Blind RiverOntario
3,692 people live in this town in Ontario. It is part of Algoma, a census division.
Is Blind River a good place to live?
Blind River’s weakest subject is health (C−). Fewer journeys need a car (B+). Put together, the subjects come to a C− overall, better than 21% of Canadian towns. The ranking puts it #746 of 858 in Ontario.
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. 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 Blind River grades
Each subject compares Blind River 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 Blind River stand out
The 3 things Blind River does most differently from other towns.
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Blind River.
For hazard risk, Blind River gets an A
Earthquakes matter little: NRCan’s model puts building losses at $0.005 a year per $1,000 of value, against $0.030 for the typical town. The national inventory holds one flood map for it, from The Corporation of the Municipality of Huron Shores. Radon topped the guideline in 8.6% of tested homes, above both Ontario’s towns (4%) and Canadian towns (6.6%). Burn scars are few around Blind River, with 0.1% of the land within 25 km touched by fire since 1986 (0.003% a year).
Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³
| Hazards | Blind River | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radon tests above the guideline | 8.6% | 4% | 6.6% |
| Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year | $0.005 | $0.043 | $0.030 |
NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory
Lives run shorter around Blind River: 77.9 years, 3.6 below the typical Canadian town’s region
The survey counts 17% of adults as smokers, higher than both Ontario’s towns (10%) and Canadian towns (12%). Adults here are less upbeat about their health than the province: 46% very good or excellent, against 51% in Ontario. For Blind River itself the measure is access: 2.6 km to the nearest hospital, much like the typical 3.7 km. Blind River doesn’t get its own health survey and life expectancy figures; the ones here come from the The District of Algoma Health Unit.
Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised
| Health | Blind River | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 77.9 | 82.8 | 81.5 |
| Smokers | 17% | 10% | 12% |
| Chronic conditions (average share) | 20% | 17% | 17% |
| Very good or excellent health | 46% | 51% | 52% |
Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities
Commuters in Blind River have a short way to work, 17 min on average, less than in both Ontario’s towns and Canadian towns
The car took 87% of commuters, in line with Ontario’s towns (88%) and Canadian towns (89%).
How working residents got to work · census 2021
| Census 2021 | Blind River | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip | 17 min | 29 min | 26 min |
| Car or van | 87% | 88% | 89% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021 (labour and commuting) · The 2021 census was taken in May 2021, during COVID-19 restrictions: more people than usual worked from home or were off work.
For schools, Blind River gets a C
Families can pick among four systems here: English or French, public or Catholic. Results lean low: 4 of 5 in the lower two fifths in Ontario. Catholic schools make up 3 of 6, above the 34% in Ontario. Its elementary schools are small, 173 students on average, against 365 in Ontario.
| School | Level | Students | System |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blind River Public School Bottom fifth in OntarioLargest elementary schoolElementary · Grades JK–8 | Elementary · Grades JK–8 | 195 | English public |
| W C Eaket Secondary School Bottom fifth in OntarioLargest secondary schoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Secondary · Grades 9–12 | 145 | English public |
| École élémentaire Saint-Joseph FrenchTeaches in FrenchElementary · Grades JK–8 | Elementary · Grades JK–8 | 165 | French Catholic |
| École secondaire catholique Jeunesse-Nord FrenchResults in the top fifth in OntarioSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Secondary · Grades 9–12 | 55 | French Catholic |
Schools by system · Schools within 3 km
| Schools within 3 km | Blind River | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| School boards | 4 | 4 | 3 |
Provincial school lists and results, 2024-25
Violent crime weighs more on Blind River than on Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns: a violent severity index of 114
Violent incidents came to 20 per 1,000 residents a year, above both Ontario’s towns (10.5) and Canadian towns (12). Property crime accounts for 22.6 incidents per 1,000 residents a year.
Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year
| 2023–2025 | Blind River | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crime | 20 | 10.5 | 12 |
| Violent Crime Severity Index | 114 | 76 | 86 |
| Property crime per 1,000 | 22.6 | 30.5 | 31.2 |
Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average
More of Blind River’s residents have an Indigenous identity than in Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns: 19%
Immigrants make up 4.1% of residents, below Ontario’s towns (7.6%) and Canadian towns (6.4%) alike. 30% speak both English and French, higher than both Ontario’s towns (6.7%) and Canadian towns (7.5%).
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 50.7% of Blind River
The 2021 census counted 1,735 women and 1,685 men here, where women make up 50.9% of Canada.
| Blind River | Ontario | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 14% | 15% | 16% |
| 15 to 64 | 59% | 65% | 64% |
| 65+ | 27% | 19% | 19% |
| No certificate, diploma or degree | 21% | 15% | 16% |
| Postsecondary qualification | 48% | 56% | 56% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; Ontario and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+
Blind River has cooler summers than Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns: July highs of 24.4°C
The coldest nights come in January, when Blind River averages a low of −13.6°C. The normals come from Gore Bay, 45 km away. Frost comes on 153 days a year, about level with Canadian towns (159) and above Ontario’s towns (139).
Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Normals, 1991–2020 | Blind River | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| July afternoon high | 24.4°C | 26.7°C | 25.5°C |
| January night low | −13.6°C | −9.1°C | −13.5°C |
| Days with frost a year | 153 | 139 | 159 |
Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Gore Bay)
In Blind River, November normally means 5°C afternoons and −1°C nights
A normal November brings 89 mm of rain and snow. By December, a normal day reaches freezing and a night falls to −7°C. At the extremes, July afternoons reach 24°C and February nights −14°C. The forecast on the Weather page is ECCC’s for Blind River.
Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Season | High | Low | Rain and snow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | −3°C | −12°C | 181 mm |
| Spring | 9°C | −1°C | 192 mm |
| Summer | 23°C | 13°C | 234 mm |
| Autumn | 12°C | 5°C | 308 mm |
ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Gore Bay); the forecast is on the Weather page
At 15%, Blind River’s 2022 turnout trailed 95% of Ontario municipalities
Federally, Blind River sits in Sault Ste.
| Turnout | Blind River | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Municipal election, 2022 | 15% | 31% | 31% |
Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada
Blind River has one public library, Blind River Public Library
Blind River Public Library has one location for the 3,422 people it serves.
Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada
Protected areas cover 41% of Blind River
The nearest national park is more than 100 km away. Of the land within 10 km, 21% has protected status, above Ontario’s towns (2.3%) and Canadian towns (2.3%) alike. What’s more, 8 areas within 10 km are protected for nature.
Protected land · of the land within 10 km
| Outdoors | Blind River | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protected land within 10 km | 21% | 2.3% | 2.3% |
| Public protected areas within 10 km | 8 | 4 | 4 |
Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches
Rent takes less of local pay in Blind River than in Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns: 19% 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 71%.
What homes were worth · The median owner’s estimate at the 2021 census
| Census 2021 | Blind River | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households spending 30%+ on shelter | 13% | 22% | 18% |
| Rent as a share of income | 19% | 22% | 20% |
| Households owning their home | 71% | 76% | 74% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; CMHC Rental Market Survey via Statistics Canada · The 2021 census asked owners what their home was worth; those values, and 2020 incomes, are what this compares.
Heritage in Blind River
Before 1961 is when 33% of the homes went up, above both Ontario’s towns (22%) and Canadian towns (18%).
| Heritage | Blind River | 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 Blind River
Famous people from Blind River
5 notable people were born in Blind River.
Photo credits
Claude Julien: Dan4th Nicholas from Cambridge, MA, USA, CC BY 2.0
About Blind River
Town in Ontario
TownRatings follows Statistics Canada’s map: Blind River is one municipality in Ontario, figures and all.
Statistics Canada: population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155), Census of Population 2021, 2021 census boundaries.
- Population
- 3,692 (people, 2025 estimate)
- Province or territory
- Ontario
- Census division
- Algoma
- Census subdivision
- 3557038
Questions about Blind River
Who are the people of Blind River?
1% of residents belong to a visible minority, against 15% for the median of Canadian towns; 19% have an Indigenous identity and 4% are immigrants.
Do people in Blind River speak French?
30% of residents can hold a conversation in both English and French, against 8% for the median of Canadian towns; 0.4% speak French but not English.
Is Blind River a young town or an old one?
Its median age is 52.8, where Canadian towns sit at 45.2. Under-15s are 14% of residents; over-65s, 27%.
What kind of homes are in Blind River?
78% of homes are single-detached houses, against 64% for the median of Canadian towns, and 0% are in apartment buildings of five storeys or more. A household averages 2.1 people; 33% are one person living alone.
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).