East GarafraxaOntario
Home to 2,976 people, this town lies in Ontario. It grew by 8% between the 2016 and 2021 censuses.
Is East Garafraxa a good place to live?
East Garafraxa’s strongest is safety (A+). It also does well on jobs & income (B+). Owners valued their homes at a median $1,000,000 in 2021, which is 7.4 years of the typical household’s pay. Getting around depends on the car (C). Overall, that makes an A−, better than nearly four fifths of Canadian towns. That places it #125 of 858 in Ontario. Elsewhere it is close to typical: B for schools, B for health and B for hazard risk.
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. 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 East Garafraxa grades
Each subject compares East Garafraxa 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 East Garafraxa stand out
The 3 things East Garafraxa does most differently from other towns.
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in East Garafraxa.
Violent crime weighs less on East Garafraxa than on Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns: a violent severity index of 22
Violent incidents came to 4.3 per 1,000 residents a year, below both Ontario’s towns (10.5) and Canadian towns (12). Property crime accounts for 13.1 incidents per 1,000 residents a year.
Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year
| 2023–2025 | East Garafraxa | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Severity Index | 22 | 76 | 86 |
| Property crime per 1,000 | 13.1 | 30.5 | 31.2 |
| Violent crime | 4.3 | 10.5 | 12 |
Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average
Trips to work from East Garafraxa take longer than from Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns: 37 min on average
The car carried 94% of commuters at the census.
How working residents got to work · census 2021
| Census 2021 | East Garafraxa | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip | 37 min | 29 min | 26 min |
| Car or van | 94% | 88% | 89% |
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.
3 school boards share East Garafraxa
In or within 3 km of East Garafraxa: 8 elementary schools and 1 secondary school, with 3,775 students. Measured from the centre, the closest high school lies 9.8 km off, higher than both Ontario’s towns (1.2 km) and Canadian towns (1.2 km). On the tests, 4 of 9 schools land above the middle in Ontario, 3 under it. One of the 9 teaches in French, against 10% of schools in Ontario.
| School | Level | Students | System |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Andrew School CatholicLargest elementary schoolElementary · Grades JK–8 | Elementary · Grades JK–8 | 600 | English Catholic |
| Westside Secondary School Middle fifth in OntarioLargest secondary schoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Secondary · Grades 9–12 | 760 | English public |
| École élémentaire des Quatre-Rivières FrenchTeaches in FrenchElementary · Grades JK–8 | Elementary · Grades JK–8 | 160 | French public |
Schools by system · Schools within 3 km
| Schools within 3 km | East Garafraxa | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nearest secondary school | 9.8 km | 1.2 km | 1.2 km |
| School boards | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Nearest elementary school | 2.4 km | 0.5 km | 0.5 km |
Provincial school lists and results, 2024-25
Very good or excellent health for 51% of adults in East Garafraxa’s health region
Measured from where people live, the nearest hospital is 11 km away, above both Ontario’s towns (3.3 km) and Canadian towns (3.7 km). At 13%, the share of adults who smoke tops the 11% for Ontario. Across the region, life runs to 82.4 years on average: women 84.5, men 80.2, in 2022/2024.
Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised
| Health | East Garafraxa | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smokers | 13% | 10% | 12% |
| Life expectancy at birth | 82.4 | 82.8 | 81.5 |
Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities · Health survey and life expectancy: one figure for all of the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Health Unit
July afternoons in East Garafraxa reach 25.4°C (Ontario towns 26.7°C, Canadian towns 25.5°C)
Expect January lows of around −10.7°C in East Garafraxa. Snowfall adds up to 115 cm a year, lower than both Ontario’s towns (146 cm) and Canadian towns (141 cm). January is the snowiest month, with 32 cm on average. For the wettest month, look to June: 100 mm on average.
Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Normals, 1991–2020 | East Garafraxa | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Precipitation a year | 1,035 mm | 902 mm | 883 mm |
| Snowfall a year | 115 cm | 146 cm | 141 cm |
| July afternoon high | 25.4°C | 26.7°C | 25.5°C |
| January night low | −10.7°C | −9.1°C | −13.5°C |
Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Elora)
Rent takes less of local pay in East Garafraxa than in Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns: 14% of household income
92% of households own their home, above Ontario’s towns (76%) and Canadian towns (74%) alike. Shelter took 30% or more of income for 16% of households, below Ontario’s towns (22%) and Canadian towns (18%) alike.
What homes were worth · The median owner’s estimate at the 2021 census
| Census 2021 | East Garafraxa | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value, 2021 | $1,000,000 | $695,000 | $406,000 |
| Rent as a share of income | 14% | 22% | 20% |
| Households owning their home | 92% | 76% | 74% |
| Households spending 30%+ on shelter | 16% | 22% | 18% |
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.
Flood mapping exists for East Garafraxa: 3 on record, latest by Grand River Conservation Authority
More homes than usual carry radon here, 11% over the guideline where the typical town has 6.6%. Shaking is about as much of a worry in East Garafraxa as in most places, at $0.018 a year per $1,000 of building value ($0.030 typical).
Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³
| Hazards | East Garafraxa | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radon tests above the guideline | 11% | 4% | 6.6% |
| Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year | $0.018 | $0.043 | $0.030 |
NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory
A normal November in East Garafraxa runs from −2°C to 6°C
Precipitation in November averages 92 mm. A typical November adds 9 cm of snow. Over the year, July is warmest at 25°C by day and February coldest at −11°C by night. For today and the week ahead, the Weather page carries ECCC’s Orangeville forecast.
Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Season | High | Low | Rain and snow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | −2°C | −9°C | 255 mm |
| Spring | 11°C | 0°C | 240 mm |
| Summer | 24°C | 13°C | 281 mm |
| Autumn | 14°C | 4°C | 258 mm |
ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Elora); the forecast is on the Weather page
At 6%, East Garafraxa’s 2022 turnout trailed 98% of Ontario municipalities
East Garafraxa sends one MP to Ottawa from Dufferin—Caledon, its riding (a federal electoral district, which elects one MP): Kyle Seeback (Conservative Party of Canada).
| Turnout | East Garafraxa | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Municipal election, 2022 | 6% | 31% | 31% |
Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada
No public library stands in East Garafraxa: the closest, Hillsburgh Branch Library, is 8.8 km away
After it comes Grand Valley Public Library (Grand Valley), 9.4 km away.
Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada
Few people in East Garafraxa are 65 or over: 16%, below Ontario’s towns and Canadian towns
Visible minorities make up just over a tenth of the population, lower than both Ontario’s towns (26%) and Canadian towns (15%). First Nations, Métis and Inuit people make up 1.3% of residents, below Ontario’s towns (1.6%) and Canadian towns (2.8%) alike.
Ages · Share of residents in each age group, Census 2021
Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over
Women and men · all residents
48.2% of East Garafraxa’s residents are women
Women numbered 1,345 and men 1,445 in 2021, next to a 50.9% share of women for Canada.
| East Garafraxa | Ontario | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 16% | 15% | 16% |
| 15 to 64 | 67% | 65% | 64% |
| 65+ | 16% | 19% | 19% |
| No certificate, diploma or degree | 14% | 15% | 16% |
| Postsecondary qualification | 55% | 56% | 56% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; Ontario and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+
3 mapped walking routes pass East Garafraxa
The closest of Canada’s national parks is Rouge National Urban Park, at 70 km. 9.6 km from town is Hockley Valley Provincial Park, the nearest provincial park. Of the country within 10 km, 1.1% lies in protected areas; the median Canadian town has 2.3%.
Protected land · of the land within 10 km
| Outdoors | East Garafraxa | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protected land within 10 km | 1.1% | 2.3% | 2.3% |
| Public protected areas within 10 km | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches
Everything we know about East Garafraxa
Rail Museum & Tour and 3 more within 40 km
One place to visit is mapped within 5 km of East Garafraxa; with it, the best known within 40 km.
Heritage railwaySouth Simcoe Railway39 km northeast
MuseumWellington County House of Industry and Refuge24 km southwest
National historic siteMcCrae House36 km southPhotos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (3)
- South Simcoe Railway: Peter Broster, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Wellington County House of Industry and Refuge: Tudor Costache, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- McCrae House: TheGiantVermin, CC BY 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
Famous people from around East Garafraxa
No notable person born in East Garafraxa is on our list; these were born in the towns around it.
Photo credits
Edge: zuko1312, CC BY 2.0 · Ryan Cooley: Flickr user Tiger Girl, CC BY 2.0 · Nick Ritchie: 5of7, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Brett Ritchie: TheAHL, CC BY 2.0 · Alyscha Mottershead: Robin Glover, CC BY 4.0
About East Garafraxa
Town in Ontario
Statistics Canada treats East Garafraxa as a single census subdivision in Ontario, and TownRatings keeps to that line.
Statistics Canada: population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155), Census of Population 2021, 2021 census boundaries.
- Population
- 2,976 (people, 2025 estimate)
- Province or territory
- Ontario
- Census division
- Dufferin
- Census subdivision
- 3522001
East Garafraxa’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Statistics Canada
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Garafraxa | 2,976 | — | A− | C+ | A+ | B |
| Grand Valley | 4,759 | 10 | B− | C− | A+ | B− |
| Orangeville | 33,070 | 11 | B | D | A− | B+ |
| Erin | 12,924 | 15 | A− | C | A+ | B |
| Amaranth | 4,808 | 15 | C+ | D | A+ | B |
| Mono | 10,036 | 18 | B | C− | A | B |
People: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about East Garafraxa
Has East Garafraxa grown?
It added people: 2,579 in 2016, 2,794 in 2021, 8.3% more, where the middle of Canadian towns grew 4.1%. Statistics Canada’s 2025 estimate is 2,976.
What kind of homes are in East Garafraxa?
99% 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 3.1 people; 13% are one person living alone.
Is East Garafraxa a young town or an old one?
44 is the median age, 45.2 the median among Canadian towns; 16% of residents are 65 or over and 16% under 15.
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).