Ashfield-Colborne-WawanoshOntario
A town of 7,052 in Ontario. It grew by 9% between the 2016 and 2021 censuses.
Is Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh a good place to live?
A strong record with one exception. It is a safe place by the numbers (A). With a B+ overall, Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh is better than 69% of Canadian towns and ranks #233 of 858 in Ontario. At $428,000, the median home value in 2021 came to 5.5 times local household income. Few people walk, cycle or take the bus to work (D).
Figures: home values and income: Statistics Canada, Census 2021.
This town's rent is the 2021 census rent scaled to 2025 by its province's ratio of surveyed to census rents: no rental survey covers it, so its Cost Grade is less sure. Safety less sure: no police service names this town, so its crime figure is the nearest police detachment's, shared with a wider area. Health is graded on the health region's survey figures and life expectancy, with the distance to hospital giving the town its own spread.
How Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh grades
Each subject compares Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh 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 →
What makes Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh stand out
The 3 things Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh does most differently from other towns.
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh.
The force covering Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh records less serious violence than Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns, at 39
No police detachment reports under Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh’s name, so these are the nearest detachment’s figures, not the town’s own
The index for the force that serves it came to 35, below both Ontario’s towns (56) and Canadian towns (67). Violence across its police area runs at 6.2 per 1,000 residents a year. On top of that, across its police area, there are 11.2 property incidents per 1,000 residents a year. Nobody publishes Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000 for Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh alone, so this card uses the figure for the Huron (Huron/Wingham) detachment area.
Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year
| 2023–2025 | Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crime per 1,000 | 11.2 | 30.5 | 31.2 |
| Violent Crime Severity Index | 39 | 76 | 86 |
| Crime Severity Index | 35 | 56 | 67 |
| Violent crime | 6.2 | 10.5 | 12 |
Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average
3 boards run the schools in and around Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh
Results have climbed at 4 of 5 schools over three years. Catholic schools are fewer here, 1 of 6, where in Ontario they are 34%. Secondary school means a trip of 14 km at the nearest, above both Ontario’s towns (1.2 km) and Canadian towns (1.2 km). Counting a 3 km margin, Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh has 5 elementary schools and 1 secondary school, for 1,870 students.
| School | Level | Students | System |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goderich Public School Second fifth in OntarioLargest elementary schoolElementary · Grades JK–6 | Elementary · Grades JK–6 | 505 | English public |
| Goderich District Collegiate Institute Middle fifth in OntarioLargest secondary schoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Secondary · Grades 9–12 | 395 | English public |
Schools by system · Schools within 3 km
| Schools within 3 km | Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nearest secondary school | 14 km | 1.2 km | 1.2 km |
| Nearest elementary school | 8.2 km | 0.5 km | 0.5 km |
| School boards | 3 | 4 | 3 |
Provincial school lists and results, 2024-25
Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh is on Canada’s flood inventory: 1 listed, led by Maitland Valley Conservation Authority
More homes than usual carry radon here, 11% over the guideline where the typical town has 6.6%. Earthquakes matter little: NRCan’s model puts building losses at $0.011 a year per $1,000 of value, against $0.030 for the typical town.
Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³
| Hazards | Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radon tests above the guideline | 11% | 4% | 6.6% |
| Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year | $0.011 | $0.043 | $0.030 |
NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory · Radon tests published for the Huron County Health Unit, not by town
Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh has 0.1 jobs for every resident in work, so most commute out
A trip to work takes 26 min on average.
How working residents got to work · census 2021
| Census 2021 | Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip | 26 min | 29 min | 26 min |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021 (labour and commuting) · Census day was in May 2021, mid-pandemic, so commuting and work figures carry the lockdowns’ mark.
Summers stay cool in Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh: July afternoons reach 24.4°C, below Ontario’s towns and Canadian towns
The coldest nights come in January, when Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh averages a low of −7.8°C. A normal year brings 1,035 mm of precipitation, above both Ontario’s towns (902 mm) and Canadian towns (883 mm). Most of the snow comes in January, about 43 cm. Rain and snow peak in June, at 100 mm.
Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Normals, 1991–2020 | Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| July afternoon high | 24.4°C | 26.7°C | 25.5°C |
| January night low | −7.8°C | −9.1°C | −13.5°C |
| Precipitation a year | 1,035 mm | 902 mm | 883 mm |
| Days with frost a year | 134 | 139 | 159 |
Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Goderich)
Rent takes less of local pay in Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh than in Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns: 16% of household income
Shelter took 30% or more of income for 13% of households, below both Ontario’s towns (22%) and Canadian towns (18%). The owner-occupied share of households is 90%.
What homes were worth · The median owner’s estimate at the 2021 census
| Census 2021 | Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households spending 30%+ on shelter | 13% | 22% | 18% |
| Rent as a share of income | 16% | 22% | 20% |
| Households owning their home | 90% | 76% | 74% |
| Median home value, 2021 | $428,000 | $695,000 | $406,000 |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; CMHC Rental Market Survey via Statistics Canada · Home values are owners’ own estimates at the May 2021 census, and incomes are for 2020.
Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh skews older, with 28% of residents 65 or over, more than Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns
18% are under 15, above both Ontario’s towns (15%) and Canadian towns (16%). Visible minorities make up 1.2% of the population, below both Ontario’s towns (26%) and Canadian towns (15%).
Ages · Share of residents in each age group, Census 2021
Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over
Women and men · all residents
Women make up 49.6% of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh
2,915 women and 2,965 men at the 2021 census; across Canada, women are 50.9%.
| Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh | Ontario | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 18% | 15% | 16% |
| 15 to 64 | 54% | 65% | 64% |
| 65+ | 28% | 19% | 19% |
| No certificate, diploma or degree | 23% | 15% | 16% |
| Postsecondary qualification | 50% | 56% | 56% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; Ontario and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+
A normal November in Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh runs from 1°C to 7°C
Hour-by-hour figures come from ECCC’s Goderich forecast, on the Weather page. Into December, the normals move to 2°C and −4°C. In November, the normal is 92 mm of rain and snow. Snow is normal by November, about 13 cm over the month.
Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Season | High | Low | Rain and snow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | 0°C | −7°C | 255 mm |
| Spring | 11°C | 1°C | 240 mm |
| Summer | 24°C | 14°C | 281 mm |
| Autumn | 14°C | 6°C | 258 mm |
ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Goderich); the forecast is on the Weather page
At 70%, 2021 turnout in Huron—Bruce beat 93% of the country’s ridings
Voters in Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh chose Glen McNeil as mayor in October 2022, for a 7-seat council.
| Turnout | Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Municipal election, 2022 | 41% | 31% | 31% |
Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada
The nearest public library to Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh is Huron County Library - Goderich Branch, 13 km away
After it comes Bruce County Public Library - Lucknow Branch (Huron-Kinloss), 16 km away.
Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada
Only 45% of adults around Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh call their health very good or excellent, below the typical Canadian town’s 52%
The three chronic conditions the survey tracks average 15% of adults, below Ontario’s towns (17%) and Canadian towns (17%) alike. Life expectancy in the region is 81.7 years (83.7 for women, 79.7 for men, 2022/2024). The town’s own part is the trip to care, and Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh’s is long: 12 km to a hospital on average, against 3.7 km typical. Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh doesn’t get its own health survey and life expectancy figures; the ones here come from the Huron Perth Health Unit.
Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised
| Health | Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very good or excellent health | 45% | 51% | 52% |
| Chronic conditions (average share) | 15% | 17% | 17% |
| Smokers | 12% | 10% | 12% |
| Life expectancy at birth | 81.7 | 82.8 | 81.5 |
Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities
A provincial park at Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh’s edge: Morris Tract Provincial Park
The protected share within 10 km is 0.4%, where a typical Canadian town has 2.3%. No national park lies within 100 km. 13 protected areas lie within 10 km. Also worth knowing: 5 beaches are mapped within 5 km, the nearest Kintail Beach.
Protected land · of the land within 10 km
| Outdoors | Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protected land within 10 km | 0.4% | 2.3% | 2.3% |
| Public protected areas within 10 km | 2 | 4 | 4 |
Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches
Before 1961: 33% of the homes in Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh
| Heritage | Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homes built before 1961 | 33% | 22% | 18% |
Canadian Register of Historic Places, Directory of Federal Heritage Designations, Québec’s Répertoire du patrimoine culturel, Wikidata; Census 2021 homes by period
Everything we know about Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh
Tiger Dunlop Tomb and 3 more in and around Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh
A first look at Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh’s museums, historic sites and days out, and a few just outside town.
MuseumHuron County Gaol400 m outside town, to the southwestMuseumMuseumHuron County Museum500 m outside town, to the southwestMuseumMuseumPoint Clark Lightkeeper's Museum2.3 km outside town, to the northwestPhotos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (1)
- Huron County Gaol: Gogerr, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Famous people from around Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh
No notable person born in Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh is on our list; these were born in the towns around it.
Photo credits
Gary Doak: Boston Bruins, Public domain · Julie-Anne Staehli: JStaehli, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Jennifer Robinson: Photo by Vesperholly, CC BY-SA 2.5
About Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh
Town in Ontario
TownRatings counts Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh as Statistics Canada does, as one municipality in Ontario; the census, crime and housing figures all follow that boundary.
Statistics Canada: population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155), Census of Population 2021, 2021 census boundaries.
- Population
- 7,052 (people, 2025 estimate)
- Province or territory
- Ontario
- Census division
- Huron
- Census subdivision
- 3540063
Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Statistics Canada
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh | 7,052 | — | B+ | C+ | A | B− |
| Goderich | 8,412 | 13 | B | D | B− | B |
People: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh
Has Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh grown?
Yes: the census counted 5,422 in 2016 and 5,884 in 2021, a rise of 8.5%, against 4.1% for the median of Canadian towns. The 2025 estimate is 7,052.
Who are the people of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh?
Visible minorities are 1% of the population, where the middle of Canadian towns is 15%. Immigrants make up 8%, and Indigenous people 2%.
What kind of homes are in Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh?
Single-detached houses make up 88% of the homes here, where Canadian towns sit at 64%; 0% are in high-rise apartments. 23% of households are one person, and the average is 2.5.
Is Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh a young town or an old one?
The typical resident is 51.2 (Canadian towns: 45.2), with seniors at 28% of the population and under-15s at 18%.
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).