,985M$1,944M
October 2024$1,729M$1,689M
November 2024$1,514M$1,475M
December 2024$1,536M$1,494M
January 2025$1,552M$1,509M
February 2025$1,534M$1,490M
March 2025$1,563M$1,510M
April 2025$1,404M$1,352M
May 2025$1,356M$1,302M
June 2025$1,398M$1,339M
July 2025$1,420M$1,358M
August 2025$1,406M$1,342M
September 2025$1,419M$1,353M
October 2025$1,581M$1,503M
November 2025$1,636M$1,554M
December 2025$1,604M$1,521M
January 2026$1,597M$1,514M
February 2026$1,649M$1,561M
March 2026$1,304M$1,229M
April 2026$1,249M$1,176M
May 2026$1,222M$1,148M
June 2026$1,208M$1,133M

Market mix

Housing starts by dwelling type, 12 months

Housing starts by dwelling type in Hamilton
Dwelling typeStartsShare
Single-detached3039.5%
Semi-detached180.6%
Row1093.4%
Apartment and other2,75986.5%

Rental-intended starts: 50.8% of all starts.

Renovation vs. new construction

Renovation 60.3% New construction 39.7%

Share of residential building investment. Alterations are 16.8% of residential permit value (a separate source).

Growth: nominal and constant dollars

Nominal and constant-dollar growth, trailing 12 months ending June 2026 versus the prior 12 months
SeriesNominalConstant $
All residential permits−13.6%−15.4%
Single-dwelling buildings−17.5%−19.1%
Multiple-dwelling buildings−10.1%−12.1%
Residential building investment−4.8%−6.9%

Nominal growth includes construction-price change; constant-dollar growth is Statistics Canada’s price-adjusted series. They are shown side by side rather than subtracted.

All published metrics

All published construction metrics for Hamilton, trailing 12 months ending June 2026
MetricHamiltonDefinition
Population871,143July 1 population estimate for the census metropolitan area.
Housing starts, trailing 12 months3,189Dwelling units started over the trailing 12 months (CMHC Starts and Completions Survey).
Housing starts per 1,000 residents3.66Housing starts (all dwelling types) over the trailing 12 months divided by the CMA population estimate, per 1,000 residents.
Housing starts, change vs prior 12 months+28.4%Change in trailing-12-month housing starts compared with the 12 months before.
Housing completions, trailing 12 months2,450Dwelling units completed over the trailing 12 months.
Housing completions per 1,000 residents2.81Dwelling units completed over the trailing 12 months divided by the CMA population estimate, per 1,000 residents.
Completions, change vs prior 12 months+53.0%Change in trailing-12-month completions compared with the 12 months before.
Units under construction7,068Dwelling units under construction at the end of the reference period.
Units under construction per 1,000 residents8.11Dwelling units under construction at the end of the reference period (a stock, not a 12-month flow) per 1,000 residents.
Under construction, change vs a year earlier+9.2%Change in units under construction compared with the same month a year earlier.
Pending starts615Units with a building permit issued but not yet started, at the end of the reference period.
Pending starts per 1,000 residents0.71Units with a building permit issued but not yet started, at the end of the reference period, per 1,000 residents. A secondary indicator of the current pipeline, not a forecast of starts.
Pending starts, change vs a year earlier−65.9%Change in pending starts compared with the same month a year earlier.
Dwelling units authorized per 1,000 residents3.10Dwelling units created by building permits issued over the trailing 12 months, per 1,000 residents.
Authorized units, change vs prior 12 months−2.4%Change in dwelling units authorized by building permits compared with the prior 12 months.
Residential permit value, trailing 12 months$1.21BValue of residential building permits, current dollars.
Residential permit value growth (nominal)−13.6%Change in the value of residential building permits over the trailing 12 months versus the prior 12 months, in current dollars.
Residential permit value growth (constant dollars)−15.4%The same change measured with Statistics Canada’s constant-dollar permit values, which remove construction-price change.
Residential investment growth (nominal)−4.8%Change in residential building investment over the trailing 12 months versus the prior 12 months, current dollars.
Residential investment growth (constant dollars)−6.9%The same change measured in Statistics Canada’s constant-dollar investment series.
Residential construction price index (2023 = 100)Not publishedAverage of the four latest quarterly index values, 2023 = 100. Each market is indexed to its own 2023 prices, so index levels show price change within a market and cannot be compared across markets.Not published for this market for the reference period.
Residential construction price growthNot publishedChange in the residential building construction price index (average of the four latest quarters versus the four before). Not published for every CMA.Statistics Canada does not publish a building construction price index for this CMA.
Renovation share of residential investment60.3%Renovation spending as a share of total residential building investment over the trailing 12 months.
Alterations share of residential permit value16.8%Permit value for alterations and improvements as a share of all residential permit value — an independent view of renovation activity.
Apartment share of housing starts86.5%Apartment and other unit types as a share of all housing starts over the trailing 12 months.
Single-detached share of housing starts9.5%Single-detached units as a share of all housing starts over the trailing 12 months.
Rental share of housing starts50.8%Starts intended for the rental market as a share of all starts over the trailing 12 months.

Compare Hamilton

Where Hamilton ranks

Sources and data period

Figures cover the trailing 12 months ending June 2026, the latest period published for all 16 markets. Source data retrieved through September 12, 2026. This page was built on November 8, 2026; the build date is not the data period. Values not published by the source are shown as “Not published”, never estimated.

Methodology, definitions and limitations

Dataset generated September 13, 2026.

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    Construction Market Intelligence

    An independent publication built from official Statistics Canada and CMHC data. Current data: trailing 12 months ending June 2026.

    Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Statistics Canada or CMHC.