Chesleyin Arran-Elderslie, Ontario

TownGrade

C⁺

#1,615 of 2,556

The town, home to 7,639 people, lies in Ontario. It lies in Bruce.

Photo: JustSomePics · CC BY-SA 3.0

Population

7,639

people, 2025 estimate

Median age

years · Ontario’s towns: 46.8

Postsecondary

48%

of residents 15 and over hold a postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree · Canadian towns: 56%

Walk, cycle, transit

walk, cycle or take transit to work · Canadian towns: 8%

Is Chesley a good place to live?

Some subjects shine; others lag. Chesley’s overall grade is C+, better than 41% of Canadian towns. In the ranking it comes #599 of 858 in Ontario. Housing is expensive (C−). Schools lag (C−). Safety is its strong suit (A). Its remaining grades are unremarkable: B for jobs & income, B− for walkability and B for hazard risk.

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.

StrongestASafetyWeakestC⁻Cost of living C⁻Schools

How Chesley grades

Each subject compares Chesley 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 grading works

SafetyGraded on crime per residentAOpen →Cost of livingHomes are among the least affordable for local incomesC⁻Open →SchoolsNear the bottom of the towns comparedC⁻Open →Jobs & incomeBased on what households earn, poverty and workBOpen →HealthResidents’ health trails most townsC⁺Open →Hazard riskAbove the middle of the towns comparedBOpen →WalkabilityAbout average among the towns comparedB⁻Open →

How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →

What makes Chesley stand out

The 2 things Chesley does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Walk, cycle or transit to work

Getting around

4% walk, cycle or take transit

Midway across Canadian towns: 8%

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

Safety

Better than 93%

of Canadian towns on safety

Its safety grade: A.

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Chesley.

SafetySafety A

The force covering Chesley records less serious violence than Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns, at 39

34Crime Severity Index

No police detachment reports under Chesley’s name, so these are the nearest detachment’s figures, not the town’s own

Its police area recorded 6.8 violent incidents per 1,000 residents a year, below Ontario’s towns (10.5) and Canadian towns (12) alike. Property crime in the area its police cover: 13 per 1,000 people a year.

Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year

202334

202433

202534

2023–2025	Chesley	Ontario	Canada
Property crime per 1,000	13	30.5	31.2
Violent Crime Severity Index	39	76	86
Crime Severity Index	34	56	67
Violent crime	6.8	10.5	12

non-violent Crime Severity Index

40%

of incidents cleared, 2023–25

Full pageChesley’s safety reportOpen the full Safety report

Safety34 Crime Severity Index · The index weighs each crime Chesley’s police recorded by how serious it is.Questions“Is Chesley safe?”

Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average · Not measured by town: Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000 (the South Bruce detachment area)

HousingCost of living C⁻

Measured against local pay, Chesley costs more to live in than four in five Canadian towns

$400,000median home value, 2021C⁻Cost of living Grade

Owners put the median home at $400,000, lower than Ontario’s towns ($695,000) and near Canadian towns ($406,000). 78% of households own their home.

What homes were worth · The median owner’s estimate at the 2021 census

Chesley$400,000

Ontario$695,000

Canadian towns$406,000

Census 2021	Chesley	Ontario	Canada
Median home value, 2021	$400,000	$695,000	$406,000
Rent as a share of income	20%	22%	20%
Households spending 30%+ on shelter	20%	22%	18%

$970

monthly rent for a two-bedroom

$1,150

median monthly shelter cost for owners, 2021

Full pageChesley’s cost of living pageOpen the full Cost of living page

Cost of living5 times household income · The median owner’s estimate, $400,000, against the median household income Renting$970 a month · The median rent at the 2021 census Owners and renters78% own their home

Statistics Canada, Census 2021; CMHC Rental Market Survey via Statistics Canada · Values come from owners at the 2021 census and incomes from 2020, so they predate the later rise in rates.

SchoolsSchools C⁻

Chesley’s teenagers travel 8.5 km to the nearest high school

4schools within 3 kmC⁻Schools Grade

An elementary school stands 8.8 km from the centre, above Ontario’s towns (0.5 km) and Canadian towns (0.5 km) alike. On results, 3 of its 3 tested schools sit in the lower two fifths in Ontario.

School	Level	Students	System
Arran Tara Elementary School Fourth fifth in OntarioLargest elementary schoolElementary · Grades JK–8	Elementary · Grades JK–8	385	English public

See all 4 schools →

Schools within 3 km	Chesley	Ontario	Canada
Nearest elementary school	8.8 km	0.5 km	0.5 km
Nearest secondary school	8.5 km	1.2 km	1.2 km

890

students at the schools within 3 km, 2024-25

8.5 km

to the nearest secondary school

8.8 km

to the nearest elementary school

Full pageChesley’s schools pageOpen the full Schools page

Every school4 schools within 3 km · 3 elementary schools and 1 alternative or adult school Results0 of 3 in the top two fifths · of the schools with results, placed against every school in Ontario Language0 of 4 teach in French · 10% of schools in Ontario Questions“What schools are there in Chesley?”

Provincial school lists and results, 2024-25

Climate

Chesley has cooler summers than Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns: July highs of 24.3°C

24.3°CJuly afternoons

Counting rain and snow alike, 1,074 mm falls in a year, higher than both Ontario’s towns (902 mm) and Canadian towns (883 mm). Rain and snow peak in January, at 111 mm. Gardeners get 151 frost-free days, from 12 May to 10 October.

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter−1.0°C

Spring9.9°C

Summer23.2°C

Autumn13.3°C

Normals, 1991–2020	Chesley	Ontario	Canada
Snowfall a year	385 cm	146 cm	141 cm
July afternoon high	24.3°C	26.7°C	25.5°C
Precipitation a year	1,074 mm	902 mm	883 mm
January night low	−9.9°C	−9.1°C	−13.5°C

385 cm

of snow a year

148

days with frost a year

151

frost-free days, 12 May to 10 Oct

147

days with precipitation a year

Full pageChesley’s climate pageOpen the full Climate page

The yearJuly highs 24.3°C, January lows −9.9°C Rain and snow1,074 mm a year · Canadian towns: 883 mm Snow385 cm of snow a year Weather station41 km to the station · Wiarton

Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Wiarton)

Work & commuteJobs & income B

The share of 15-to-64s with a job in Chesley tops that of 83% of Canadian towns

4%walk, cycle or take transit

The average trip to work took 27 min, below Ontario’s towns (29 min) and close to Canadian towns (26 min).

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van95%

Walk4%

Bicycle0%

Census 2021	Chesley	Ontario	Canada
Average trip	27 min	29 min	26 min

$80,000

median household income, 2020

25%

worked from home, May 2021

26%

of commuters work inside the municipality

Full pageChesley’s work & commute pageOpen the full Work & commute page

Unemployment7.1% unemployed · Of the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Getting to work4% walk, cycle or take transit Where people commute to335 commuters · The biggest flow out: to Saugeen Shores

Statistics Canada, Census 2021 (labour and commuting) · Counted in May 2021, under pandemic rules: fewer commutes and more people between jobs than in a normal year.

HealthHealth C⁺

More smokers around Chesley: 17% of adults, where the typical Canadian town has 12%

48%very good or excellent healthC⁺Health Grade

Age-standardised, 48% of the region’s adults put their health at very good or excellent, below Ontario’s towns (51%) and Canadian towns (52%) alike. Across the region, life runs to 81.3 years on average: women 83.6, men 78.9, in 2022/2024. What sets Chesley apart within its region is a longer trip to hospital, 9.5 km for the average resident (3.7 km typical).

Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised

Chesley48%

Ontario’s towns51%

Canadian towns52%

Health	Chesley	Ontario	Canada
Smokers	17%	10%	12%
Very good or excellent health	48%	51%	52%
Life expectancy at birth	81.3	82.8	81.5

81.3

years of life expectancy, 2022/2024

9.5 km

from homes to a hospital, on average

17%

of adults smoke, age-standardised

12 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

Full pageChesley’s health pageOpen the full Health page

Health survey48% very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised Getting care9.5 km to a hospital · A pharmacy 12 km away on average The wider areaLife expectancy: women 83.6, men 78.9 Conditions and habits17% with chronic conditions · adults, age-standardised

Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities · Health survey and life expectancy: the Grey Bruce Health Unit

Natural hazardsHazard risk B

Chesley’s hazards at a glance: a low wildfire record and 11% of area homes over the radon guideline

Lowwildfire bandBHazard risk Grade

Seismic risk runs low: $0.014 of expected damage per $1,000 of buildings a year, the typical town $0.030. The national flood inventory has no study for Chesley.

Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³

Chesley11%

Ontario’s towns4%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	Chesley	Ontario	Canada
Radon tests above the guideline	11%	4%	6.6%
Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year	$0.014	$0.043	$0.030

$0.014

expected earthquake loss a year per $1,000 of buildings

Low

wildfire band

Full pageChesley’s flood & hazards pageOpen the full Flood & hazards page

Radon11% of tests above the guideline WildfireLow wildfire band · No land burned within 25 km since 1986 FloodNo flood study on record Earthquakes$0.014 a year per $1,000 · Canadian towns: $0.030 Be readyAlerts, FireSmart and radon tests

NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory

Weather

What November brings in Chesley: −1°C at night, 7°C by day

7°Ca normal November afternoon

November normally sees 110 mm of precipitation. December follows at 1°C by day and −5°C by night. Snow is normal by November, about 48 cm over the month. At the extremes, July afternoons reach 24°C and February nights −10°C.

Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

November7°C

December1°C

January−2°C

February−2°C

Season	High	Low	Rain and snow
Winter	−1°C	−8°C	292 mm
Spring	10°C	0°C	232 mm
Summer	23°C	12°C	232 mm
Autumn	13°C	5°C	319 mm

−1°C

a normal November night

110 mm

of rain and snow in a normal November

Full pageChesley’s weather pageOpen the full Weather page

Next 24 hoursTemperature and chance of rain, hour by hour The week aheadECCC’s days ahead, beside the normals The yearWarmest July, coldest February

ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Wiarton); the forecast is on the Weather page

Town hall

Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, which takes in Chesley, is held by Alex Ruff (Conservative Party of Canada)

Locally, Chesley is governed as part of Arran-Elderslie, a municipality.

Turnout	Chesley	Ontario	Canada
Municipal election, 2022	47%	31%	31%

Full pageChesley’s town hall & politics pageOpen the full Town hall & politics page

council seats7

Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada

Library & civic lifeCivic life grade B

Chesley’s public library works from 3 branches

They are Bruce County Public Library - Chesley Branch, Bruce County Public Library - Paisley Branch and Bruce County Public Library - Tara Branch.

Full pageChesley’s library & civic life pageOpen the full Library & civic life page

Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada

Who lives here

A town of families: 20% of people in Chesley are under 15, more than in Ontario’s towns and across Canadian towns

42median age

Immigrants make up 3.8% of residents, below Ontario’s towns (7.6%) and Canadian towns (6.4%) alike. Just over a fifth of residents are 65 or over.

ChesleyOntarioCanada

OntarioCanada

Ages · Share of residents in each age group, Census 2021

20%

Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over

No certificate, diploma or degree22%

Postsecondary qualification48%

Women and men · all residents

Women make up 50.3% of Chesley

Here the census found 3,475 women and 3,435 men; across Canada the share of women is 50.9%.

Who lives in Chesley
	Chesley	Ontario	Canada
Under 15	20%	15%	16%
15 to 64	57%	65%	64%
65+	22%	19%	19%
No certificate, diploma or degree	22%	15%	16%
Postsecondary qualification	48%	56%	56%

Full pageChesley’s Who lives here pageOpen the full Who lives here page

Ages42 median age · 22% are 65 or over Households2,785 households · 2.4 people per household Immigrants4% are immigrants · 2% belong to a visible minority English and French4% speak both · 0% speak French but not English

Statistics Canada, Census 2021; Ontario and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+

Outdoors

9.3 km from Chesley to MacGregor Point Provincial Park

0.3%of the land within 10 km protected

OpenStreetMap shows 5 unnamed beaches within 5 km. Bruce Peninsula National Park is the closest national park, 65 km from town. The protected share within 10 km is 0.3%, where a typical Canadian town has 2.3%. Within 10 km are 19 protected areas.

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

Chesley0.3%

Ontario’s towns2.3%

Canadian towns2.3%

Outdoors	Chesley	Ontario	Canada
Protected land within 10 km	0.3%	2.3%	2.3%
Public protected areas within 10 km	1	4	4

65 km

to Bruce Peninsula National Park

9.3 km

to MacGregor Point Provincial Park

beaches within 5 km

public protected area within 10 km

Full pageChesley’s outdoors pageOpen the full Outdoors page

Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas19 protected areas within 10 km · MacGregor Point Provincial Park National & provincial parks65 km to a national park · Bruce Peninsula National Park

Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches

History

In Chesley, 50% of homes go back before 1961

50%built before 1961

50%

of homes built before 1961 · Canadian towns 18%

Heritage	Chesley	Ontario	Canada
Homes built before 1961	50%	22%	18%

Full pageChesley’s history pageOpen the full History page

Older homes50% built before 1961 · Canadian towns: 18%Questions“How many historic places does Chesley have?”

Canadian Register of Historic Places, Directory of Federal Heritage Designations, Québec’s Répertoire du patrimoine culturel, Wikidata; Census 2021 homes by period

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Chesley

15pages on Chesley

The big questions

SafetyACrime Severity Index 34 Housing & costC⁻Homes 5 × income Property pricesSchoolsC⁻4 schools within 3 km HealthC⁺Life expectancy 81.3 in its region Work & commuteB61% of adults in work Natural hazardsBWildfire band: low

Out and about

Outdoors0.3% of the land within 10 km protected AttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 24°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 42 HistoryTown hallFamous people

Nearby attractions

Sound + Colour Studio and Gallery and 3 more in and around Chesley

What there is to see in Chesley and within a short drive, starting with the places most people have heard of.

All attractions →

Art galleryArt gallerySound + Colour Studio and Galleryin town MuseumMuseumTresure Chest Museumin town MuseumMuseumBruce County Museum & Cultural Centre3.3 km outside town, to the northwest Art galleryArt gallerySouthampton Art Gallery3.5 km outside town, to the northwest

Famous people from Chesley

21 notable people were born in Chesley.

See all 21 →

Victoria PrattCanadian actor and model · born 1970

Cyclone TaylorCanadian ice hockey player and civil servant · 1884–1979

Mickey MacKayCanadian ice hockey player · 1894–1940

Barney StanleyCanadian ice hockey player · 1893–1971

Frank GrossLife insurance underwriter; Freemason; Humanitarian and awa… · 1919–2006

Percy TraubCanadian ice hockey player · 1896–1948

Photo credits

Victoria Pratt: Toglenn, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Cyclone Taylor: Unknown author, Public domain · Mickey MacKay: Unknown author, Public domain · Barney Stanley: Unknown author, Public domain · Frank Gross: Paul144, Public domain · Percy Traub: W. L. West, Public domain

About Chesley

Town in Ontario

For Chesley, TownRatings uses Statistics Canada’s census-subdivision boundary in Ontario, and every figure on its pages covers that whole area.

Statistics Canada: population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155), Census of Population 2021, 2021 census boundaries.

Population: 7,639 (people, 2025 estimate)
Province or territory: Ontario
Census division: Bruce
Census subdivision: 3541043

Questions about Chesley

Who are the people of Chesley?

2% of residents belong to a visible minority, against 15% for the median of Canadian towns; 2% have an Indigenous identity and 4% are immigrants.

What kind of homes are in Chesley?

Single-detached houses make up 84% of the homes here, where Canadian towns sit at 64%; 0% are in high-rise apartments. 29% of households are one person, and the average is 2.4.

Is Chesley growing?

It added people: 6,803 in 2016, 6,913 in 2021, 1.6% more, where the middle of Canadian towns grew 4.1%. Statistics Canada’s 2025 estimate is 7,639.

How old are the people of Chesley?

The median resident is 42 years old, against 45.2 for the median of Canadian towns. 20% are under 15 and 22% are 65 or over.

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).