Elmirain Woolwich, Ontario

This town in Ontario has a population of 31,382. The population grew 8% between 2016 and 2021.

6 places within 19 kmMap →

Photo: Saskia2586 · CC BY-SA 3.0

Population

31,382

people, 2025 estimate

Median age

39.6

years · Ontario’s towns: 46.8

Postsecondary

53%

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%

TownGrade

A⁻

#423 of 2,556

Is Elmira a good place to live?

Elmira’s strongest is jobs & income (A+). It also does well on schools (A). The catch is cost of living (C−). Overall, that makes an A−, good for #114 of 858 in Ontario. Nationally, it does better than four fifths of Canadian towns.

Rents here are the metro area's average, shared by every town and neighbourhood in it. Safety is the regional police service's figure, shared with its other towns. Health is graded on the health region's survey figures and life expectancy, with the distance to hospital giving the town its own spread.

StrongestA⁺Jobs & income ASchools A⁻Hazard riskWeakestC⁻Cost of living

What makes Elmira stand out

The 3 things Elmira does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Jobs & income

Better than 99%

of Canadian towns on jobs & income

Its jobs & income grade: A+.

Immigrants

Who lives here

13% are immigrants

Half of Canadian towns are above 6%, half below

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

Median household income, 2020

Income

$115,000 median household income

Before tax, against $81,000 for the median of Canadian towns

Statistics Canada, Census 2021: household income in 2020.

How Elmira grades

Each subject compares Elmira 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

Jobs & incomeIn the top fifth of the towns comparedA⁺Open →SchoolsBased on how pupils do in exams and testsAOpen →Hazard riskNatural hazards pose little risk hereA⁻Open →Cost of livingNear the bottom of the towns comparedC⁻Open →HealthGraded on how healthy residents areA⁻Open →WalkabilityEasier than most to get around on footB⁺Open →SafetyNear typical for the towns comparedC⁺Open →

How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →

Nearby attractions

Waterloo Central Railway and 23 more in and around Elmira

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

All attractions →

Heritage railwayWaterloo Central Railwayin town

Heritage railwayWaterloo – St. Jacobs Railwayin town

MuseumTHEMUSEUM4.2 km outside town, to the south

MuseumFashion History Museum4.3 km outside town, to the southeast

Ski hillChicopee Ski Club2.8 km outside town, to the southeast

MuseumJoseph Schneider Haus5 km outside town, to the south

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · ODCAF · federal and Québec heritage registers · CPCAD

Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).

Photo credits (6)

Waterloo Central Railway: Tudor Costache, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Waterloo – St. Jacobs Railway: Tudor Costache, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
THEMUSEUM: Illustratedjc, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Fashion History Museum: Jean1183, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Chicopee Ski Club: Beowulf cam at English Wikipedia, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Joseph Schneider Haus: Yoho2001, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Elmira.

Work & commuteJobs & income A⁺

Commuters in Elmira have a short way to work, 22 min on average, less than in both Ontario’s towns and Canadian towns

The car took 91% of commuters, about level with Canadian towns (89%) and above Ontario’s towns (88%).

7%walk, cycle or take transit

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van91%

Walk5%

Bicycle1%

Public transit0%

Census 2021	Elmira	Ontario	Canada
Average trip	22 min	29 min	26 min
Car or van	91%	88%	89%

$115,000

median household income, 2020

30%

worked from home, May 2021

39%

of commuters work inside the municipality

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

Unemployment6.2% unemployed · Of the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Getting to work7% walk, cycle or take transit Where people commute to1,385 commuters · The biggest flow out: to Kitchener

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.

SchoolsSchools A

4 school boards overlap in Elmira, covering Ontario’s four systems

The largest is Laurel Heights Secondary School, with 1,765 students. Of its 45 tested schools, 22 sit in the top two fifths in Ontario and 13 in the bottom two. The nearest secondary school is 6.5 km away, above both Ontario’s towns (1.2 km) and Canadian towns (1.2 km). The 3 km around Elmira counts 45 elementary schools, 8 secondary schools and 1 alternative or adult school, 23,805 students between them.

54schools within 3 kmASchools Grade

School	Level	Students	System
Chicopee Hills Public School Middle fifth in OntarioLargest elementary schoolElementary · Grades JK–8	Elementary · Grades JK–8	795	English public
Laurel Heights Secondary School Second fifth in OntarioLargest secondary schoolSecondary · Grades 9–12	Secondary · Grades 9–12	1,765	English public
ÉIC Père-René-de-Galinée FrenchTeaches in FrenchElementary · Grades 7–8	Elementary · Grades 7–8	245	French Catholic
Laurelwood Public School Top fifth in OntarioResults in the top fifth in OntarioElementary · Grades JK–8	Elementary · Grades JK–8	705	English public

See all 54 schools →

Schools by system · Schools within 3 km

English public33

English Catholic16

French Catholic3

French public2

Schools within 3 km	Elmira	Ontario	Canada
Nearest secondary school	6.5 km	1.2 km	1.2 km
School boards	4	4	3

23,805

students at the schools within 3 km, 2024-25

6.5 km

to the nearest secondary school

Full pageElmira’s schools pageOpen the full Schools page

The boards4 school boards · Waterloo Region DSB Every school54 schools within 3 km · 45 elementary schools, 8 secondary schools and 1 alternative or adult school Results22 of 45 in the top two fifths · of the schools with results, placed against every school in Ontario Language5 of 54 teach in French · 10% of schools in Ontario Questions“What schools are there in Elmira?”

Provincial school lists and results, 2024-25

Natural hazardsHazard risk A⁻

Elmira is on Canada’s flood inventory: 1 listed, led by Grand River Conservation Authority

Radon is lower than usual: 4% of tested homes in the survey area topped the guideline, against 6.6% for the typical town. For earthquakes Elmira is middling, $0.020 a year per $1,000 against $0.030 for the typical town.

Lowwildfire bandA⁻Hazard risk Grade

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

Elmira4%

Ontario’s towns4%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	Elmira	Ontario	Canada
Radon tests above the guideline	4%	4%	6.6%
Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year	$0.020	$0.043	$0.030

$0.020

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

Low

wildfire band

flood study on the national inventory

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

FloodOne flood study on record WildfireLow wildfire band · No land burned within 25 km since 1986 Earthquakes$0.020 a year per $1,000 · Canadian towns: $0.030 Radon4% of tests above the guideline Be readyAlerts, FireSmart and radon tests

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

HousingCost of living C⁻

Measured against local pay, Elmira costs more to live in than 82% of Canadian towns

Measured across the Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo metro area: rent as a share of income and monthly rent for a two-bedroom

Owners put the median home at $755,000, above Ontario’s towns ($695,000) and Canadian towns ($406,000) alike. 84% of households own their home.

$755,000median home value, 2021C⁻Cost of living Grade

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

Elmira$755,000

Ontario$695,000

Canadian towns$406,000

Census 2021	Elmira	Ontario	Canada
Households spending 30%+ on shelter	14%	22%	18%
Median home value, 2021	$755,000	$695,000	$406,000
Households owning their home	84%	76%	74%
Rent as a share of income	19%	22%	20%

$1,816

monthly rent for a two-bedroom

$1,500

median monthly shelter cost for owners, 2021

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

Cost of living6.6 times household income · The median owner’s estimate, $755,000, against the median household income Renting$1,816 a month · A two-bedroom apartment, CMHC’s survey Owners and renters84% own their home

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.

HealthHealth A⁻

53% of adults around Elmira rate their health very good or excellent

Lives in the region last 82.8 years on average (2022/2024): 84.9 for women, 80.7 for men. What sets Elmira apart within its region is a longer trip to hospital, 12 km for the average resident (3.7 km typical). Nobody publishes health survey and life expectancy for Elmira alone, so this card uses the figure for the Waterloo Health Unit.

53%very good or excellent healthA⁻Health Grade

Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised

Elmira53%

Ontario’s towns51%

Canadian towns52%

Health	Elmira	Ontario	Canada
Chronic conditions (average share)	16%	17%	17%
Smokers	9%	10%	12%
Very good or excellent health	53%	51%	52%
Life expectancy at birth	82.8	82.8	81.5

82.8

years of life expectancy, 2022/2024

12 km

from homes to a hospital, on average

of adults smoke, age-standardised

3.0 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

Full pageElmira’s health pageOpen the full Health page

Health survey53% very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised Getting care12 km to a hospital · A pharmacy 3.0 km away on average The wider areaLife expectancy: women 84.9, men 80.7 Conditions and habits16% with chronic conditions · adults, age-standardised

Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities

SafetySafety C⁺

Elmira earns a C+ for safety

The force’s area logs 14.2 violent incidents per 1,000 residents a year. Across the area its police cover, the Crime Severity Index averaged 72 over 2023–25, above Ontario’s towns (56) and Canadian towns (67) alike. Elmira doesn’t get its own Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000 figures; the ones here come from the Waterloo Region (Kitchener) service area.

72Crime Severity Index

Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year

202376

202473

202567

2023–2025	Elmira	Ontario	Canada
Violent crime	14.2	10.5	12
Crime Severity Index	72	56	67

non-violent Crime Severity Index

32%

of incidents cleared, 2023–25

Full pageElmira’s safety reportOpen the full Safety report

Safety72 Crime Severity Index · The index weighs each crime Elmira’s police recorded by how serious it is.Questions“Is Elmira safe?”

Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average

Who lives here

A town of families: 21% of people in Elmira are under 15, more than in both Ontario’s towns and Canadian towns

Nearly one in ten residents belong to a visible minority, below both Ontario’s towns (26%) and Canadian towns (15%). Those 65 and older account for 18% of residents.

39.6median age

ElmiraOntarioCanada

OntarioCanada

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

21%

Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over

No certificate, diploma or degree21%

Postsecondary qualification53%

Women and men · all residents

Women make up 50.6% of Elmira

Of the 2021 count, 13,665 were women and 13,330 men (women across Canada: 50.9%).

Who lives in Elmira
	Elmira	Ontario	Canada
Under 15	21%	15%	16%
15 to 64	62%	65%	64%
65+	18%	19%	19%
No certificate, diploma or degree	21%	15%	16%
Postsecondary qualification	53%	56%	56%

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

Ages39.6 median age · 18% are 65 or over Households9,360 households · 2.8 people per household Immigrants13% are immigrants · 9% belong to a visible minority English and French5% speak both · 0% speak French but not English

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

Climate

July highs in Elmira: 25.4°C, against 26.7°C in Ontario’s towns and 25.5°C in Canadian towns

A normal January brings 32 cm of snow, the most of any month. The coldest nights come in January, when Elmira averages a low of −10.7°C. Snowfall adds up to 115 cm a year, below Ontario’s towns (146 cm) and Canadian towns (141 cm) alike. July is the wettest month, with 96 mm of rain and snow on average.

25.4°CJuly afternoons

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter−1.8°C

Spring10.8°C

Summer24.4°C

Autumn13.5°C

Normals, 1991–2020	Elmira	Ontario	Canada
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
Days with frost a year	156	139	159

115 cm

of snow a year

156

days with frost a year

115

days with precipitation a year

Full pageElmira’s climate pageOpen the full Climate page

The yearJuly highs 25.4°C, January lows −10.7°C Rain and snow851 mm a year · Canadian towns: 883 mm Snow115 cm of snow a year Weather station14 km to the station · Elora

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

Weather

Expect November days around 6°C in Elmira, nights around −2°C

Normal highs peak at 25°C in July; nights bottom out at −11°C in February. A normal November brings 75 mm of rain and snow. Snow is normal by November, about 9 cm over the month. For today and the week ahead, the Weather page carries ECCC’s Cambridge forecast.

6°Ca normal November afternoon

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

November6°C

December0°C

January−3°C

February−2°C

Season	High	Low	Rain and snow
Winter	−2°C	−9°C	167 mm
Spring	11°C	0°C	218 mm
Summer	24°C	13°C	244 mm
Autumn	14°C	4°C	221 mm

−2°C

a normal November night

75 mm

of rain and snow in a normal November

Full pageElmira’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 (Elora); the forecast is on the Weather page

Town hall

Kitchener—Conestoga came down to 577 votes in 2021, closer than 97% of the country’s ridings

Elmira is in Kitchener—Conestoga for the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, whose current MPP (Member of Provincial Parliament, at Queen’s Park in Toronto) no open source we can use records yet.

Turnout	Elmira	Ontario	Canada
Municipal election, 2022	35%	31%	31%

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

Member of ParliamentTim Louis council seats6

Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada

Library & civic lifeCivic life grade B⁻

Elmira’s public library works from 4 branches

By name: Region Of Waterloo Library - Bloomingdale Branch, Region of Waterloo Library - Breslau Branch, Region Of Waterloo Library - Elmira Branch and 1 more.

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

Places to belong2.1 charities per 1,000 residents

Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada

Outdoors

10 named trails run within 2 km of Elmira

For a provincial park, Forks of the Credit Provincial Park lies 39 km off. There is a beach within 5 km, unnamed on the map. Also worth knowing: 100 km separate the town from Rouge National Urban Park, its nearest national park.

0.8%of the land within 10 km protected

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

Elmira0.8%

Ontario’s towns2.3%

Canadian towns2.3%

Outdoors	Elmira	Ontario	Canada
Public protected areas within 10 km	24	4	4
Protected land within 10 km	0.8%	2.3%	2.3%

100 km

to Rouge National Urban Park

39 km

to Forks of the Credit Provincial Park

beach within 5 km

public protected areas within 10 km

Full pageElmira’s outdoors pageOpen the full Outdoors page

Footpaths & routes10 named routes · Grand Valley Trail Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas27 protected areas within 10 km · Huron Natural Area National & provincial parks100 km to a national park · Rouge National Urban Park

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

History

Canada’s registers list 1 historic place in Elmira

At the 2021 census, 23% of homes dated from before 1961, near Ontario’s towns (22%) and higher than Canadian towns (18%).

1historic place

Historic places by designation · inside the town

Highest designations0

Other federal designations0

Provincial and local listings1

Among them

West Montrose Covered Bridge 1881

1881

oldest construction date on the record

23%

of homes built before 1961 · Canadian towns 18%

Heritage	Elmira	Ontario	Canada
Homes built before 1961	23%	22%	18%

Full pageElmira’s history pageOpen the full History page

On the registersOne historic place inside the town Older homes23% built before 1961 · Canadian towns: 18%Questions“How many historic places does Elmira 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 Elmira

15pages on Elmira

The big questions

SafetyC⁺Crime Severity Index 72 Housing & costC⁻Homes 6.6 × income Property pricesSchoolsA54 schools within 3 km HealthA⁻Life expectancy 82.8 in its region Work & commuteA⁺65% of adults in work Natural hazardsA⁻Wildfire band: low

Out and about

Outdoors0.8% of the land within 10 km protected AttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 25°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 39.6 HistoryOne place on the heritage registers Town hallFamous people

Famous people from Elmira

26 notable people were born in Elmira.

See all 26 →

Lucas BryantCanadian-American actor · born 1978

Tyler PasherCanadian association football player · born 1994

Rod SeilingCanadian ice hockey player · born 1944

Derek HahnCanadian ice hockey player · born 1977

Cole SchwindtCanadian ice hockey player · born 2001

William Daum EulerCanadian politician · 1875–1961

Photo credits

Lucas Bryant: Luck the Lady, CC BY 2.0 · Tyler Pasher: Klinsmann2011, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Rod Seiling: Unknown author, Public domain · Derek Hahn: Stefanie Kovacevic . Tigersplayer at de.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Cole Schwindt: Jenn G from Seattle, WA, CC BY-SA 2.0 · William Daum Euler: Unknown author, Public domain

Elmira’s neighbours

The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Statistics Canada

Bridgeport NorthWaterlooBridgeport EastFairfieldMt. Hope Huron ParkCentral FrederickElmira

How the neighbours grade

Town	People	km	Overall	Cost	Safety	Health
Elmira	31,382	—	A⁻	C⁻	C⁺	A⁻
Bridgeport North	2,858	6.6	A⁻	B⁻	C⁺	A
Waterloo	142,450	8.2	B⁺	D	C⁺	A
Bridgeport East	3,903	9	B	D⁻	C⁺	A
Fairfield	3,497	9.5	B⁻	D⁻	C⁺	A
Mt. Hope Huron Park	5,174	9.9	B	D⁻	C⁺	A
Central Frederick	5,895	11	B	D⁻	C⁺	A

People: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. Distances: centre to centre.

Questions about Elmira

What kind of homes are in Elmira?

76% 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 2.8 people; 18% are one person living alone.

Is Elmira growing?

It grew from 25,006 people in 2016 to 26,999 in 2021, up 8%; the median of Canadian towns grew 4.1%. StatCan’s 2025 estimate is 31,382.

Is Elmira a young town or an old one?

The typical resident is 39.6 (Canadian towns: 45.2), with seniors at 18% of the population and under-15s at 21%.

About Elmira

Town in Ontario

Statistics Canada treats Elmira 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: 31,382 (people, 2025 estimate)
Province or territory: Ontario
Census division: Waterloo
Metro area: Kitchener - Cambridge - Waterloo
Census subdivision: 3530035

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).