Alta VistaOttawa
Ottawa is split into 103 neighbourhoods, and this is one. Some 8,387 people live in this neighbourhood, in Ottawa.
Is Alta Vista a good place to live?
A solid town with one catch. Health is a strength (A+). Overall, Alta Vista earns an A, which places it #65 of 858 in Ontario. On that grade it does better than 86% of Canadian towns. Add jobs & income to its strengths (A+). Homes are dear (C). Its remaining grades are unremarkable: B for safety and B− for schools.
Rents here are the metro area's average, shared by every town and neighbourhood in it. Safety uses the city's Crime Severity Index, scaled by this neighbourhood's own violent and property 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.
What makes Alta Vista stand out
The 3 things Alta Vista does most differently from other towns.
How Alta Vista grades
Each subject compares Alta Vista 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 →
Archives De L'Archidiocèse D'Ottawa and 54 more in and around Alta Vista
A first look at Alta Vista’s museums, historic sites and days out, and a few just outside town.
Art galleryNational Gallery of Canada4 km outside town, to the northwest · 237K visitors a year (2014)
MuseumCarleton University1.7 km outside town, to the west
Big drawMuseumCanadian Museum of History4.5 km outside town, to the northwest · 1.3M visitors a year
MuseumCanadian Museum of Nature2 km outside town, to the northwest
MuseumCanada Science and Technology Museum1.9 km outside town, to the northeast · 348K visitors a yearPhotos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (5)
- National Gallery of Canada: Wladyslaw [Disk.], CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Carleton University: Harleyd613, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Canadian Museum of History: Wojciech Dittwald, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Canadian Museum of Nature: RealGrouchy, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Canada Science and Technology Museum: Ajadams94, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Alta Vista.
Commuters in Alta Vista have a short way to work, 20 min on average, less than in both Ontario’s towns and Canadian towns
The car carried 76% of commuters at the census.
How working residents got to work · census 2021
| Census 2021 | Alta Vista | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip | 20 min | 29 min | 26 min |
| Car or van | 76% | 88% | 89% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021 (labour and commuting) · Census day was in May 2021, mid-pandemic, so commuting and work figures carry the lockdowns’ mark.
Alta Vista scores better for health than 97% of Canadian towns
By their own account, 56% of adults here are in very good or excellent health, higher than both Ontario’s towns (51%) and Canadian towns (52%); by contrast, the region has fewer smokers than Ontario, 8.6% of adults to 11%. For 2022/2024, the region’s figure is 83.7 years at birth, 85.7 for women and 81.6 for men. Closer to home, a hospital is just 0.9 km from the average resident of Alta Vista, nearer than the usual 3.7 km.
Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised
| Health | Alta Vista | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very good or excellent health | 56% | 51% | 52% |
| Life expectancy at birth | 83.7 | 82.8 | 81.5 |
| Smokers | 8.6% | 10% | 12% |
| Chronic conditions (average share) | 16% | 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 City of Ottawa Health Unit
Renting in Alta Vista costs 17% of household income, less than in both Ontario’s towns and Canadian towns
Shared with the rest of the Ottawa-Gatineau metro area: rent as a share of income and monthly rent for a two-bedroom
13% of households spent 30% or more of their income on shelter, below both Ontario’s towns (22%) and Canadian towns (18%). Home ownership covers 74% of households.
What homes were worth · The median owner’s estimate at the 2021 census
| Census 2021 | Alta Vista | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value, 2021 | $900,000 | $695,000 | $406,000 |
| Households spending 30%+ on shelter | 13% | 22% | 18% |
| Rent as a share of income | 17% | 22% | 20% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; CMHC Rental Market Survey via Statistics Canada · Home values are owners’ own estimates at the May 2021 census, and incomes are for 2020.
A flood study covers Alta Vista: 1 on the national inventory, the newest from Rideau Valley Conservation Authority
In Health Canada’s survey, 6.2% of homes tested in Alta Vista’s area exceeded 200 Bq/m³, close to the typical 6.6%. Averaged over the years, quake damage costs $0.15 per $1,000 of buildings, above Ontario’s towns ($0.043) and Canadian towns ($0.030) alike.
Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³
| Hazards | Alta Vista | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year | $0.15 | $0.043 | $0.030 |
| Radon tests above the guideline | 6.2% | 4% | 6.6% |
NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory · Earthquake risk: the city of Ottawa
Alta Vista’s grade for safety: a B
Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000 for the Ottawa service area
Violent crime in the area its police cover: 8 per 1,000 people a year. Across the area its police cover, the Crime Severity Index averaged 55 over 2023–25, about level with Ontario’s towns (56) and below Canadian towns (67).
Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year
| 2023–2025 | Alta Vista | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crime | 8 | 10.5 | 12 |
| Violent Crime Severity Index | 66 | 76 | 86 |
| Crime Severity Index | 55 | 56 | 67 |
Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average
More of the land around Alta Vista is protected than around 9 in 10 Canadian towns
90 km separate the town from Thousand Islands National Park, its nearest national park. Within 10 km, the count of public protected areas is 17, higher than both Ontario’s towns (4) and Canadian towns (4). For a provincial park, Rideau River Provincial Park lies 34 km off. Mooney's Bay Beach is the one beach within 5 km.
Protected land · of the land within 10 km
| Outdoors | Alta Vista | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protected land within 10 km | 13% | 2.3% | 2.3% |
| Public protected areas within 10 km | 17 | 4 | 4 |
Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches
January lows in Alta Vista: −14.0°C, against −9.1°C in Ontario’s towns and −13.5°C in Canadian towns
June is the wettest month, with 95 mm of rain and snow on average. The frost-free season runs from 30 April to 6 October, 158 days. Snow totals 185 cm over the year, higher than both Ontario’s towns (146 cm) and Canadian towns (141 cm). January is the snowiest month, with 45 cm on average.
Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Normals, 1991–2020 | Alta Vista | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snowfall a year | 185 cm | 146 cm | 141 cm |
| January night low | −14.0°C | −9.1°C | −13.5°C |
| July afternoon high | 26.7°C | 26.7°C | 25.5°C |
| Days with frost a year | 147 | 139 | 159 |
Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Ottawa (City))
24% of Alta Vista’s residents belong to a visible minority (Ontario’s towns: 26%; Canadian towns: 15%)
0.8% of residents have an Indigenous identity, below both Ontario’s towns (1.6%) and Canadian towns (2.8%). Those 65 and older account for nearly a fifth of residents.
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 50.1% of Alta Vista
Here the census found 4,180 men and 4,205 women; the figure for women across Canada is 50.9%.
| Alta Vista | Ontario | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 16% | 15% | 16% |
| 15 to 64 | 65% | 65% | 64% |
| 65+ | 19% | 19% | 19% |
| No certificate, diploma or degree | 8.4% | 15% | 16% |
| Postsecondary qualification | 73% | 56% | 56% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; Ontario and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+
Expect November days around 6°C in Alta Vista, nights around −2°C
Precipitation in November averages 72 mm. November usually brings some 16 cm of snow. A normal December brings highs of −2°C, lows of −9°C. The forecast on the Weather page is ECCC’s for Ottawa (Kanata - Orléans).
Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Season | High | Low | Rain and snow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | −3°C | −12°C | 191 mm |
| Spring | 11°C | 1°C | 223 mm |
| Summer | 26°C | 15°C | 275 mm |
| Autumn | 13°C | 4°C | 249 mm |
ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Ottawa (City)); the forecast is on the Weather page
Council seats in Ottawa are spread thin, 47,520 residents each, more than in 99% of Ontario municipalities
Ottawa, which governs Alta Vista, elected Mark Sutcliffe mayor in October 2022.
| Turnout | Alta Vista | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Municipal election, 2022 | 44% | 31% | 31% |
Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada
Each person Ottawa Public Library serves borrows 7.6 items, more than at 91% of Ontario’s town libraries
Ottawa Public Library serves the whole of Ottawa, so the library figures on this page are the city’s: 1,083,550 people, Alta Vista among them.
Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada
4 school boards overlap in Alta Vista, covering Ontario’s four systems
9 of the 52 teach in French, against 10% of schools in Ontario. Results have climbed at 27 of 44 schools over three years. The largest is Glebe Collegiate Institute, with 1,315 students. 23,180 students attend the 41 elementary schools, 9 secondary schools and 2 alternative or adult schools in or within 3 km of Alta Vista.
| School | Level | Students | System |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vincent Massey Public School Middle fifth in OntarioLargest elementary schoolElementary · Grades JK–8 | Elementary · Grades JK–8 | 765 | English public |
| Glebe Collegiate Institute Top fifth in OntarioLargest secondary schoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Secondary · Grades 9–12 | 1,315 | English public |
| École élémentaire publique Marie-Curie FrenchTeaches in FrenchElementary · Grades JK–6 | Elementary · Grades JK–6 | 280 | French public |
| Canterbury High School Top fifth in OntarioResults in the top fifth in OntarioSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Secondary · Grades 9–12 | 1,160 | English public |
Schools by system · Schools within 3 km
| Schools within 3 km | Alta Vista | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| School boards | 4 | 4 | 3 |
Provincial school lists and results, 2024-25
Older housing stands out in Alta Vista: 57% predates 1961
| Heritage | Alta Vista | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homes built before 1961 | 57% | 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 Alta Vista
Alta Vista’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Statistics Canada
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alta Vista | 8,387 | — | A | C | B | A+ |
| Billings Bridge - Heron Park | 5,370 | 1.1 | C− | D− | C− | A+ |
| Old Ottawa South | 6,704 | 1.5 | A+ | B− | A+ | A+ |
| Playfair Park - Guildwood Estates | 6,186 | 1.7 | A | D | A+ | A+ |
| Ledbury-Heron Gate-Ridgemont | 15,610 | 2.1 | C | D− | B− | A+ |
| Riverview | 14,030 | 2.4 | C | D− | C | A+ |
| Elmvale - Canterbury | 8,149 | 2.6 | B− | D | B− | A+ |
People: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about Alta Vista
Do people in Alta Vista speak French?
46% of residents can hold a conversation in both English and French, against 8% for the median of Canadian towns; 0.8% speak French but not English.
Is Alta Vista a young town or an old one?
At 42.7, its median age compares with 45.2 across Canadian towns. Children make up 16% of the population and seniors 19%.
About Alta Vista
Neighbourhood in Ottawa
Statistics Canada counts Ottawa as one municipality, so TownRatings builds Alta Vista and its other neighbourhoods from census dissemination areas, named from the city’s map or OpenStreetMap.
Statistics Canada: population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155), Census of Population 2021, 2021 census boundaries.
- Population
- 8,387 (people, 2021 estimate)
- Province or territory
- Ontario
- City
- Ottawa
- Census subdivision
- 3506008
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).