ThornleaMarkham
20,872 people call this neighbourhood in Markham home. Markham is split into 22 neighbourhoods, and this is one.
Is Thornlea a good place to live?
Schools do well (A+). At A− overall, Thornlea ranks #112 of 858 in Ontario. Set against the rest, it does better than four fifths of Canadian towns. Health is a strength (A). Buying in is costly (D−).
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 Thornlea grades
Each subject compares Thornlea 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 Thornlea stand out
The 3 things Thornlea does most differently from other towns.
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Thornlea.
Rent takes more of local pay in Thornlea than in Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns: 25% of household income
Source area for rent as a share of income and monthly rent for a two-bedroom: the Toronto metro area
82% of households own their home, higher than both Ontario’s towns (76%) and Canadian towns (74%). Shelter took 30% or more of income for 35% of households, higher 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 | Thornlea | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households spending 30%+ on shelter | 35% | 22% | 18% |
| Rent as a share of income | 25% | 22% | 20% |
| Households owning their home | 82% | 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.
Thornlea’s schools belong to 6 boards that cover the same streets
In or within 3 km of Thornlea: 50 elementary schools, 14 secondary schools and 1 alternative or adult school, with 30,555 students. 43 of 60 schools with results score above the middle in Ontario. Of the 65, 4 teach in French (10% of schools in Ontario). The largest is Unionville High School, with 1,865 students.
| School | Level | Students | System |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Paschal Baylon Catholic School CatholicLargest elementary schoolElementary · Grades JK–8 | Elementary · Grades JK–8 | 755 | English Catholic |
| Unionville High School Second fifth in OntarioLargest secondary schoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Secondary · Grades 9–12 | 1,865 | English public |
| ÉÉC Sainte-Marguerite-Bourgeoys-Markham FrenchTeaches in FrenchElementary · Grades JK–8 | Elementary · Grades JK–8 | 175 | French Catholic |
| A Y Jackson Secondary School Top fifth in OntarioResults in the top fifth in OntarioSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Secondary · Grades 9–12 | 1,400 | English public |
Schools by system · Schools within 3 km
| Schools within 3 km | Thornlea | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| School boards | 6 | 4 | 3 |
Provincial school lists and results, 2024-25
Few places match Thornlea for health: it beats 90% of Canadian towns
A baby born in the region can expect 86.3 years, 87.9 for a girl and 84.6 for a boy (2022/2024). About as many adults call their health very good or excellent here as across Ontario, 51% against 51%. The three chronic conditions the survey tracks average 16% of adults, below Ontario’s towns (17%) and Canadian towns (17%) alike. The town’s own part is the trip to care, and Thornlea is well placed: 1.4 km to a hospital on average, against 3.7 km typical.
Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised
| Health | Thornlea | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 86.3 | 82.8 | 81.5 |
| Chronic conditions (average share) | 16% | 17% | 17% |
| Smokers | 10% | 10% | 12% |
Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities · Health survey and life expectancy: the York Regional Health Unit
Few places are as safe from hazards as Thornlea: it beats 88% of Canadian towns
Toronto Regional Conservation Authority has mapped the flood hazard here: one study on the national inventory. NRCan expects $0.034 of shaking damage a year per $1,000 of buildings in Thornlea, near the typical $0.030.
Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³
| Hazards | Thornlea | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radon tests above the guideline | 0% | 4% | 6.6% |
| Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year | $0.034 | $0.043 | $0.030 |
NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory · Data for earthquake risk covers the city of Markham
Thornlea gets a B+ for safety
Measured across the York Region service area: Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000
Property crime in its police area ran at 21.4 per 1,000 residents a year, below Ontario’s towns (30.5) and Canadian towns (31.2) alike. The force’s area logs 9.7 violent incidents per 1,000 residents a year.
Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year
| 2023–2025 | Thornlea | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crime per 1,000 | 21.4 | 30.5 | 31.2 |
| Violent Crime Severity Index | 67 | 76 | 86 |
| Crime Severity Index | 53 | 56 | 67 |
Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average
Summer runs warm in Thornlea: July highs of 27.3°C, above Ontario’s towns and Canadian towns
Gardeners get 161 frost-free days, from 3 May to 13 October. Winter lows in Thornlea average −10.1°C in January. Snow peaks in January: 40 cm in a normal year. The most precipitation falls in June: 87 mm in a normal year.
Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Normals, 1991–2020 | Thornlea | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| July afternoon high | 27.3°C | 26.7°C | 25.5°C |
| January night low | −10.1°C | −9.1°C | −13.5°C |
| Days with frost a year | 145 | 139 | 159 |
Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Toronto Buttonville (Airport))
Commuters in Thornlea travel further than in Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns, 31 min on average
84% of commuters drove to work at the census.
How working residents got to work · census 2021
| Census 2021 | Thornlea | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip | 31 min | 29 min | 26 min |
| Car or van | 84% | 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.
Visible minorities make up more of Thornlea than of Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns: 71%
The share of residents under 15 is 12%. People 65 and over make up 27% of the town, above both Ontario’s towns (19%) and Canadian towns (19%).
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 52.3% of Thornlea
In 2021 there were 10,925 women to 9,945 men; Canada as a whole is 50.9% women.
| Thornlea | Ontario | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 12% | 15% | 16% |
| 15 to 64 | 61% | 65% | 64% |
| 65+ | 27% | 19% | 19% |
| No certificate, diploma or degree | 8.9% | 15% | 16% |
| Postsecondary qualification | 70% | 56% | 56% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; Ontario and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+
What November brings in Thornlea: −1°C at night, 7°C by day
The year peaks in July (27°C) and bottoms out in January (−10°C). Precipitation in November averages 77 mm. December follows at 2°C by day and −6°C by night. Snowfall in a normal November: 12 cm.
Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Season | High | Low | Rain and snow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | 0°C | −9°C | 177 mm |
| Spring | 12°C | 1°C | 211 mm |
| Summer | 26°C | 14°C | 244 mm |
| Autumn | 15°C | 5°C | 230 mm |
ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Toronto Buttonville (Airport)); the forecast is on the Weather page
Markham Public Library draws 6.9 visits per person served, ahead of 94% of Ontario’s town libraries
The library figures on this page are Markham’s: Markham Public Library serves all 365,051 people of the city, Thornlea among them.
Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada
Rouge National Urban Park is 12 km from Thornlea
Within 10 km are 29 protected areas. The largest is Elgin West Channel Lands: 89 ha, 7.6 km from the edge of town. For a provincial park, Uxbridge Urban Provincial Park lies 30 km off.
Protected land · of the land within 10 km
| Outdoors | Thornlea | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public protected areas within 10 km | 22 | 4 | 4 |
| Protected land within 10 km | 1.9% | 2.3% | 2.3% |
Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches
Everything we know about Thornlea
Modern Bright Open Art studio and 11 more in and around Thornlea
From museums to parks and historic sites: Thornlea’s places to visit and those just beyond its edge, most famous first.
Ski hillUplands Golf & Ski Club1.5 km outside town, to the west
MuseumFrederick Horsman Varley Art Gallery4.3 km outside town, to the northeast
National historic siteCanadian National Railway Station, Unionville, Ontario4.2 km outside town, to the northeastArt galleryArt galleryIrena Art Gallery1.1 km outside town, to the southwestMuseumMuseumHistoric Zion Schoolhouse2.6 km outside town, to the southeastPhotos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (3)
- Uplands Golf & Ski Club: Silver Dovelet, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Frederick Horsman Varley Art Gallery: Silver Dovelet, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Canadian National Railway Station, Unionville, Ontario: oaktree_brian_1976 from Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
About Thornlea
Neighbourhood in Markham
No official boundary marks Thornlea off from the rest of Markham: TownRatings draws it from the census’s dissemination areas and takes its name from the city’s map or OpenStreetMap.
Statistics Canada: population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155), Census of Population 2021, 2021 census boundaries.
- Population
- 20,872 (people, 2021 estimate)
- Province or territory
- Ontario
- City
- Markham
- Census subdivision
- 3519036
Thornlea’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Statistics Canada
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thornlea | 20,872 | — | A− | D− | B+ | A |
| German Mills | 11,923 | 2 | A− | C− | B+ | A |
| Langstaff | 8,147 | 2.3 | B+ | D− | B+ | A |
| Steeles Corners | 9,468 | 2.8 | B+ | D− | B+ | A |
| Bayview Woods-Steeles | 12,499 | 3.6 | A− | D− | A− | A |
| Hillcrest Village | 16,374 | 3.9 | B+ | D− | B+ | A |
| Newtonbrook East | 15,996 | 4 | B | D− | B | A |
People: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about Thornlea
How old are the people of Thornlea?
At 47.8, its median age compares with 45.2 across Canadian towns. Children make up 12% of the population and seniors 27%.
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).