York RoadHamilton
The neighbourhood has 4,931 residents and lies in Hamilton. Hamilton is split into 106 neighbourhoods, and this is one.
Is York Road a good place to live?
Plenty to like here, at a price. Its schools beat most (A). Homes are dear (C−). Put together, the subjects come to a B+ overall, ranking #251 of 858 in Ontario. On that grade it does better than 68% of Canadian towns. Its remaining grades are unremarkable: B− for safety, B for health and B for walkability.
Rents here are the metro area's average, shared by every town and neighbourhood in it. Safety less sure: this is the whole city's figure, because the city doesn't publish open neighbourhood crime rates. 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 York Road grades
Each subject compares York Road 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 York Road stand out
The 3 things York Road does most differently from other towns.
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in York Road.
York Road’s household incomes are higher than in 92% of Canadian towns
Commutes averaged 26 min, lower than Ontario’s towns (29 min) and near Canadian towns (26 min). 89% of commuters drove, about level with both Ontario’s towns (88%) and Canadian towns (89%).
How working residents got to work · census 2021
| Census 2021 | York Road | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip | 26 min | 29 min | 26 min |
| Car or van | 89% | 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.
York Road’s schools come under 3 different boards
Results have climbed at 18 of 22 schools over three years. The largest is Westdale Secondary School, with 1,525 students. Schooling in French is on offer at 2 of 24; in Ontario, one in ten schools teach in it. Within 3 km of York Road are 19 elementary schools and 5 secondary schools, teaching 11,030 students.
| School | Level | Students | System |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guy B Brown Elementary Public School Middle fifth in OntarioLargest elementary schoolElementary · Grades JK–8 | Elementary · Grades JK–8 | 705 | English public |
| Westdale Secondary School Middle fifth in OntarioLargest secondary schoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Secondary · Grades 9–12 | 1,525 | English public |
| École secondaire Georges-P-Vanier FrenchTeaches in FrenchSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Secondary · Grades 9–12 | 85 | French public |
| Yorkview School Top fifth in OntarioResults in the top fifth in OntarioElementary · Grades JK–5 | Elementary · Grades JK–5 | 170 | English public |
Schools by system · Schools within 3 km
| Schools within 3 km | York Road | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| School boards | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Nearest secondary school | 2.8 km | 1.2 km | 1.2 km |
Provincial school lists and results, 2024-25
Rent takes less of local pay in York Road than in Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns: 18% of household income
Area-wide: rent as a share of income and monthly rent for a two-bedroom, counted over the Hamilton metro area
74% of households own their home, about level with both Ontario’s towns (76%) and Canadian towns (74%).
What homes were worth · The median owner’s estimate at the 2021 census
| Census 2021 | York Road | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent as a share of income | 18% | 22% | 20% |
| Households spending 30%+ on shelter | 18% | 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.
York Road is on Canada’s flood inventory: 1 listed, led by Conservation Halton
In Health Canada’s survey, 5% of homes tested in York Road’s area exceeded 200 Bq/m³, close to the typical 6.6%. For earthquakes York Road is middling, $0.044 a year per $1,000 against $0.030 for the typical town.
Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³
| Hazards | York Road | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radon tests above the guideline | 5% | 4% | 6.6% |
| Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year | $0.044 | $0.043 | $0.030 |
NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory · Earthquake risk: one figure for all of the city of Hamilton
Winters are mild in York Road: January nights hold at −6.3°C, above Ontario’s towns and Canadian towns
January is the snowiest month, with 32 cm on average. Frosty days number 98 in a normal year, below both Ontario’s towns (139) and Canadian towns (159). ECCC’s nearest full record is at Burlington Piers, 11 km off.
Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Normals, 1991–2020 | York Road | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days with frost a year | 98 | 139 | 159 |
| January night low | −6.3°C | −9.1°C | −13.5°C |
| Snowfall a year | 115 cm | 146 cm | 141 cm |
| July afternoon high | 25.5°C | 26.7°C | 25.5°C |
Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Burlington Piers)
Around York Road, 53% of adults call their health very good or excellent
Closer to home, a hospital sits 2.9 km from the average resident of York Road, about the norm of 3.7 km. The region has more smokers than Ontario, 13% of adults to 11%. Life expectancy at birth in the region is 81.2 years, lower than Ontario’s towns (82.8) and near Canadian towns (81.5).
Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised
| Health | York Road | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smokers | 13% | 10% | 12% |
| Very good or excellent health | 53% | 51% | 52% |
| Life expectancy at birth | 81.2 | 82.8 | 81.5 |
| Chronic conditions (average share) | 17% | 17% | 17% |
Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities · Data for health survey and life expectancy covers the City of Hamilton Health Unit
Fewer of York Road’s people belong to a visible minority than in Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns: 8%
Children under 15 make up 15%, near Ontario’s towns (15%) and lower than Canadian towns (16%). Over-65s are 22% of the population.
Ages · Share of residents in each age group, Census 2021
Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over
Women and men · all residents
51.1% of York Road’s residents are women
2,525 women and 2,415 men at the 2021 census; across Canada, women are 50.9%.
| York Road | Ontario | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 15% | 15% | 16% |
| 15 to 64 | 64% | 65% | 64% |
| 65+ | 22% | 19% | 19% |
| No certificate, diploma or degree | 12% | 15% | 16% |
| Postsecondary qualification | 66% | 56% | 56% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; Ontario and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+
A normal November in York Road runs from 3°C to 8°C
November usually brings some 9 cm of snow. In November, the normal is 78 mm of rain and snow. July brings the warmest days, 26°C; January the coldest nights, −6°C. ECCC’s forecast for Hamilton is on the Weather page, hour by hour.
Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Season | High | Low | Rain and snow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | 1°C | −5°C | 194 mm |
| Spring | 11°C | 3°C | 231 mm |
| Summer | 24°C | 17°C | 242 mm |
| Autumn | 15°C | 9°C | 236 mm |
ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Burlington Piers); the forecast is on the Weather page
Each seat on Hamilton’s council stands for 40,030 residents, more than in 99% of Ontario municipalities
Hamilton, which governs York Road, elected Andrea Horwath mayor in October 2022.
| Turnout | York Road | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Municipal election, 2022 | 35% | 31% | 31% |
Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada
No public library stands in York Road: the closest, Hamilton Public Library - Dundas Branch, is 2.1 km away
The library figures on this page are Hamilton’s: Hamilton public library serves all 592,000 people of the city, York Road among them.
Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada
York Road’s grade for safety: a B−
Measured across the Hamilton service area: Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000
Across the area its police cover, the Crime Severity Index averaged 66 over 2023–25, above Ontario’s towns (56) and close to Canadian towns (67). The violent index for its police area came to 86, about level with Canadian towns (86) and above Ontario’s towns (76).
Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year
| 2023–2025 | York Road | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crime Severity Index | 66 | 56 | 67 |
| Violent Crime Severity Index | 86 | 76 | 86 |
Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average
In York Road, 41% of the land is set aside as protected
3 beaches are mapped within 5 km, none with a name. 15 km from town is Bronte Creek Provincial Park, the nearest provincial park. 6.1% of the land and water within 10 km is protected (the typical Canadian town: 2.3%). The nearest national park is Rouge National Urban Park, 82 km away.
Protected land · of the land within 10 km
| Outdoors | York Road | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protected land within 10 km | 6.1% | 2.3% | 2.3% |
| Public protected areas within 10 km | 5 | 4 | 4 |
Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches
48% of York Road’s homes were built before 1961
| Heritage | York Road | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homes built before 1961 | 48% | 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 York Road
Borer's Falls and 61 more in and around York Road
The best-known places to visit in and around York Road come first; the full list is on the Attractions page.
WaterfallBorer's Fallsin town
Historic ship · Parks CanadaHMCS Haida3.4 km outside town, to the east
WaterfallWebsters Falls2 km outside town, to the west
MuseumDundurn Castle1.4 km outside town, to the east
GardenRoyal Botanical Gardens1.1 km outside town, to the northeast
CathedralCathedral Basilica of Christ the King1.3 km outside town, to the eastPhotos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (6)
- Borer's Falls: Nhl4hamilton | Chit-Chat, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- HMCS Haida: Balcer~commonswiki, CC BY 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
- Websters Falls: paul (dex) bica from toronto, canada, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Dundurn Castle: Nhl4hamilton (Rick Cordeiro), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Royal Botanical Gardens: Nhl4hamilton | Chit-Chat, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King: Jfvoll, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Famous people from around York Road
No notable person born in York Road is on our list; these were born in the towns around it.
Photo credits
Danny Syvret: Remy Connors, CC BY 2.0 · Peggy Sattler: OFL Communications Department, CC BY 2.0 · Frank Lennard: Arthur Roy, CC BY-SA 4.0
About York Road
Neighbourhood in Hamilton
York Road is one of Hamilton’s neighbourhoods, which TownRatings draws from census dissemination areas and names from the city’s own map or OpenStreetMap.
Statistics Canada: population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155), Census of Population 2021, 2021 census boundaries.
- Population
- 4,931 (people, 2021 estimate)
- Province or territory
- Ontario
- City
- Hamilton
- Census subdivision
- 3525005
York Road’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Statistics Canada
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| York Road | 4,931 | — | B+ | C− | B− | B |
| Central Business Dis | 6,127 | 1.9 | C+ | D− | B− | B |
| Colborne | 7,447 | 2.4 | B+ | C | B− | B |
| Ainslie Wood West | 3,917 | 2.7 | C+ | D− | B− | B |
| Ainslie Wood East | 3,112 | 2.7 | C+ | D− | B− | B |
| Westdale South | 4,931 | 3.1 | C+ | D− | B− | B+ |
| Golf Course | 3,741 | 3.7 | A− | C+ | B− | B |
People: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about York Road
How old are the people of York Road?
The median resident is 45.9 years old, against 45.2 for the median of Canadian towns. 15% 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).