Downtown Orillia (Mississauga Street East) (2) Centre-ville d’Orillia (rue Mississauga Est) (2) (39153594862)

OrilliaOntario

Home to 37,735 people, this town lies in Ontario. The population grew 7% between 2016 and 2021.

4 places within 19 kmMap →

Photo: Municipal Affairs and Housing · CC BY 2.0

Population

37,735

people, 2025 estimate

Median age

46.8

years · Ontario’s towns: 46.8

Postsecondary

50%

of residents 15 and over hold a postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree · Canadian towns: 56%

Walk, cycle, transit

11%

walk, cycle or take transit to work · Canadian towns: 8%

TownGrade

C⁻

#2,307 of 2,556

Is Orillia a good place to live?

A tough set of grades. Orillia grades C− overall, better than 15% of Canadian towns. That places it #801 of 858 in Ontario. Housing is expensive (D−). Crime runs high (C−). Walkability is where it shines (A). People here tend to be in good health (A−).

Health is graded on the health region's survey figures and life expectancy, with the distance to hospital giving the town its own spread.

StrongestAHazard risk AWalkability A⁻HealthWeakestD⁻Cost of living C⁻Safety

What makes Orillia stand out

The 3 things Orillia does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Cost of living

Behind 98%

of Canadian towns on cost of living

Its cost of living grade: D−.

Home value ÷ household income

Housing

7.8 times household income

Against 4.7 for the median of Canadian towns

Median owner’s estimate $552,000, Census 2021; income for 2020.

Hazard risk

Better than 94%

of Canadian towns on hazard risk

Its hazard risk grade: A.

How Orillia grades

Each subject compares Orillia 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 grading works

Cost of livingHomes are among the least affordable for local incomesD⁻Open →Hazard riskAmong the best of the towns comparedAOpen →WalkabilityGraded on how easily people get around without a carAOpen →SafetyMore crime than in most townsC⁻Open →Jobs & incomeBelow the middle of the towns comparedC⁻Open →HealthBased on how healthy residents are for their agesA⁻Open →SchoolsSchools trail most of those comparedCOpen →

How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Orillia.

HousingCost of living D⁻

Renting in Orillia eats 26% of household income, more than in both Ontario’s towns and Canadian towns

Shelter took 30% or more of income for 27% of households, above Ontario’s towns (22%) and Canadian towns (18%) alike. Households that own their home make up 61%. For rent as a share of income and monthly rent for a two-bedroom, the only official count covers all of the Orillia metro area, Orillia included.

$552,000median home value, 2021D⁻Cost of living Grade

What homes were worth · The median owner’s estimate at the 2021 census

Orillia$552,000

Ontario$695,000

Canadian towns$406,000

Census 2021	Orillia	Ontario	Canada
Rent as a share of income	26%	22%	20%
Households spending 30%+ on shelter	27%	22%	18%
Households owning their home	61%	76%	74%

$1,553

monthly rent for a two-bedroom

$1,210

median monthly shelter cost for owners, 2021

Full pageOrillia’s cost of living pageOpen the full Cost of living page

Renting$1,553 a month · A two-bedroom apartment, CMHC’s survey Cost of living7.8 times household income · The median owner’s estimate, $552,000, against the median household income Owners and renters61% own their home

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.

Natural hazardsHazard risk A

Orillia earns an A for hazard risk

Shaking is about as much of a worry in Orillia as in most places, at $0.019 a year per $1,000 of building value ($0.030 typical). In Health Canada’s survey, just 0.9% of homes tested in the area exceeded 200 Bq/m³ (6.6% typical). One flood study covers the town, by City of the town. Little of the land around Orillia has burned: 0.1% within 25 km since 1986, or 0.002% a year.

Lowwildfire bandAHazard risk Grade

Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³

Orillia0.9%

Ontario’s towns4%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	Orillia	Ontario	Canada
Radon tests above the guideline	0.9%	4%	6.6%
Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year	$0.019	$0.043	$0.030

$0.019

expected earthquake loss a year per $1,000 of buildings

Low

wildfire band

18 km

to the nearest land burned since 1986

flood study on the national inventory

Full pageOrillia’s flood & hazards pageOpen the full Flood & hazards page

WildfireLow wildfire band · 0.1% of the land within 25 km burned since 1986 FloodOne flood study on record Earthquakes$0.019 a year per $1,000 · Canadian towns: $0.030 Radon0.9% of tests above the guideline Be readyAlerts, FireSmart and radon tests

NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory

SafetySafety C⁻

Violent crime weighs more on Orillia than on Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns: a violent severity index of 146

Violence accounts for 23.4 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents a year. Thefts, break-ins and damage came to 40.2 per 1,000 residents a year, higher than both Ontario’s towns (30.5) and Canadian towns (31.2).

99Crime Severity Index

Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year

2023102

202491

2025102

2023–2025	Orillia	Ontario	Canada
Violent crime	23.4	10.5	12
Violent Crime Severity Index	146	76	86
Property crime per 1,000	40.2	30.5	31.2

non-violent Crime Severity Index

56%

of incidents cleared, 2023–25

Full pageOrillia’s safety reportOpen the full Safety report

Safety99 Crime Severity Index · The index weighs each crime Orillia’s police recorded by how serious it is.Questions“Is Orillia safe?”

Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average

Work & commuteJobs & income C⁻

Trips to work from Orillia are shorter than from Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns: 23 min on average

87% of commuters drove, about level with both Ontario’s towns (88%) and Canadian towns (89%).

11%walk, cycle or take transit

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van87%

Walk7%

Public transit3%

Bicycle1%

Census 2021	Orillia	Ontario	Canada
Average trip	23 min	29 min	26 min
Car or van	87%	88%	89%

$71,000

median household income, 2020

17%

worked from home, May 2021

63%

of commuters work inside the municipality

Full pageOrillia’s work & commute pageOpen the full Work & commute page

Unemployment15% unemployed · Of the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Getting to work11% walk, cycle or take transit Where people commute to980 commuters · The biggest flow out: to Barrie

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.

HealthHealth A⁻

Very good or excellent health for 54% of adults in Orillia’s health region

Health survey and life expectancy for the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit

Statistics Canada puts life expectancy at 81.5, lower than Ontario’s towns (82.8) and near Canadian towns (81.5). What sets Orillia apart within its region is a short trip to hospital, 1.8 km for the average resident (3.7 km typical). For everyday care, the nearest pharmacy is 1.0 km away on average (5.7 within 3 km).

54%very good or excellent healthA⁻Health Grade

Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised

Orillia54%

Ontario’s towns51%

Canadian towns52%

Health	Orillia	Ontario	Canada
Very good or excellent health	54%	51%	52%
Life expectancy at birth	81.5	82.8	81.5
Smokers	12%	10%	12%

81.5

years of life expectancy, 2022/2024

1.8 km

from homes to a hospital, on average

12%

of adults smoke, age-standardised

1.0 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

Full pageOrillia’s health pageOpen the full Health page

Health survey54% very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised Getting care1.8 km to a hospital · A pharmacy 1.0 km away on average The wider areaLife expectancy: women 83.5, men 79.5 Conditions and habits17% with chronic conditions · adults, age-standardised

Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities

SchoolsSchools C

Orillia’s schools mostly sit under the middle in Ontario, 11 of the 12 with results

Its schools answer to 3 boards. Orillia Secondary School is the biggest, at 1,275 students. One of the 12 teaches in French, against 10% of schools in Ontario. Within 3 km of Orillia are 9 elementary schools and 3 secondary schools, teaching 6,400 students.

12schools within 3 kmCSchools Grade

School	Level	Students	System
Notre Dame Catholic School CatholicLargest elementary schoolElementary · Grades JK–8	Elementary · Grades JK–8	620	English Catholic
Orillia Secondary School Fourth fifth in OntarioLargest secondary schoolSecondary · Grades 9–12	Secondary · Grades 9–12	1,275	English public
ÉÉC Samuel-de-Champlain FrenchTeaches in FrenchElementary · Grades JK–6	Elementary · Grades JK–6	140	French Catholic

See all 12 schools →

Schools by system · Schools within 3 km

English public7

English Catholic4

French Catholic1

Schools within 3 km	Orillia	Ontario	Canada
School boards	3	4	3

6,400

students at the schools within 3 km, 2024-25

0.8 km

to the nearest secondary school

Full pageOrillia’s schools pageOpen the full Schools page

Results1 of 12 in the top two fifths · of the schools with results, placed against every school in Ontario Every school12 schools within 3 km · 9 elementary schools and 3 secondary schools Language1 of 12 teach in French · 10% of schools in Ontario The boards3 school boards · Simcoe County DSB Questions“What schools are there in Orillia?”

Provincial school lists and results, 2024-25

Climate

Summers stay cool in Orillia: July afternoons reach 24.5°C, below Ontario’s towns and Canadian towns

Snowfall adds up to 167 cm a year, above both Ontario’s towns (146 cm) and Canadian towns (141 cm). January is the snowiest month, with 42 cm on average. Also worth knowing: a normal October brings 111 mm of precipitation, more than any other month.

24.5°CJuly afternoons

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter−2.2°C

Spring9.2°C

Summer23.4°C

Autumn13.0°C

Normals, 1991–2020	Orillia	Ontario	Canada
July afternoon high	24.5°C	26.7°C	25.5°C
Precipitation a year	1,062 mm	902 mm	883 mm
Snowfall a year	167 cm	146 cm	141 cm
January night low	−12.6°C	−9.1°C	−13.5°C

167 cm

of snow a year

142

days with frost a year

141

days with precipitation a year

Full pageOrillia’s climate pageOpen the full Climate page

The yearJuly highs 24.5°C, January lows −12.6°C Rain and snow1,062 mm a year · Canadian towns: 883 mm Snow167 cm of snow a year Weather station18 km to the station · Lagoon City

Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Lagoon City)

Weather

A normal November in Orillia runs from −1°C to 6°C

By December, a normal day reaches freezing and a night falls to −7°C. About 19 cm of snow falls in a normal November. In November, the normal is 103 mm of rain and snow. Across the year, normals run from −13°C nights in January to 25°C afternoons in July.

6°Ca normal November afternoon

Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

November6°C

December0°C

January−4°C

February−3°C

Season	High	Low	Rain and snow
Winter	−2°C	−11°C	235 mm
Spring	9°C	0°C	244 mm
Summer	23°C	15°C	267 mm
Autumn	13°C	5°C	316 mm

−1°C

a normal November night

103 mm

of rain and snow in a normal November

Full pageOrillia’s weather pageOpen the full Weather page

Next 24 hoursTemperature and chance of rain, hour by hour The week aheadECCC’s days ahead, beside the normals The yearWarmest July, coldest January

ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Lagoon City); the forecast is on the Weather page

Town hall

4,190 residents per council seat in Orillia, a higher ratio than 81% of Ontario municipalities

Donald McIsaac was elected mayor of Orillia in October 2022, on a council of 9 seats.

Turnout	Orillia	Ontario	Canada
Municipal election, 2022	32%	31%	31%

Full pageOrillia’s town hall & politics pageOpen the full Town hall & politics page

Member of ParliamentAdam Chambers Provincial legislatureSimcoe North

Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada

Library & civic lifeCivic life grade B⁺

Each person Orillia Public Library serves borrows 9 items, more than at 96% of Ontario’s town libraries

Orillia Public Library has one location for the 34,412 people it serves.

Full pageOrillia’s library & civic life pageOpen the full Library & civic life page

A year at the library6 visits per person served The libraries1 Libraries Places to belong2.3 charities per 1,000 residents

Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada

Who lives here

Orillia skews older, with 26% of residents 65 or over, more than in both Ontario’s towns and Canadian towns

Visible minorities make up 7.4% of the population, lower than both Ontario’s towns (26%) and Canadian towns (15%). One measure of family life: 14% of residents are under 15.

46.8median age

OrilliaOntarioCanada

OntarioCanada

Ages · Share of residents in each age group, Census 2021

26%

Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over

No certificate, diploma or degree20%

Postsecondary qualification50%

Women and men · all residents

Women make up 53.1% of Orillia

17,730 women and 15,685 men at the 2021 census; across Canada, women are 50.9%.

Who lives in Orillia
	Orillia	Ontario	Canada
Under 15	14%	15%	16%
15 to 64	60%	65%	64%
65+	26%	19%	19%
No certificate, diploma or degree	20%	15%	16%
Postsecondary qualification	50%	56%	56%

Full pageOrillia’s Who lives here pageOpen the full Who lives here page

Ages46.8 median age · 26% are 65 or over Households14,420 households · 2.2 people per household Immigrants10% are immigrants · 7% belong to a visible minority English and French5% speak both · 0% speak French but not English

Statistics Canada, Census 2021; Ontario and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+

Outdoors

Step out of Orillia into Bass Lake Provincial Park

Count 17 protected areas within 10 km of town. Georgian Bay Islands National Park is the closest national park, 37 km from town. Within 10 km of the town, 0.7% of the land is protected, against 2.3% around a typical Canadian town. OpenStreetMap shows 4 walking routes nearby, including the Ganaraska Trail and Uhthoff Trail (hiking).

0.7%of the land within 10 km protected

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

Orillia0.7%

Ontario’s towns2.3%

Canadian towns2.3%

Outdoors	Orillia	Ontario	Canada
Protected land within 10 km	0.7%	2.3%	2.3%
Public protected areas within 10 km	3	4	4

37 km

to Georgian Bay Islands National Park

At the edge

to Bass Lake Provincial Park

beaches within 5 km

Full pageOrillia’s outdoors pageOpen the full Outdoors page

Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas17 protected areas within 10 km · Bass Lake Provincial Park National & provincial parks37 km to a national park · Georgian Bay Islands National Park Footpaths & routes4 named routes · Ganaraska Trail

Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches

History

One top designation among Orillia’s 2 historic places

The record has a heritage railway station. Canadian National Railway Station, Orillia, Ontario, begun in 1917, is the oldest by its record. At the 2021 census, 31% of homes dated from before 1961, higher than both Ontario’s towns (22%) and Canadian towns (18%).

2historic places

Historic places by designation · inside the town

Highest designations1

Other federal designations1

Provincial and local listings0

Among them

1917

oldest construction date on the record

31%

of homes built before 1961 · Canadian towns 18%

Heritage	Orillia	Ontario	Canada
Homes built before 1961	31%	22%	18%

Full pageOrillia’s history pageOpen the full History page

On the registers2 historic places inside the town Highest designations1 top designation · Stephen Leacock Museum / Old Brewery Bay Older homes31% built before 1961 · Canadian towns: 18%Questions“How many historic places does Orillia have?”

Canadian Register of Historic Places, Directory of Federal Heritage Designations, Québec’s Répertoire du patrimoine culturel, Wikidata; Census 2021 homes by period

Nearby attractions

Orillia Art Musuem and 4 more in and around Orillia

A first look at Orillia’s museums, historic sites and days out, and a few just outside town.

All attractions →

MuseumMuseumOrillia Art Musuemin town MuseumMuseumStephen Leacock Museumin town MuseumMuseumOntario Provincial Police Museumin town MuseumMuseumOrillia Museum of Art & Historyin town ZooZooScales Nature Park900 m outside town, to the south

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Orillia

15pages on Orillia

The big questions

SafetyC⁻Crime Severity Index 99 Housing & costD⁻Homes 7.8 × income Property pricesSchoolsC12 schools within 3 km HealthA⁻Life expectancy 81.5 in its region Work & commuteC⁻48% of adults in work Natural hazardsAWildfire band: low

Out and about

Outdoors0.7% of the land within 10 km protected AttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 25°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 46.8 History2 places on the heritage registers Town hallFamous people

Famous people from Orillia

40 notable people were born in Orillia.

See all 40 →

Gordon LightfootCanadian singer-songwriter · 1938–2023

Franklin CarmichaelCanadian artist · 1890–1945

Leslie FrostCanadian politician · 1895–1973

Chris BigrasCanadian ice hockey player · born 1995

Duncan E. McKinlayAmerican politician · 1862–1914

James BartlemanCanadian diplomat, author, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario · 1939–2023

Photo credits

Gordon Lightfoot: Arnielee, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Franklin Carmichael: M.O. Hammond (1876–1934), Public domain · Leslie Frost: Unknown author, Public domain · Chris Bigras: TheAHL, CC BY 2.0 · Duncan E. McKinlay: Unknown author, Public domain · James Bartleman: LGOntario from Ontario, Canada, CC BY 2.0

Orillia’s neighbours

The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Statistics Canada

SevernChippewas of Rama First NationOro-MedonteRamaraOrillia

How the neighbours grade

Town	People	km	Overall	Cost	Safety	Health
Orillia	37,735	—	C⁻	D⁻	C⁻	A⁻
Severn	15,716	7.1	B⁻	C	A⁻	B
Chippewas of Rama First Nation	1,149	8.3	—	—	D	B⁺
Oro-Medonte	24,681	14	B	C⁻	A⁺	B⁺
Ramara	11,551	16	C⁻	D	A	B

People: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. Distances: centre to centre.

Questions about Orillia

Who are the people of Orillia?

At the 2021 census, 10% were immigrants and 7% belonged to a visible minority (Canadian towns’ median: 15%). 6% identify as First Nations, Métis or Inuit.

What kind of homes are in Orillia?

Mostly 56% single-detached houses (the median of Canadian towns: 64%), with 6% of homes in buildings of five or more storeys. Households hold 2.2 people on average, and 33% have just one.

Has Orillia grown?

It added people: 31,166 in 2016, 33,411 in 2021, 7.2% more, where the middle of Canadian towns grew 4.1%. Statistics Canada’s 2025 estimate is 37,735.

About Orillia

Town in Ontario

The boundary here is Statistics Canada’s: Orillia is one census subdivision in Ontario, and TownRatings describes all of it.

Statistics Canada: population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155), Census of Population 2021, 2021 census boundaries.

Population: 37,735 (people, 2025 estimate)
Province or territory: Ontario
Census division: Simcoe
Census subdivision: 3543052

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).