Allistonin New Tecumseth, Ontario
It sits within the Toronto census metropolitan area. A town of 50,739 in Ontario.
Is Alliston a good place to live?
Crime is low (A). Alliston’s overall grade is B, better than 62% of Canadian towns. That places it #342 of 858 in Ontario. Homes are dear (D). The rest of its grades are middling: B− for schools, C+ for jobs & income and B for walkability.
Rents here are the metro area's average, shared by every town and neighbourhood in it. Safety is the police detachment's figure, shared with the towns and countryside around it. Health is graded on the health region's survey figures and life expectancy, with the distance to hospital giving the town its own spread.
What makes Alliston stand out
The 3 things Alliston does most differently from other towns.
How Alliston grades
Each subject compares Alliston with Canadian towns of 2,500 or more, ordered by how far it is from the middle. Towns in other countries are graded separately.
How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Alliston.
Rent takes more of local pay in Alliston than in Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns: 23% of household income
84% of households own their home. The median home value was $750,000, higher than both Ontario’s towns ($695,000) and Canadian towns ($406,000).
What homes were worth · The median owner’s estimate at the 2021 census
| Census 2021 | Alliston | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value, 2021 | $750,000 | $695,000 | $406,000 |
| Households owning their home | 84% | 76% | 74% |
| Rent as a share of income | 23% | 22% | 20% |
| Households spending 30%+ on shelter | 23% | 22% | 18% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; CMHC Rental Market Survey via Statistics Canada · These are 2021 census values, as owners judged them, set against household income in 2020. · Rent as a share of income and monthly rent for a two-bedroom: one figure for all of the Toronto metro area
The police who cover Alliston record less serious crime than Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns: a Crime Severity Index of 33
Area-wide: Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000, counted over the Nottawasaga (New Tecumseth/Essa/Adjala Tosorontio) detachment area
Violence across its police area runs at 7 per 1,000 residents a year. Property crime in its police area ran at 12.7 per 1,000 residents a year, below both Ontario’s towns (30.5) and Canadian towns (31.2).
Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year
| 2023–2025 | Alliston | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crime per 1,000 | 12.7 | 30.5 | 31.2 |
| Crime Severity Index | 33 | 56 | 67 |
| Violent Crime Severity Index | 51 | 76 | 86 |
| Violent crime | 7 | 10.5 | 12 |
Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average
Hazard risk in Alliston is lower than in 92% of Canadian towns
NRCan expects $0.020 of shaking damage a year per $1,000 of buildings in Alliston, near the typical $0.030. Radon is lower than usual: 0.9% of tested homes in the survey area topped the guideline, against 6.6% for the typical town. No flood study for Alliston is on the national inventory.
Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³
| Hazards | Alliston | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radon tests above the guideline | 0.9% | 4% | 6.6% |
| Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year | $0.020 | $0.043 | $0.030 |
NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory
Around Alliston, 54% of adults call their health very good or excellent
Expected years of life at birth: 81.5, lower than Ontario’s towns (82.8) and near Canadian towns (81.5). Measured from where Alliston’s residents live, the nearest hospital is 7.9 km away, beyond the typical 3.7 km. A pharmacy is nearer: 1.9 km on average, with 2.3 within 3 km of the typical home.
Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised
| Health | Alliston | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very good or excellent health | 54% | 51% | 52% |
| Life expectancy at birth | 81.5 | 82.8 | 81.5 |
| Smokers | 12% | 10% | 12% |
Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities · Health survey and life expectancy published for the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, not by town
A town of families: 19% of people in Alliston are under 15, more than in Ontario’s towns and across Canadian towns
18% of residents belong to a visible minority, lower than Ontario’s towns (26%) yet higher than Canadian towns (15%). Over-65s are 18% of the population.
Ages · Share of residents in each age group, Census 2021
Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over
Women and men · all residents
50.8% of Alliston’s residents are women
Census 2021 put women at 22,325 and men at 21,625; women are 50.9% of Canada.
| Alliston | Ontario | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 19% | 15% | 16% |
| 15 to 64 | 63% | 65% | 64% |
| 65+ | 18% | 19% | 19% |
| No certificate, diploma or degree | 17% | 15% | 16% |
| Postsecondary qualification | 50% | 56% | 56% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; Ontario and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+
January nights in Alliston drop to −11.3°C (Ontario towns −9.1°C, Canadian towns −13.5°C)
Between the last spring frost, 16 May, and the first in autumn, 5 October, lie 141 days. A normal winter brings 174 cm of snow, higher than both Ontario’s towns (146 cm) and Canadian towns (141 cm). Snow peaks in December: 42 cm in a normal year. The most precipitation falls in June: 83 mm in a normal year.
Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Normals, 1991–2020 | Alliston | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snowfall a year | 174 cm | 146 cm | 141 cm |
| January night low | −11.3°C | −9.1°C | −13.5°C |
| Precipitation a year | 793 mm | 902 mm | 883 mm |
| July afternoon high | 26.0°C | 26.7°C | 25.5°C |
Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Egbert)
Commuters in Alliston travel further than in Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns, 37 min on average
The car took 94% of commuters, above both Ontario’s towns (88%) and Canadian towns (89%).
How working residents got to work · census 2021
| Census 2021 | Alliston | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip | 37 min | 29 min | 26 min |
| Car or van | 94% | 88% | 89% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021 (labour and commuting) · These are May 2021 figures, gathered while COVID-19 kept many people home or out of work.
Alliston in November: highs near 6°C, lows near −1°C
About 22 cm of snow falls in a normal November. Then December: freezing by day, −7°C at night. Rain and snow over a typical November come to 72 mm. Across the year, normals run from −11°C nights in January to 26°C afternoons in July.
Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Season | High | Low | Rain and snow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | −2°C | −10°C | 157 mm |
| Spring | 11°C | 0°C | 183 mm |
| Summer | 25°C | 13°C | 244 mm |
| Autumn | 14°C | 4°C | 210 mm |
ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Egbert); the forecast is on the Weather page
Alliston’s MP is Scot Davidson (Conservative Party of Canada), for New Tecumseth—Gwillimbury
Across Ontario, 71 of the 122 MPs sit with the Liberal Party of Canada.
| Turnout | Alliston | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Municipal election, 2022 | 34% | 31% | 31% |
Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada
Alliston’s public library works from 3 branches
New Tecumseth Public Library counts 44,591 people in its service area.
Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada
4 school boards share Alliston
Teenagers have 5.5 km to go to the closest secondary school, higher than both Ontario’s towns (1.2 km) and Canadian towns (1.2 km). Banting Memorial High School is the biggest, at 1,475 students. Catholic schools make up 9 of 18, above the 34% in Ontario. The 17 with results split, 2 in the upper two fifths in Ontario and 8 in the lower.
| School | Level | Students | System |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boyne River Public School Fourth fifth in OntarioLargest elementary schoolElementary · Grades JK–8 | Elementary · Grades JK–8 | 650 | English public |
| Banting Memorial High School Middle fifth in OntarioLargest secondary schoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Secondary · Grades 9–12 | 1,475 | English public |
Schools by system · Schools within 3 km
| Schools within 3 km | Alliston | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nearest secondary school | 5.5 km | 1.2 km | 1.2 km |
| School boards | 4 | 4 | 3 |
Provincial school lists and results, 2024-25
Step out of Alliston into Earl Rowe Provincial Park
The closest of Canada’s national parks is Rouge National Urban Park, at 34 km. For a swim, East Beach is the nearest of 3 beaches within 5 km. The 10 km around town hold 36 protected areas.
Protected land · of the land within 10 km
| Outdoors | Alliston | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protected land within 10 km | 2.1% | 2.3% | 2.3% |
| Public protected areas within 10 km | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches
South Simcoe Railway and 2 more in and around Alliston
The best-known places to visit in and around Alliston come first; the full list is on the Attractions page.
Heritage railwaySouth Simcoe Railwayin townMuseumMuseumMuseum on the Boynein townMuseumMuseumSir Fredrick Banting Homestead/ Birthplace of Bantingin townPhotos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (1)
- South Simcoe Railway: Peter Broster, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Everything we know about Alliston
Famous people from Alliston
18 notable people were born in Alliston.
Photo credits
Frederick Banting: Arthur Goss, Public domain · Deanne Rose: Douglas O'Brien from Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Tyson Foerster: TheAHL, CC BY 2.0 · Jim Rutherford: Detroit Red Wings / NHL, Public domain · Harold Timmins: Archives of the Law Society of Ontario, Public domain · William Erskine Knowles: Unknown author , Published by Montreal Perrault Print. Co, Public domain
Alliston’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Statistics Canada
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alliston | 50,739 | — | B | D | A | B+ |
| Adjala-Tosorontio | 11,948 | 14 | B | C− | A | B+ |
| Bradford | 51,346 | 18 | B+ | D | A | B+ |
People: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about Alliston
Is Alliston growing?
It grew from 34,242 people in 2016 to 43,948 in 2021, up 28.3%; the median of Canadian towns grew 4.1%. StatCan’s 2025 estimate is 50,739.
What kind of homes are in Alliston?
Mostly 71% single-detached houses (the median of Canadian towns: 64%), with 1% of homes in buildings of five or more storeys. Households hold 2.7 people on average, and 20% have just one.
About Alliston
Town in Ontario
Alliston is a municipality in Ontario, read by TownRatings as Statistics Canada draws it: one census subdivision, so its figures cover the whole municipality.
Statistics Canada: population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155), Census of Population 2021, 2021 census boundaries.
- Population
- 50,739 (people, 2025 estimate)
- Province or territory
- Ontario
- Census division
- Simcoe
- Metro area
- Toronto
- Census subdivision
- 3543007
Sources: Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021 · population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155) and 2021 census boundaries · Uniform Crime Reporting Survey 2023–25 (35-10-0026, 35-10-0183 to 35-10-0190) · CMHC rents as published by Statistics Canada (34-10-0133) · grades by TownRatings. Under the Statistics Canada Open Licence.
Adapted from Statistics Canada (Census of Population 2021, population estimates 2025, 2021 census boundaries) under the Statistics Canada Open Licence; this does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada. Neighbourhood names in some cities © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).