HowickOntario
4,517 people call this town in Ontario home. Statistics Canada places it in the Huron census division.
Is Howick a good place to live?
A good place to live, if you can afford it. At B+ overall, Howick ranks #217 of 858 in Ontario. On that grade it does better than 71% of Canadian towns. Recorded crime is low (A). Pupils here do better than most (A). What holds it back is cost of living (C−). Walkability is weaker too (C−). The rest of its grades are middling: 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. 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.
How Howick grades
Each subject compares Howick 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 Howick stand out
The 3 things Howick does most differently from other towns.
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Howick.
For the force that serves Howick, the Crime Severity Index is 35, below Ontario’s towns and Canadian towns
A best guess: the nearest detachment’s figures, since none is filed under Howick · Shared with the rest of the Huron (Huron/Wingham) detachment area: Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000
Property crime in its police area ran at 11.2 per 1,000 residents a year, lower than both Ontario’s towns (30.5) and Canadian towns (31.2). Violence across its police area runs at 6.2 per 1,000 residents a year.
Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year
| 2023–2025 | Howick | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crime per 1,000 | 11.2 | 30.5 | 31.2 |
| Violent Crime Severity Index | 39 | 76 | 86 |
| Crime Severity Index | 35 | 56 | 67 |
| Violent crime | 6.2 | 10.5 | 12 |
Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average
Howick’s teenagers travel 17 km to the nearest high school
From the middle of town, the first elementary school is 3.6 km off, above Ontario’s towns (0.5 km) and Canadian towns (0.5 km) alike.
| School | Level | Students | System |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howick Central Public School Second fifth in OntarioLargest elementary schoolElementary · Grades JK–8 | Elementary · Grades JK–8 | 340 | English public |
| Schools within 3 km | Howick | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nearest secondary school | 17 km | 1.2 km | 1.2 km |
| Nearest elementary school | 3.6 km | 0.5 km | 0.5 km |
Provincial school lists and results, 2024-25
Measured against local pay, Howick costs more to live in than 83% of Canadian towns
84% of households own their home, above both Ontario’s towns (76%) and Canadian towns (74%). 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 | Howick | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households spending 30%+ on shelter | 16% | 22% | 18% |
| Households owning their home | 84% | 76% | 74% |
| Median home value, 2021 | $452,000 | $695,000 | $406,000 |
| Rent as a share of income | 20% | 22% | 20% |
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.
A larger share of people aged 15 to 64 are in work in Howick than in 93% of Canadian towns
A trip to work takes 29 min on average.
How working residents got to work · census 2021
| Census 2021 | Howick | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip | 29 min | 29 min | 26 min |
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.
Children make up 25% of Howick, above Ontario’s towns and Canadian towns
Retirement age and beyond: 16% of residents are 65 or older. Visible minorities make up 0.4% of the population, lower than both Ontario’s towns (26%) and Canadian towns (15%).
Ages · Share of residents in each age group, Census 2021
Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over
Women and men · all residents
Women make up 49.3% of Howick
Here the census found 2,050 men and 1,995 women; the figure for women across Canada is 50.9%.
| Howick | Ontario | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 25% | 15% | 16% |
| 15 to 64 | 59% | 65% | 64% |
| 65+ | 16% | 19% | 19% |
| No certificate, diploma or degree | 36% | 15% | 16% |
| Postsecondary qualification | 36% | 56% | 56% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; Ontario and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+
July afternoons in Howick reach 25.1°C (Ontario towns 26.7°C, Canadian towns 25.5°C)
Most of the snow comes in January, about 111 cm. Snowfall adds up to 385 cm a year, above both Ontario’s towns (146 cm) and Canadian towns (141 cm). Midwinter nights in Howick bottom out at −10.9°C on average.
Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Normals, 1991–2020 | Howick | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snowfall a year | 385 cm | 146 cm | 141 cm |
| July afternoon high | 25.1°C | 26.7°C | 25.5°C |
| Precipitation a year | 1,035 mm | 902 mm | 883 mm |
| January night low | −10.9°C | −9.1°C | −13.5°C |
Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Mount Forest)
Howick’s hazards at a glance: a low wildfire record and 11% of area homes over the radon guideline
Seismic risk in Howick sits near the middle: $0.016 of expected damage per $1,000 of buildings a year, the typical town $0.030. No flood study for Howick is on the national inventory. Figures for radon tests are published for the Huron County Health Unit as a whole, not for Howick alone.
Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³
| Hazards | Howick | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radon tests above the guideline | 11% | 4% | 6.6% |
| Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year | $0.016 | $0.043 | $0.030 |
NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory
Howick in November: highs near 6°C, lows near −2°C
November usually brings some 48 cm of snow. December follows at −1°C by day and −7°C by night. Precipitation in November averages 92 mm. ECCC’s forecast for Wingham is on the Weather page, hour by hour.
Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Season | High | Low | Rain and snow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | −2°C | −10°C | 255 mm |
| Spring | 10°C | 0°C | 240 mm |
| Summer | 24°C | 13°C | 281 mm |
| Autumn | 13°C | 4°C | 258 mm |
ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Mount Forest); the forecast is on the Weather page
At 70%, 2021 turnout in Huron—Bruce beat 93% of the country’s ridings
Howick’s council of 5 was elected in October 2022, with Doug Harding as reeve.
Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada
Gorrie Library and Huron County Library - Howick Branch are Howick’s two public libraries
Its libraries report as part of a wider system, so there are no figures for Howick in particular.
Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada
Protected land is absent from the 10 km around Howick
No national park lies within 100 km. The nearest provincial park, Morris Tract Provincial Park, is 40 km away.
Protected land · of the land within 10 km
| Outdoors | Howick | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protected land within 10 km | 0% | 2.3% | 2.3% |
| Public protected areas within 10 km | 0 | 4 | 4 |
Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches
Fewer adults feel healthy around Howick: 45% say very good or excellent (52% for the typical Canadian town)
Measured across the Huron Perth Health Unit: health survey and life expectancy
Measured from where people live, the nearest hospital is 15 km away, above Ontario’s towns (3.3 km) and Canadian towns (3.7 km) alike. Women in the region live to 83.7 and men to 79.7, 81.7 years taken together (2022/2024).
Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised
| Health | Howick | 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
Older housing stands out in Howick: 48% predates 1961
| Heritage | Howick | 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 Howick
Famous people from Howick
6 notable people were born in Howick.
Photo credits
George M. Young: Harris & Ewing, Public domain · William Clarke Chambers: Unknown author, Public domain
About Howick
Town in Ontario
Howick is a municipality in Ontario, read by TownRatings as Statistics Canada draws it: one census subdivision, so its figures cover the whole municipality.
Statistics Canada: population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155), Census of Population 2021, 2021 census boundaries.
- Population
- 4,517 (people, 2025 estimate)
- Province or territory
- Ontario
- Census division
- Huron
- Census subdivision
- 3540046
Howick’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Statistics Canada
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howick | 4,517 | — | B+ | C− | A | B− |
| Morris-Turnberry | 4,028 | 13 | B+ | B− | A | B |
| Wingham | 5,411 | 18 | B | C | B+ | B |
| Palmerston | 10,029 | 19 | A− | C− | A+ | B |
People: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about Howick
What kind of homes are in Howick?
89% 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 people; 19% are one person living alone.
Who are the people of Howick?
Visible minorities are 0% of the population, where the middle of Canadian towns is 15%. Immigrants make up 5%, and Indigenous people 1%.
Is Howick growing?
It added people: 3,873 in 2016, 4,045 in 2021, 4.4% more, where the middle of Canadian towns grew 4.1%. Statistics Canada’s 2025 estimate is 4,517.
How old are the people of Howick?
At 35.2, its median age compares with 45.2 across Canadian towns.
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).