MontagueOntario
It is a town of 4,414 residents in Ontario. It lies in Lanark.
Is Montague a good place to live?
Few people walk, cycle or take the bus to work (D). With a C overall, Montague is better than 26% of Canadian towns. The ranking puts it #717 of 858 in Ontario. It lags on hazard risk as well (D). A median home here was worth $400,000 at the census, or 4.1 times what the middle household earns in a year. Safety is its strong suit (A+).
Figures: home values and income: Statistics Canada, Census 2021.
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 Montague grades
Each subject compares Montague 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 Montague stand out
The 3 things Montague does most differently from other towns.
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Montague.
Violent crime weighs less on Montague than on Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns: a violent severity index of 40
Property crime ran at 11.5 incidents per 1,000 residents a year, lower than both Ontario’s towns (30.5) and Canadian towns (31.2). Violence accounts for 7.2 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents a year.
Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year
| 2023–2025 | Montague | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crime per 1,000 | 11.5 | 30.5 | 31.2 |
| Violent Crime Severity Index | 40 | 76 | 86 |
| Violent crime | 7.2 | 10.5 | 12 |
Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average
For hazard risk, Montague gets a D
Rideau Valley Conservation Authority has mapped the flood hazard here, one of 9 studies on the national inventory. More homes than usual carry radon here, 19% over the guideline where the typical town has 6.6%. NRCan’s model puts the yearly earthquake loss at $0.10 per $1,000 of building value, above both Ontario’s towns ($0.043) and Canadian towns ($0.030).
Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³
| Hazards | Montague | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radon tests above the guideline | 19% | 4% | 6.6% |
| Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year | $0.10 | $0.043 | $0.030 |
NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory
Montague is a town of owners: 94% of households own their home, above Ontario’s towns and Canadian towns
Shelter took 30% or more of income for 12% 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 | Montague | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households owning their home | 94% | 76% | 74% |
| Households spending 30%+ on shelter | 12% | 22% | 18% |
| Median home value, 2021 | $400,000 | $695,000 | $406,000 |
| Rent as a share of income | 22% | 22% | 20% |
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.
3 boards run the schools in and around Montague
Taken together, Montague and its 3 km edge hold 7 elementary schools and 3 secondary schools for 2,525 students. Results have climbed at 6 of 8 schools over three years. The Catholic boards run 5 of its 10 schools, against 34% in Ontario. The 8 with results split, 2 in the upper two fifths in Ontario and 4 in the lower.
| School | Level | Students | System |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Francis de Sales Separate School CatholicLargest elementary schoolElementary · Grades JK–6 | Elementary · Grades JK–6 | 430 | English Catholic |
| Smiths Falls District Collegiate Institute Bottom fifth in OntarioLargest secondary schoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Secondary · Grades 9–12 | 700 | English public |
| École élémentaire catholique Sainte-Marguerite-Bourgeoys FrenchTeaches in FrenchElementary · Grades JK–8 | Elementary · Grades JK–8 | 85 | French Catholic |
Schools by system · Schools within 3 km
| Schools within 3 km | Montague | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nearest secondary school | 7 km | 1.2 km | 1.2 km |
| School boards | 3 | 4 | 3 |
Provincial school lists and results, 2024-25
January nights in Montague drop to −14.2°C (Ontario towns −9.1°C, Canadian towns −13.5°C)
Snow peaks in January: 46 cm in a normal year. The thermometer drops below freezing on 163 days a year, higher than Ontario’s towns (139) and near Canadian towns (159). Expect July highs of around 27.1°C in Montague.
Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Normals, 1991–2020 | Montague | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snowfall a year | 187 cm | 146 cm | 141 cm |
| July afternoon high | 27.1°C | 26.7°C | 25.5°C |
| January night low | −14.2°C | −9.1°C | −13.5°C |
| Days with frost a year | 163 | 139 | 159 |
Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Drummond Centre)
Commuters in Montague travel further than in Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns, 33 min on average
How working residents got to work · census 2021
| Census 2021 | Montague | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip | 33 min | 29 min | 26 min |
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.
In Montague, November normally means 6°C afternoons and −2°C nights
In November, the normal is 75 mm of rain and snow. Into December, the normals move to −1°C and −9°C. A typical November adds 17 cm of snow. Hour-by-hour figures come from ECCC’s Smiths Falls forecast, on the Weather page.
Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Season | High | Low | Rain and snow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | −3°C | −12°C | 204 mm |
| Spring | 12°C | 0°C | 214 mm |
| Summer | 26°C | 13°C | 267 mm |
| Autumn | 13°C | 3°C | 253 mm |
ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Drummond Centre); the forecast is on the Weather page
Per resident, Montague spends less than 86% of Ontario’s lower-tier municipalities
Karen Jennings was elected reeve of Montague in October 2022, on a council of 5 seats.
| Turnout | Montague | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Municipal election, 2022 | 40% | 31% | 31% |
Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada
No public library stands in Montague: the closest, Smith Falls Public Library, is 6.9 km away
The next is Merrickville Public Library (Merrickville), 10 km away.
Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada
The The Great Trail (Eastern Ontario) passes Montague
2 beaches are mapped within 5 km, the nearest Merrickville Public Beach. Rideau River Provincial Park is the closest provincial park, at 15 km. For a national park, Thousand Islands National Park is 36 km away. Within 10 km are 10 protected areas.
Protected land · of the land within 10 km
| Outdoors | Montague | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public protected areas within 10 km | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Protected land within 10 km | 3% | 2.3% | 2.3% |
Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches
Around Montague, 51% of adults call their health very good or excellent
On average 18% of adults live with arthritis, diabetes or high blood pressure, in line with Ontario’s towns (17%) and Canadian towns (17%). Smoking is commoner than in the province: 14% of adults, against 11% for Ontario. Across the region, life runs to 81.2 years on average: women 83.3, men 79.2, in 2022/2024. For Montague itself the measure is access, and it lags: 6.5 km to the nearest hospital, where 3.7 km is typical.
Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised
| Health | Montague | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smokers | 14% | 10% | 12% |
| Life expectancy at birth | 81.2 | 82.8 | 81.5 |
| Chronic conditions (average share) | 18% | 17% | 17% |
Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities · Area behind the health survey and life expectancy figures: the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit
Visible minorities make up less of Montague than of Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns: 2.3%
First Nations, Métis and Inuit people make up 3.6% of residents, above Ontario’s towns (1.6%) and Canadian towns (2.8%) alike. People 65 and over make up a fifth of the town. Under 15: 16% of residents.
Ages · Share of residents in each age group, Census 2021
Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over
Women and men · all residents
49.7% of Montague’s residents are women
Of the 2021 count, 1,945 were women and 1,970 men (women across Canada: 50.9%).
| Montague | Ontario | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 16% | 15% | 16% |
| 15 to 64 | 65% | 65% | 64% |
| 65+ | 20% | 19% | 19% |
| No certificate, diploma or degree | 15% | 15% | 16% |
| Postsecondary qualification | 52% | 56% | 56% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; Ontario and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+
Everything we know about Montague
Smiths Falls Railway Station (Canadian Northern) and 5 more in and around Montague
Sights in Montague and close by, ordered by how widely each is known.
MuseumSmiths Falls Railway Station (Canadian Northern)800 m outside town, to the southwest
FortMerrickville Blockhouse800 m outside town, to the eastHistoric siteHistoric siteDefensible Lockmaster's House1.2 km outside town, to the southMuseumMuseumHeritage House Museum700 m outside town, to the southArt galleryArt galleryOrganic Conceptions800 m outside town, to the southMuseumMuseumRideau Canal Visitor Information Centre1.2 km outside town, to the southPhotos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (2)
- Smiths Falls Railway Station (Canadian Northern): Bruce Fingerhood from Springfield, Oregon, US, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Merrickville Blockhouse: Kenn Chaplin from Toronto, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Famous people from around Montague
One notable person was born in Montague; with them, the best known born in the towns around it.
Photo credits
Robert Campbell: Unknown author, Public domain · Don McKenney: TCG Topps Gum Cards, Public domain
About Montague
Town in Ontario
Every figure TownRatings gives for Montague covers the municipality as Statistics Canada maps it, one census subdivision in Ontario.
Statistics Canada: population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155), Census of Population 2021, 2021 census boundaries.
- Population
- 4,414 (people, 2025 estimate)
- Province or territory
- Ontario
- Census division
- Lanark
- Census subdivision
- 3509001
Montague’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Statistics Canada
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montague | 4,414 | — | C | C− | A+ | B− |
| Smiths Falls | 11,093 | 6.9 | D− | D | C− | B |
| Merrickville | 3,411 | 12 | B− | C | A | B− |
| Drummond/North Elmsley | 8,817 | 19 | C+ | C | A+ | B− |
People: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about Montague
Who are the people of Montague?
At the 2021 census, 6% were immigrants and 2% belonged to a visible minority (Canadian towns’ median: 15%). 4% identify as First Nations, Métis or Inuit.
What kind of homes are in Montague?
Single-detached houses make up 96% of the homes here, where Canadian towns sit at 64%; 0% are in high-rise apartments. 19% of households are one person, and the average is 2.6.
Is Montague growing?
It grew from 3,761 people in 2016 to 3,914 in 2021, up 4.1%; the median of Canadian towns grew 4.1%. StatCan’s 2025 estimate is 4,414.
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).