MelancthonOntario
Population 3,581: a town in Ontario. It is part of Dufferin, a census division.
Is Melancthon a good place to live?
The data are hard on it. Prices are high against local incomes (D). Overall, Melancthon earns a D: better than 12% of Canadian towns, and #824 of 858 in Ontario. Hazard risk is low (B). Elsewhere it is close to typical: B− for safety, B− for health, B− for jobs & income and C+ for walkability.
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 Melancthon grades
Each subject compares Melancthon 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 Melancthon stand out
The 3 things Melancthon does most differently from other towns.
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Melancthon.
Most households in Melancthon own their home: 85%, more than in both Ontario’s towns and Canadian towns
Shelter took 30% or more of income for 23% 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 | Melancthon | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households owning their home | 85% | 76% | 74% |
| Households spending 30%+ on shelter | 23% | 22% | 18% |
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.
Most schools around Melancthon score below the middle in Ontario: 4 of 6
Teenagers have 10 km to go to the closest secondary school, above Ontario’s towns (1.2 km) and Canadian towns (1.2 km) alike. The 3 km around Melancthon counts 6 elementary schools and 1 secondary school, 3,760 students between them.
| School | Level | Students | System |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primrose Elementary School Middle fifth in OntarioLargest elementary schoolElementary · Grades JK–8 | Elementary · Grades JK–8 | 550 | English public |
| Centre Dufferin District High School Bottom fifth in OntarioLargest secondary schoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Secondary · Grades 9–12 | 810 | English public |
| Schools within 3 km | Melancthon | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| School boards | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Nearest secondary school | 10 km | 1.2 km | 1.2 km |
| Nearest elementary school | 8.3 km | 0.5 km | 0.5 km |
Provincial school lists and results, 2024-25
July afternoons in Melancthon reach 25.3°C (Ontario towns 26.7°C, Canadian towns 25.5°C)
Some 174 cm of snow falls in a typical year, higher than both Ontario’s towns (146 cm) and Canadian towns (141 cm). Midwinter nights in Melancthon bottom out at −8.7°C on average. Most of the snow comes in December, about 42 cm. June is the wettest month, with 83 mm of rain and snow on average.
Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Normals, 1991–2020 | Melancthon | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| January night low | −8.7°C | −9.1°C | −13.5°C |
| July afternoon high | 25.3°C | 26.7°C | 25.5°C |
| Days with frost a year | 131 | 139 | 159 |
| Snowfall a year | 174 cm | 146 cm | 141 cm |
Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Collingwood)
Children make up 20% of Melancthon, above Ontario’s towns and Canadian towns
4% of residents belong to a visible minority, below Ontario’s towns (26%) and Canadian towns (15%) alike. People 65 and over make up 14% of the town.
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 47.8% of Melancthon
Of the 2021 count, 1,500 were women and 1,635 men (women across Canada: 50.9%).
| Melancthon | Ontario | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 20% | 15% | 16% |
| 15 to 64 | 66% | 65% | 64% |
| 65+ | 14% | 19% | 19% |
| No certificate, diploma or degree | 24% | 15% | 16% |
| Postsecondary qualification | 43% | 56% | 56% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; Ontario and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+
Melancthon is on Canada’s flood inventory: 1 listed, led by Grand River Conservation Authority
In Health Canada’s survey, 11% of homes tested in the area exceeded 200 Bq/m³ (6.6% typical). Shaking is about as much of a worry in Melancthon 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 | Melancthon | 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
Violent crime weighs more on Melancthon than on Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns: a violent severity index of 126
Violent incidents came to 6.9 per 1,000 residents a year, below Ontario’s towns (10.5) and Canadian towns (12) alike. Thefts, break-ins and damage add up to 15.9 per 1,000 residents a year.
Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year
| 2023–2025 | Melancthon | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crime per 1,000 | 15.9 | 30.5 | 31.2 |
| Violent Crime Severity Index | 126 | 76 | 86 |
| Violent crime | 6.9 | 10.5 | 12 |
Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average
What November brings in Melancthon: 1°C at night, 8°C by day
Snow is normal by November, about 22 cm over the month. Precipitation in November averages 72 mm. By December, a normal day reaches 2°C and a night falls to −5°C. Across the year, normals run from −9°C nights in January to 25°C afternoons in July.
Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Season | High | Low | Rain and snow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | 0°C | −7°C | 157 mm |
| Spring | 10°C | 1°C | 183 mm |
| Summer | 24°C | 15°C | 244 mm |
| Autumn | 14°C | 6°C | 210 mm |
ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Collingwood); the forecast is on the Weather page
78% of Ontario’s lower-tier municipalities spend more per resident than Melancthon
The October 2022 vote made Darren White mayor of Melancthon, heading 5 seats.
| Turnout | Melancthon | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Municipal election, 2022 | 33% | 31% | 31% |
Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada
Melancthon has no public library of its own; the nearest is Southgate Ruth Hargrave Memorial Library, 8.6 km away
The next is Shelburne Public Library (Shelburne), 11 km away.
Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada
Noisy River Provincial Park is 0.6 km from Melancthon
Out to 10 km from the town’s edge, 1.3% of the land is protected; 2.3% is typical for a Canadian town. 70 km separate the town from Georgian Bay Islands National Park, its nearest national park. Also worth knowing: for walks, 2 named routes run within 2 km, such as the Bruce Trail - Dufferin Hi-Land section side trails and Bruce Trail - Blue Mountains section.
Protected land · of the land within 10 km
| Outdoors | Melancthon | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protected land within 10 km | 1.3% | 2.3% | 2.3% |
| Public protected areas within 10 km | 7 | 4 | 4 |
Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches
Trips to work from Melancthon take longer than from Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns: 35 min on average
Driving is how 93% of commuters got to work at the census.
How working residents got to work · census 2021
| Census 2021 | Melancthon | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip | 35 min | 29 min | 26 min |
| Car or van | 93% | 88% | 89% |
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.
A hospital trip from Melancthon means 29 km on average, in a straight line
Source area for health survey and life expectancy: the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Health Unit
Smoking takes in 13% of adults, age-standardised, higher than both Ontario’s towns (10%) and Canadian towns (12%). On self-rated health the region tracks the province: 51% very good or excellent, 51% for Ontario. Lives in the region last 82.4 years on average (2022/2024): 84.5 for women, 80.2 for men.
Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised
| Health | Melancthon | 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
Melancthon keeps its older homes: 32% from before 1961
| Heritage | Melancthon | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homes built before 1961 | 32% | 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 Melancthon
Famous people from Melancthon
4 notable people were born in Melancthon.
Photo credits
John Henderson Lamont: Joseph-Alexandre Castonguay, Public domain
About Melancthon
Town in Ontario
Statistics Canada treats Melancthon 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
- 3,581 (people, 2025 estimate)
- Province or territory
- Ontario
- Census division
- Dufferin
- Census subdivision
- 3522019
Melancthon’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Statistics Canada
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melancthon | 3,581 | — | D | D | B− | B− |
| Shelburne | 10,767 | 10 | C+ | C− | A | B− |
| Dundalk | 11,599 | 17 | C | D | A− | C |
| Mulmur | 3,813 | 19 | B− | C− | A+ | B− |
| Amaranth | 4,808 | 19 | C+ | D | A+ | B |
People: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about Melancthon
What kind of homes are in Melancthon?
Mostly 97% single-detached houses (the median of Canadian towns: 64%), with 0% of homes in buildings of five or more storeys. Households hold 3 people on average, and 16% have just one.
Who are the people of Melancthon?
Visible minorities are 4% of the population, where the middle of Canadian towns is 15%. Immigrants make up 11%, and Indigenous people 2%.
Has Melancthon grown?
It grew from 3,008 people in 2016 to 3,132 in 2021, up 4.1%; the median of Canadian towns grew 4.1%. StatCan’s 2025 estimate is 3,581.
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).