Clintonin Central Huron, Ontario
Its census division is Huron. 8,318 people call this town in Ontario home.
Is Clinton a good place to live?
A solid town with one catch. Its strongest subject is jobs & income (A). What holds it back is cost of living (C). All told, that adds up to a B overall, better than 61% of Canadian towns. It ranks #358 of 858 in Ontario. Its remaining grades are unremarkable: C+ for safety, B for health 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. 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 Clinton grades
Each subject compares Clinton 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 Clinton stand out
The 2 things Clinton does most differently from other towns.
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Clinton.
Trips to work from Clinton are shorter than from Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns: 23 min on average
By car: that was how 91% of commuters travelled at the census.
How working residents got to work · census 2021
| Census 2021 | Clinton | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip | 23 min | 29 min | 26 min |
| Car or van | 91% | 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.
Rent takes less of local pay in Clinton than in Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns: 18% of household income
Households that own their home make up 81%. Shelter took 30% or more of income for 14% of households, lower than both Ontario’s towns (22%) and Canadian towns (18%).
What homes were worth · The median owner’s estimate at the 2021 census
| Census 2021 | Clinton | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households spending 30%+ on shelter | 14% | 22% | 18% |
| Rent as a share of income | 18% | 22% | 20% |
| Median home value, 2021 | $400,000 | $695,000 | $406,000 |
| Households owning their home | 81% | 76% | 74% |
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.
2 above the middle in Ontario, 3 below: Clinton’s 8 tested schools
Teenagers have 5.9 km to go to the closest secondary school, above both Ontario’s towns (1.2 km) and Canadian towns (1.2 km). None of them teaches in French, though 10% of schools in Ontario do. Taken together, Clinton and its 3 km edge hold 6 elementary schools, 3 secondary schools and 1 alternative or adult school for 3,105 students.
| School | Level | Students | System |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goderich Public School Second fifth in OntarioLargest elementary schoolElementary · Grades JK–6 | Elementary · Grades JK–6 | 505 | English public |
| St Anne's Catholic Secondary School CatholicLargest secondary schoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Secondary · Grades 9–12 | 530 | English Catholic |
Schools by system · Schools within 3 km
| Schools within 3 km | Clinton | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| School boards | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Nearest elementary school | 6.1 km | 0.5 km | 0.5 km |
| Nearest secondary school | 5.9 km | 1.2 km | 1.2 km |
Provincial school lists and results, 2024-25
Flood mapping exists for Clinton: 1 on record, latest by Maitland Valley Conservation Authority
Health Canada’s survey found radon above the guideline in 11% of homes, above both Ontario’s towns (4%) and Canadian towns (6.6%). Earthquakes matter little: NRCan’s model puts building losses at $0.012 a year per $1,000 of value, against $0.030 for the typical town. Figures for radon tests are published for the Huron County Health Unit as a whole, not for Clinton alone.
Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³
| Hazards | Clinton | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radon tests above the guideline | 11% | 4% | 6.6% |
| Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year | $0.012 | $0.043 | $0.030 |
NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory
Summers stay cool in Clinton: July afternoons reach 24.4°C, below Ontario’s towns and Canadian towns
There are 134 days of frost in a typical year, about level with Ontario’s towns (139) and below Canadian towns (159). On a January night, the temperature in Clinton falls to about −7.8°C. Most of the snow comes in January, about 43 cm. The most precipitation falls in November: 90 mm in a normal year.
Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Normals, 1991–2020 | Clinton | 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 |
| Days with frost a year | 134 | 139 | 159 |
| Precipitation a year | 966 mm | 902 mm | 883 mm |
Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Goderich)
Clinton’s Violent Crime Severity Index, 107, runs above Ontario’s towns and Canadian towns
Violent incidents came to 13.6 per 1,000 residents a year, above Ontario’s towns (10.5) and Canadian towns (12) alike. Each year brings 24 property incidents per 1,000 residents.
Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year
| 2023–2025 | Clinton | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Severity Index | 107 | 76 | 86 |
| Property crime per 1,000 | 24 | 30.5 | 31.2 |
| Violent crime | 13.6 | 10.5 | 12 |
Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average
Fewer adults feel healthy around Clinton: 45% say very good or excellent (52% for the typical Canadian town)
Closer to home, a hospital is 5.3 km from the average resident of Clinton, further than the usual 3.7 km. Chronic conditions run at 15% of adults, age-standardised, below Ontario’s towns (17%) and Canadian towns (17%) alike. The region’s 2022/2024 life expectancy is 81.7, with women at 83.7 and men at 79.7.
Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised
| Health | Clinton | 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 · Not measured by town: health survey and life expectancy (the Huron Perth Health Unit)
What November brings in Clinton: 1°C at night, 7°C by day
Precipitation in November averages 90 mm. Expect around 13 cm of snow in November. A normal December brings highs of 2°C, lows of −4°C. At the extremes, July afternoons reach 24°C and February nights −8°C.
Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Season | High | Low | Rain and snow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | 0°C | −7°C | 222 mm |
| Spring | 11°C | 1°C | 238 mm |
| Summer | 24°C | 14°C | 245 mm |
| Autumn | 14°C | 6°C | 261 mm |
ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Goderich); the forecast is on the Weather page
More of Huron—Bruce voted in 2021 than in most ridings: 70%, ahead of 93%
For federal votes, Clinton belongs to Huron—Bruce, its riding (a federal electoral district, which elects one MP); Ben Lobb (Conservative Party of Canada) holds it.
| Turnout | Clinton | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Municipal election, 2022 | 35% | 31% | 31% |
Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada
Huron County Library - Clinton Branch is Clinton’s public library
The library is 5.3 km from the centre of Clinton.
Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada
Fewer of Clinton’s people belong to a visible minority than in Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns: 1.9%
7.3% of residents came to Canada as immigrants, near Ontario’s towns (7.6%) and higher than Canadian towns (6.4%). First Nations, Métis and Inuit people make up 1.8% of residents, between Ontario’s towns (1.6%) and Canadian towns (2.8%).
Ages · Share of residents in each age group, Census 2021
Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over
Women and men · all residents
50.3% of Clinton’s residents are women
By the 2021 count the town had 3,920 women and 3,880 men, while Canada has 50.9% women.
| Clinton | Ontario | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 16% | 15% | 16% |
| 15 to 64 | 57% | 65% | 64% |
| 65+ | 27% | 19% | 19% |
| No certificate, diploma or degree | 19% | 15% | 16% |
| Postsecondary qualification | 50% | 56% | 56% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; Ontario and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+
Clinton has 13 walking routes on the map
There is no national park within 100 km of the town. Swimmers have 6 beaches within 5 km, Bayfield North Beach the nearest. Protected areas cover 0.4% of the land within 10 km; for the typical Canadian town it is 2.3%. Within 10 km are 11 protected areas.
Protected land · of the land within 10 km
| Outdoors | Clinton | 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
Older housing stands out in Clinton: 44% predates 1961
| Heritage | Clinton | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homes built before 1961 | 44% | 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 Clinton
Huron Artisan Market and 9 more in and around Clinton
Museums, historic sites, parks, gardens and days out in and near Clinton, the best known first.
MuseumHuron County Gaol1.9 km outside town, to the northwestMuseumMuseumBayfield Archives, Heritage and Visitor Centre500 m outside town, to the southwestArt galleryArt galleryMarten Arts Gallery500 m outside town, to the southwestMuseumMuseumHuron County Museum1.7 km outside town, to the northwestHistoric siteHistoric siteTiger Dunlop Tomb2.7 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 Clinton
10 notable people were born in Clinton.
Photo credits
Ryan O'Reilly: Fanny Schertzer, CC BY 3.0 · Matt Dalton: ウィ貴公子, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Carol Mitchell: Cszmurlo, CC BY 3.0 · Lydia Kingsmill Commander: Unknown photographer, Public domain
About Clinton
Town in Ontario
TownRatings follows Statistics Canada’s map: Clinton is one municipality in Ontario, figures and all.
Statistics Canada: population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155), Census of Population 2021, 2021 census boundaries.
- Population
- 8,318 (people, 2025 estimate)
- Province or territory
- Ontario
- Census division
- Huron
- Census subdivision
- 3540025
Clinton’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Statistics Canada
Questions about Clinton
Who are the people of Clinton?
Visible minorities are 2% of the population, where the middle of Canadian towns is 15%. Immigrants make up 7%, and Indigenous people 2%.
Is Clinton a young town or an old one?
At 48.8, its median age compares with 45.2 across Canadian towns. Children make up 16% of the population and seniors 27%.
What kind of homes are in Clinton?
Mostly 80% single-detached houses (the median of Canadian towns: 64%), with 0% of homes in buildings of five or more storeys. Households hold 2.3 people on average, and 28% have just one.
Is Clinton growing?
Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses it went from 7,576 to 7,799 residents (up 2.9%; Canadian towns’ median: 4.1%), and Statistics Canada now estimates 8,318.
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).